Mark Manczuk

Mark’s exposure to music began early in his life. He listened to his father playing the drums at his father’s band rehearsals. Playing along with records and kids much older than him, were the beginnings. He began private study under Rob Gottfried as a teenager. As his skills developed, he began playing professionally at the age of 15.Studying marching, wind ensemble, and jazz, Mark received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for excellence in his high school’s jazz program. Mark’s talent helped his high school’s jazz band’s rhythm section first place at the Boston Music Festival with a ranking of outstanding. In his senior year he was awarded the drum chair in Connecticut’s Northern Regional Jazz Ensemble.After high school, Mark attended Northeastern University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music business. In addition to his studies, he co-founded the Boston based trio, Canine Guru (original groove based rock). The group released two self produced LPs, the self titled “Canine Guru,” and the follow up, “Agodoga.” After departing Canine Guru, Mark then expanded his musical knowledge as a free lance musician, performing with the likes of Chris Loftlin (Brian McKnight), Jeff Lockhart (Brian McKnight, Walter Beasley), Yasko Kubota (New Kids on the Block) and many others.In 1999 Mark began studying tabla with Misha Masud in New York City. To further himself, he relocated to the city. He continued to work as a free lance musician. Most of his experiences came via The Village (east & west), Harlem, and Brooklyn. Mark continues to answer calls from New York for sessions.Having returned to the Hartford, CT area in 2002, Mark has established a large private student base. In 2004 he joined the Vic Firth education team as a nationally recognized private percussion teacher. In addition to teaching private lessons, he has continued to perform as a free lance musician. Mark has successfully maintained working in twelve projects , (two steady) over the last 4 years. The projects covered a variety of musical styles ranging from: Jazz, Fusion, Funk, Rock, Motown, Worldbeat, Brazilian, Gospel, Folk, to playing in orchestra pits for musicals. Mark has returned to New York in 2007 and continues to take students at his studio in CT. Look out for Mark Manczuk’s beginner drum program coming soon from www.rockhousemethod.com!Mark continues to study North Indian Classical music via tabla in New York with Misha Masud. He also currently studies percussion in Long Island with Dom Famularo as well as Ralph Peterson.Mark plays Brady, Yamaha and custom built drums of his own manufacture and Vic Firth sticks