For more than 30 years, Mark Wilson has been a leading force in music education, blending his expertise as a professional instructor, recording artist, and performer to create a unique and highly effective teaching philosophy. He is the founder of the 5 Star School for Music and the creator of the 5 Star Method series, a comprehensive program that has helped countless musicians unlock their potential. His method provides a clear path for students at all levels—from beginners to experts—to make tangible progress.
Developed from decades of meticulous lesson planning and studio experience, the 5 Star Method distills thousands of lessons into a clear, focused curriculum. This series includes over 20 published books with accompanying audio for guitar, bass, and even the Chapman Stick, a unique 10-string guitar-like instrument with five bass and five treble strings.
Mark’s passion for the Blues is central to his teaching. He considers it "the most flexible, expressive, and widely used song form in music" and emphasizes its importance for developing essential skills like improvisation, rhythm, and "feel." His Blues-focused books have earned critical acclaim from publications like Guitar World and Guitar School, and are used by college professors and students alike.
At the heart of Mark's philosophy is the belief that groove is the most vital element of playing. He teaches students not just to play notes, but to feel the music, connecting them to the powerful emotional core of the Blues. With his profound knowledge and proven method, Mark Wilson continues to inspire and shape the next generation of musicians.
Mark Wilson is a fantastic guitarist and experienced educator. He is able to create great licks, improvisations and rhythms with a Blues-Rock style that reminds you of great songs, and they have an excellent quality. His skills are demonstrated with every lick he plays, the feeling, the cleanliness and the technique are visible in his notes.
I really enjoyed his solos and rhythms, each one makes his music incredible to listen to, the guitar lessons are easy to understand and helps you to keep improving and learning to get to the next level.
C
Carolyn S.
12/30/19
Exceptional Guitarist and Teacher
I was very fortunate to be one of Mark Wilson's first students when first started Sunnyvale School for Guitar. He is a genuinely great guy that is very interested in his students and customizes his lessons so that everyone can learn and reach their goals. I have had several teachers over the years and Mark was always the most organized. He composed each of the songs that he used in his instruction to focus on various skills (bending, phrasing, timing etc). The skill that he was focusing on was featured in the song that we worked on, and the songs also built on what he had taught me previously. Learning just flowed from one song to the next. Each song was a little more difficult but not so overwhelming that I felt the challenge was too discouraging.
Mark has a knack for teaching and keeping his students motivated and feeling good about their growth. Don't overlook Mark Wilson because he isn't a household name. He is a gifted teacher, performer, and super nice guy.
