Welcome to JazzPiano.co.nz, a platform where you can learn jazz piano from a seasoned pianist with a contemporary flair. My name is Dr. Mark Baynes, and I am based in West Auckland, New Zealand. I have a strong background in jazz and popular music performance as a performer, composer, accompanist, teacher, and mentor.
My teaching style is fun yet focused, aimed at helping students enjoy learning the piano, build skills and confidence, and develop a solid repertoire. I teach all ages and abilities from my home studio in West Auckland, and I offer lessons in reading and technique, improvisation (beginners to advanced), styles (Funk, Jazz, Latin, Pop, etc.), composition and songwriting, music theory, and music production.
In my extensive experience in the music industry, I have collaborated with acclaimed artists like Troy Kingi, Latin Grammy Award Winner Mireya Ramos, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. I have also worked as a musical director in the Middle East and as a pianist/MD for ProShip (Canada), and have performed alongside jazz giants such as Eric Marienthal.
As a presenter of 95bFM’s The Jazz Show and a columnist for NZ Musician Magazine, I stay up-to-date with the latest trends in jazz and popular music. I am also involved in curriculum development and have sat on the NZQA panel tasked with reviewing unit standards for music technology L1-3. I run Networks of Expertise workshops teaching popular music analysis to secondary school teachers and review achievement standards at secondary school level at NCEA levels 1-3 on the Music Subject Experts Group.
On this website, you’ll find a wealth of resources to help you learn jazz piano, including a special focus on the music of Brad Mehldau. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced player, I can provide you with the guidance and tools you need to build your skills and deepen your understanding of music.
I invite you to join me on this journey of musical discovery.
Dr Mark Baynes