Teacher Feature showcases the incredible journeys and accomplishments of SoundLife mentors that you may or may not be familiar with, but should be!
Mark Catalano embodies the spirit of what SoundLife Music Academy is all about. He is a rare breed of musician whose skills and experience are coupled with incredible character, humility, optimism, and a desire to serve. This makes for an impactful mentor to our students and bands. Mark walks the walk and talks the talk.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, and raised in the suburban town of Boardman, Mark’s journey to Los Angeles began as a young boy listening to records played by his parents and his older brother. His parents had an old acoustic guitar in the basement that he learned his way around. When Mark was 10 years old, his brother bought a drum set, and the path to musicianship unfolded. Mark started to sing, write lyrics, and come up with band names so he and his brother could play together.
Mark’s path is one many musicians share. It all starts with that creative spark and the belief that anything is possible. Daydreaming becomes an important part of the job as this vehicle of music begins to open up pathways to the seemingly impossible. Overtime Mark taught himself how to play many instruments and record his band’s own demos. This led to DIY touring, winning battle of the bands competitions and songwriting awards, and recording four albums with his own original band called Another Found Self.
Now at age 32, Mark has over 22 years of experience as a recording engineer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer. He has released his own solo singer/songwriter music, sold merch at shows, played in cover bands, played in wedding bands, played as a sideman for major label artists, played on radio and TV, worked as a live audio engineer, produced for other artists, and composed music for web series, film, and commercials. He has done all of this while teaching private lesson students and building a strong family life with his wife, daughter, and dog. All of this together is what makes Mark remarkable.
Today Mark is still learning. He has taught himself piano and ukulele for the last two years and is always learning new recording techniques. The fact that Mark never stops learning is one of the best examples for our students to experience. We’re grateful to share his wealth of knowledge and inspiration with our community, and we look forward to seeing Mark continue to grow, learn, and teach. Mark's original music can be found on all streaming platforms and on his website.