About Mark Smith

My teaching life, Mark Smith Studio, is based out of my home in Needham where I maintain my teaching studio.  I have been a Suzuki Teacher for almost 40 years.  I currently teach all of the beginning strings, as well as strings in grades 5 through 8 for the Needham Public Schools.  I truly love working with kids, and have enjoyed every student I have worked with.  I also have training as a Life Coach.    It is a great compliment to my teaching.

I have a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from Indiana University, and a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.  I have played with the Portland (ME) Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra as well as numerous solo and chamber music concerts.  I have have taught at Phillips Academy in Andover Massachusetts, the Suzuki School of Newton, New England Conservatory of Music, MIT, the Longy School of Music in Cambridge.  I have also taught at Suzuki summer music camps in Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.  

I have lived in Needham for over 30 years with my husband, cellist Andrew Mark, and my 2 sons, Christopher and Evan.  
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Teaching is a way of life for me.  Nothing makes me happier than working with people. 
  
Why Moose?   


I love moose.  I always have.  There was a TV show many years ago called "Northern Exposure".  In the title sequence there was a moose walking through the towns main street.   I loved that!!
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