Mark has been playing drums since the age of seven.  He has studied drum-set and percussion with many instructors including: Paul Van Thom, Jake Jerger, Paul Wertico (Grammy Award winning drummer) and Todd Miller.  Upon graduation from Oakton College in Des Plaines, Illinois (Top Honors, emphasis in music) Mark moved to California to participate in the drum and percussion program at Cal State Fullerton and the Rock Ensemble and Jazz Big Band/ Jazz Improvisation programs at Orange Coast College.

Mr. Gusek has been a professional drummer and teacher for over twenty years.  He performs and/or records with The Carnevel Kings, Robert Kochis, Julie Day and The Jim Curry Band.  He can also be heard on soundtracks and jingles for CBS, Disney, Nissan, Vons, Fungible Films, The Oxygen Network, Firstcom and others. One of his soundtracks won an Emmy.

Mark joined the teaching staff at Coast Band Music in January of 2002, where he teaches drum-set in all styles of music (including double bass drum pedal), snare drum (for drum line and concert band), mallet percussion (xylophone and orchestra bells), timbales, congas, bongos, latin hand percussion (shakers, cowbell, claves, guiro etc.), and djembe.

      A few words from Mark:

          "I truly enjoy working as a drummer and drum teacher. It is exciting to work with students of all ages and levels of ability and help them grow as musicians. Part of the reward of teaching is seeing students realize that the more they apply themselves, the more fun playing drums becomes. I feel I offer my students a unique opportunity to study with a professional drummer who has an understanding of the skills needed to function as a musician on drums and percussion.”