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Mark Smith
Link to artists Website
Mark is a drummer ever seeking to expand his limits on the instrument. Graduating from MI London in 1996 under the tutelage of Thomas Lang and Mick Morena Mark moved on to form Throne of Nails. In Throne of Nails Mark gained recognition for his double pedal work and mastery of odd time signatures. The band signed to Pavement music/Crash inc for a worldwide deal and went on to receive excellent reviews in Terrorizer and Kerrang and Metal Hammer magazines. Interviews in those magazines followed along with an extensive European Tour. Shortly after, the band imploded and Mark moved on to live session work working with local function bands in all styles from blues to reggae. Mark then joined the Progressive rock outfit I.T. and completed a tour of Canada and supports with the Fixx in London before departing to pursue his own educational projects.
Mark started Mashu studios in 1999. Since then the studio has grown to include guitar and keyboard tuition. Between the studio and the other institutions Mark teaches at, he sees nearly 80 students every week. As the studio has become more successful, Mark has branched out into drum clinics and workshops. Along with his colleagues at the studio, Mark began writing the Integrated Music Learning system, designed to teach all instruments from the same viewpoint and make phrasing and improvisation easier. Mark has since performed clinics and workshops at many local schools and colleges and is has begun to collaborate with other local drummers to perform clinics at local rehearsal studios., including Scream Studios in Croydon.
Mark has developed a unique approach to the drum rudiments and particularly to the application of poly-rhythms and poly-metric patterns. Drawing heavily on his time studying with Thomas Lang, Mark has developed an approach that allows the player to execute three and four layered polyrhythms at the same time. His website www.marksmithdrums.com regularly has sample lesson videos posted. Mark is working on a DVD which he plans to shoot towards the end of the year. The DVD will cover the application of Poly-rhythms and Poly-metrics in practice and composition.
Marks main musical project outside of Clinics is Lost Planet, aheavy progressive metal outfit covering tunes from Dream Theater and Planet X as well as original material.
The website www.myspace.com/lostplanetband contains the bands bios and samples of the bands music as welll as their upcoming gig schedule.
Mark is also a member of Anchorhead, a progressive metal band reworking the music of Star Wars. The band features Charlie Griffiths, writer for Total guitar and tutor at the Institute in London, and session player Pete Rinaldi.
Marks goal is to become a national and eventually international clinician, to be able to spread his Integrated Music Learning system and unique poly-rhythmic approach to as many people as will listen.
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