Meet our drum teacher...Mark Porcaro
I was trained by the Hartford Conservatory and several teachers from the Hartt School of Music. Kit McDermott, my drum set teacher at the Conservatory, greatly influenced my playing and teaching career. Kit McDermott is a very talented jazz, funk, rock, Latin, and symphonic player. He was trained by the prestigious Berkeley School of Music and is an incredible teacher.
Another of my instructors who have greatly influenced my style is one of the most highly regarded drum set and percussion teachers in the world: Joe Porcaro. Joe was both teacher and uncle, and he was great at both. During a storied career, Uncle Joe worked with widely diverse artists from Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti to Stan Getz, Pink Floyd, and Toto, among countless other artists. He is also father to legendary drummer Jeff Porcaro, bassist Mike Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro. My three cousins helped create the band Toto but were also much-in-demand studio session players long before Toto soared to fame in the 1970s.
What does this mean for you? Joe Porcaro greatly influenced the teaching method that I’ve developed during more than twenty years as an instructor. The knowledge I absorbed, particularly regarding tempo, from watching him and my cousins perform with various artists, including Toto, is priceless. I pass this knowledge onto my students.
Other teachers who helped make a drummer out of me:
Don Minutello ● Kit McDermott ● Al Lepak ● Arte Peretta
John Mariano ● Richie Zalmer ● Dave Chase
Richie Delorso ● Charlie Donnelly ● Norm Shabarekh
My personal approach to the teaching process:
Patient ● Calm ● Understanding ● Approachable ● Open Minded ● Sense of Humor ● Informative
