Mark
Hooper
Drums
About Me
I have been playing drums for as long as I can remember; both my dad and sister played and so from an early age there was always a kit in the house. Initially driven by wanting to be better than my sister, drums and music soon turned into my passion and over 20 years later it has turned into my profession.
In 2010 I left university having graduated with both a BA and MA in Music Performance, specialising in Drum Kit Studies.
I now work as a full-time Musician; teaching kit from my home studio in Chester, Lecturing at Chester University on both the BA and MA Music Courses
and working as a Percussion Tutor for the Cheshire Music Service.
In addition to my various Teaching Posts I keep a busy Performing and Recording schedule around the UK.
Musical Influences
I often get asked "who is my favourite drummer" and the short answer is all of them. With music it's very important to keep and open mind (and ear) as you can always learn from others and the beauty of music is that everyone does things differently!
I believe that listening too and enjoying a wide range of music across all genres is essential in creating a good musician. I genuinely listen to everything, from Metal to Jazz to Hip-Hop to Funk to Afro-Beat, it's all music and it's all great!
I do of course have a few favourites and below I have listed a few of the albums (and drummers) that have had a huge influence on my musical development.
Steely Dan - Aja (Steve Gadd, Rick Marotta, Bernard Purdie, Jim Keltner)
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet (Gavin Harrison)
Jeff Beck - Live at Ronnie Scotts (Vinnie Colaiuta)
QOTSA - Songs for The Deaf (Dave Grohl)
Dave Brubeck - Time Out (Joe Morello)
John Mayer - Continuum (Steve Jordan)
Jordan Rakei - Cloak (Jimmy Macrae, Richard Spaven)
Bill Withers - Still Bill (James Gadson)
Billy Cobham - Spectrum (Billy Cobham)
Cinematic Orchestra - Every Day (Luke Flowers)
Dave Matthews - Under The Table and Dreaming (Carter Beauford)
Jeff Buckley - Grace (Matt Johnson)
James Taylor - Live (Carlos Vega)
Led Zeppelin - II (John Bonham)
Toto - Toto (Jeff Porcaro)
Mastodon - Leviathon (Brann Dailor)
Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (John JR Robinson)
Michel Camilo - Caribe (Cliff Almond)
Phil Collins - Face Value (Phil Collins)
The Roots - Things Fall Apart (Questlove)
Herbie Hancock - HeadHunters (Harvey Mason)
Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here (Larnell Lewis)
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (Steve Wonder)
Tool - Lateralus (Danny Carey)
Sting - Ten Summoners Tales (Vinnie Colaiuta)
The Beatles - Everything (Ringo)