About Mark de la Cruz - Mississauga Guitar Teacher
Over 15 years playing & 10+ years teaching students from beginner to advanced. Book Your Free Intro Lesson
I started playing guitar when I was 12-13 years old
Hello, welcome to my website. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and what I can offer you.
I started playing the guitar before I got into high school, and maybe similar to many of you visiting, just wanting to learn some chords and songs. Just a small interest sparked a fire to learn and master the guitar that would burn for the next two decades.
Learning how to play modern music and good old classics
I started learning very basic chords from an old VHS that my dad had. Eventually taking lessons from a local music school, I began learning how to play pop/punk music from Blink 182, Green Day, Linkin Park, etc. That progressed into learning songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Ozzy, AC/DC.
Classical Guitar and Fingerstyle Guitar
I wouldn’t stop there. Thanks to the power of the internet and guitar tab sites, I was able to learn 6-10 songs each week. I wanted to understand music and learn more about it. My guitar teacher at the time would eventually introduce me to the world of classical guitar. I would learn music from greats like John Dowland, Augustin Barrios, and, one of my personal favourites, Bach.
York University
I continued my journey with music at York University for a short time, initially auditioning as a classical guitar student and exploring the world of jazz. I eventually continued studying jazz after my short time at York with a Humber music graduate.
To this day, I continue to enjoy the process of mastering the guitar. A process that I am willing to pass on to you!
Why choose me?
I love playing music, and I love learning. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of studying with some incredible local guitarists — musicians with decades of experience, deep knowledge of music theory, and the ability to read and interpret music at a high level. Learning from them shaped my own approach to playing and teaching.
At the same time, I understand what it’s like to balance music with work, school, and everyday life. That’s why I focus on helping my students organize their practice so they can make real progress, even with limited time. With the right structure, you’ll get more out of every minute you spend with your instrument.
I’ve been teaching guitar for many years, working with students of all ages and skill levels. My goal is to make lessons not only educational, but also motivating and enjoyable — so you stay inspired, build confidence, and keep growing as a musician.
15 years of teaching experience
I’ve had plenty of experience teaching at several music schools in the Brampton and Mississauga area. Teaching any age ranging from 7 and up!
Learn Any Type of music
I will help you learn any type of music that you would like. Gospel, classical music, blues, heavy metal, etc. You name it, you’ll eventually play it!
Go from learning tabs to playing what you hear
I know what it’s like to be just a beginner guitarist learning from tabs and eventually getting stuck in a rut. What’s more fun that just playing the guitar? Understanding how music works. I will help you unlock an entirely new level to your guitar playing.