Jimi Marks

A Bay Area native, Jimi has been teaching private music lessons in the East Bay for over 10 years. He started his teaching career as a band leader and keyboard instructor at a “School of Rock” in Danville, CA, where he mentored young aspiring musicians to work together as a band. From the group environment, he developed into a private music teacher, working one-on-one with students to develop their ears, hands, and minds with music. He currently teaches piano, drums, and guitar, and encourages students to keep exploring to develop their own unique passion for music.

Jimi began taking music lessons at the age of 6, when he lucked into his sister’s piano lesson because she was sick. From there his lifelong love of music grew, incorporating drums at age 8, and acoustic guitar age 13. By the time he was in high school, Jimi was competing in jazz festivals and pursuing gigs with jazz and rock bands of his own.

After earning his B.A. in Music and Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley in 2010, Jimi began working as a professional musician with jazz groups such as John Brothers Piano Company and Tumbledown House. He still enjoys performing with these groups at local venues around the Bay Area such as SFJAZZ and the Great American Music Hall, as well as occasionally touring across the country and internationally.

Alive or Dead, What Musician would you do anything to see?

Either Bob Marley, or J.S. Bach… or why not both playing together?!

Greatest Musical Influence?

Without a doubt it has to be my friends and bandmates! And, of course, my teachers over the years… but in terms of music I listen to, Miles Davis might be the “greatest.

Any hidden talents besides music?

I love to be in the ocean–on my days off you may find me surfing up and down the coast.

What did you want to be while you were growing up?

Newspaper comic strip creator/rockstar.

If you could have any ‘Super Power’, which one would it be?

Flying, just for the fun of it!

If you could master any other instrument which would it be?

My voice. I love to sing, but it is definitely an instrument that takes practice.

Have you had what people would consider your “15 Minutes of Fame”, and if so when/what was that?

Signing CDs for the audience right after my band’s set at the Monterey Jazz Festival–it was unexpected, and complete chaos!

It’s your last meal: What would it be?

All-you-can-eat sushi.

You are sent to a deserted island, and you only have one album to listen to: Which is it?

Something I’ve never heard before, because I love discovering new music. Preferably something I can rock out to!

If you could leave one lesson with your students what would it be?

You can learn a lot about music just by listening–discover what speaks to you, and use that as motivation to keep learning!

Jimi Marks

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