Mark Dante TakeLessons Instructor Music, Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Music Theory Bryant Street, Malden, MA

My name is Mark. I am a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton MA, Class of 1998. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English: Dramatic Literature & Theater and a double-minor in Music: Theory, Composition and Voice. I am both a self-taught musician, and a professionally trained lead vocalist.

I have been teaching Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Mandolin, Djembe and Music Theory at Sarrin Music Studios in Wakefield MA part-time for the past seven years now. I also teach voice, guitar and bass at Creative Arts for Kids After School for the Performing Arts in Reading MA. I also recently taught a group of 19 Middle School Students guitar and music theory at The Salem Academy Charter School.

At Wheaton I was the Musical Director of our campus’s all-male a cappella vocal ensemble, The Wheaton College Gentlemen Callers. We recorded five albums together and I was awarded runner-up for best arrangement through the National Championship of College A Cappella. I am well-versed in harmony as well as the skillful art of a well-placed and artful dissonance, and with teaching students of all ages to bring out the best from within themselves.

I am currently about to release my debut solo album – The Lightworker's Union – chronicaling the past 10 years of my life.

I have been teaching children for the past 17 years. I have worked as an English Teacher, ESL Instructor, Musicial Director, Contemporary Collegiate A Cappella Arranger, Summer Camp Performing Arts Director, and Multi-Discipline Private Music Teacher. I am the fun, hip teacher that all of the kids want to take lessons with. I am a positive role model. I truly care about my students. Every lesson is from the heart. There is always a well-balanced give and receive in lesson time. I treat my studio space like a Japanese Dojo - it is a Sacred Space of community, education and interpersonal development. This is where real learning takes place. One on One. Sharing, Listening and Honing Our Skills over time.

I am a student of Zen Philosophy and Mindfulness Meditation and bring that energy into my teaching methodology. I am always genreating new lesson material each week. I provide thought-provoking, well-crafted, intelligent music to students of all ages in trade for what is currently making them to most excited or will challenge them the most. If your child dedicates him or her-self to practicing 30 minutes 4 times a week, In 3-6 months your student will be where they would be in a year with another instructor, simply because I do not cut corners and I am very thorough and detailed with my notes and am a patient, kind, and loving person.

I specialize in teaching:

Music: Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Music Theory

Harmony, Arranging, Songwriting, Diaphragmatic Breathing, Basic Sight-Reading, A Cappella, Ear Training, Alternate Tunings, Chord Analysis, How To Increase Your Vocal Range, Diction, Proper Articulation, The Art of Breathing, Auditory Deconstruction and Analysis: Tuning In and Tuning Out, Holistic Vocals Masterclass - Reiki and Voice, to name a few.

I also play the Djembe (African Hand-drum) and the Mandolin

Voice: Broadway, Belt, Rock, Pop, Folk, Folk-Rock, Emo, Contemporary, Jazz

Guitar – Rock, Pop, Folk, Folk-Rock, Emo, Jazz

A Cappella (Contemporary) – Arranging, Conducting, Directing

Music, Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Music Theory

Wheaton Class of '98
Greater Boson Wheaton Club - Featured Alum

by Cynthia L. Rodday '92 - September 2007

"Alumnae and alumni may remember Mark as a member of Wheaton’s all male contemporary A Capella group, the Gentlemen Callers, from 1995-1998.  Mark served as Musical Director from the end of his Freshman Year until his graduation.  Two of his arrangements won awards as runner-up for the Best Arrangement in the New England Semi-Finals of the National Championship of College A Capella.  Mark earned a BA in 1998 in English: Dramatic Literature and Theatre, with a double minor in Music: Theory and Composition, and Voice.  He served as guest arranger to the Gentlemen Callers from 1998-2000, and served as Musical Director for the 15th Anniversary Concert.

What happened to Mark after leaving Wheaton?  He realized his true passion was teaching.  While at Wheaton, he taught Middle School English, ESL and worked as the Performing Arts Director at several local summer camps.  Over the past six years, Mark has taught voice and guitar professionally in Wakefield as well as some classes in Salem.  His lessons expanded to include bass, piano, and music theory.  Mark sees teaching as a way to continue to grow as an artist but primarily as a way to give back to the community in a positive and meaningful way."