Rising Stars: Meet Martin Marks of The Niwot Gig

Today we’d like to introduce you to Martin Marks. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Thirty years ago, Martin’s love for Rock Music brought him to The United States from Sweden in a band with his brother Michael. Their band headlined classic venues such as The Troubadour in 1990 & 1991. Since first arriving in 1989, Martin has penned 300 songs, recorded 145, and released five albums. As a performer, he has performed over 600 shows and reached #2 and #4 on MTV Nordic Top Five. He has been a part of the music scene in Boulder, Los Angeles and Stockholm, and his home Provence Skåne, Sweden.

After marrying and having his daughter Odette, Martin wanted to share his gifts and experience of music, and he became a music director in Los Angeles. At the music school, he realized his strengths at developing music talent but more importantly at creating an atmosphere that gets students of all ages passionate about music and working together as a group to create something beautiful. Under his direction as music director, Martin grew the school to full capacity, which he attributes to the confidence in their skills and the enthusiasm created in a positive learning environment where students were high-fiving in the hallways and were inspired to practice at home. (He received letters from parents saying their children were putting down their devices for the first time and practicing music).

After two decades in California, Martin exchanged the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, making Niwot, Colorado his home and base for creativity. Seven years ago, he moved to Niwot, CO with his wife and daughter. Martin and his daughter Odette wrote and recorded an album together in 2020 and at ten years old, Odette is now at a great age to be in her first band. This inspired Martin to open a music school. In 2022, Martin is beginning a new venture to share his love of music with others, children and adults, and has opened a music school in his hometown of Niwot called The Niwot Gig.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We didn’t know what to expect in terms of how much interest there was in the area but were quickly put at ease as we had twenty-six students sign up for trial lessons on opening day. The journey of taking all of the students from complete beginners to intermediate players was work. Before you can play a song, it can be challenging for both the teacher and the student. But now, four months later, each student knows how to play four to six songs and all belong to a band with a weekly jam session. Maybe the most exciting part of opening the school with all beginners is that now with three live shows completed, The Gig has been able to provide the students with their first live experience.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First, we are a local, family-owned rock school. We are raising our own daughter in Niwot so we feel committed to this town. We are an alternative music school to the classical instruments, instead teaching guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. Our teaching is through songs and we encourage the students to join a band that we create with students at the school.

Martin’s thirty-five years career as a recording and performing artist is apparent when he directs the bands at The Niwot Gig. Martin’s approach is always to treat the musicians in the jam room, old or young, new or experienced, as one of his band members and he communicates with respect and encouragement. Martin is a charismatic and entertaining frontman which allows the students to relax and have fun creating music together.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Anybody that hears about starting a music school during COVID would probably say we were taking a risk. But for our family, there didn’t feel like an option. Music is what Martin does and we had this vision that our daughter would be able to run over after school and hang out at the gig and see her dad making music. So there was a risk but not a choice.

Pricing:

• $30 for 30 minute lesson
• $45 for 45 minute lesson
• $25 for a one hour weekly jam
• Free trial lesson

Contact Info:

• Website: theniwotgig.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNiwotGig
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRnnzAGF-bqZoH245TM_THw/featured
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-niwot-gig-niwot

Image Credits
Misty Dameron, Misty Dameron Photography