Mark Gratton’s musical journey continues at Goshen UMC in Milton

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

“If you want to sing out, sing out and if you want to be free, be free ‘cause there’s a million things to be,” are the lyrics that start Cat Stevens’ song, titled by the first eight words. The new musical director at Goshen United Methodist Church in Milton, Mark Gratton discovered at a young age that he wanted to sing out and become someone who could teach others to do the same.

“My brother started playing piano at the age of 4 – he was getting candy,” Gratton said. “What kid doesn't want candy?”

At the age of 5, while living in the Teleford-Sellersville area of Pennsylvania, Gratton began taking piano lessons from someone in his family’s church after learning about the payoff his brother was getting for fine-tuning his musical skills. Although he said nothing clicked at that young age, a seed was planted that would blossom into a lifelong love affair with music.

“Later on down the road, I got to do piano recitals, I got to learn easy hymns and then progression because it's learned notes,” Gratton said. “By the time I was about 12 to 13, we'd already moved; at this point, to South Carolina because my father was in the Army. I started playing with the praise band a little bit, just just filling in for whoever. They gave me cords on a page and said, ‘just follow the chords, you don't have to play the melody.’”

But for anyone bitten by the music bug, it is hard to play just the melody.

“You start singing the melody in your head and next thing you start playing a little bit of the melody, and it's like, okay I can do this, it's no big deal,” Gratton said. “I did my first wedding at 13, played a lot of classical music because that's what I knew, some church music, made 75 bucks. I was like, ‘Yeah, I can do this.’”

Soon Gratton was not only continuing his musical journey, but helping others start their own.

“Piano has always been an intricate part and then I started spreading out to where I was playing violin and viola,” Gratton said. “By the time I was 16 or 17, I was playing in a full praise and worship team, whether it be piano or whether it be violin. I was teaching about 15 kids.”

His brother, Chris, an accomplished cellist, played alongside him in the praise and worship ensemble, and Mark said it brought him great joy to play with so many great musicians, including his sibling whom he is quite proud of.

“He's an orchestra director down in South Carolina,” Gratton said. “I'm very proud of him. He lives eat, breathes music – just like I do.”

There was a brief period in Gratton’s life when his day was not consumed by music. Life took off on Gratton following high school and he got away from music for just a bit. He worked at a grocery store and spent some time working at FedEx before finally returning to music around the age of 30.

“I still had a piano, still played, but then I realized I can have one student, I can have two, and on and on and on,” Gratton said. “I have like 30 to 35 students that I see every single week; I'm playing at two churches; I'm playing at numerous restaurants and other places like country clubs. I play at CHEER centers in the area, and I played the veterans home once.”

The son of a 38-year Army veteran, Gratton said it was a big deal for him to play for those who served.

Gratton believes, and tells his students, that the piano is the first instrument a musician should learn because it paves the way for the other musical families. He equates learning music and mastering instruments to reading a book and believes there is a beginning, a middle and an end. When a musician finishes their “book,” they can move on to one with a higher difficulty. For those struggling, he tells them it is like learning to ride a bike, and if they fall, they need to just get back up because they can acquire a skill they will always be able to fall back on.

Teaching 4- to 13-year-olds, Gratton said he emphasizes success through failure because not every day is going to be perfect, and during those times, it is important to take a step back. He often tells his students to take their mind off the lesson, maybe blow off some energy, before returning with a refocused effort. He uses the metaphor of making a pizza from scratch to help the beginners. While they may not like raw dough and cold cheese, Gratton can show them how to toss it, top it, bake it and slice it for a more enjoyable experience.

“I love what I do,” he said. “And if I can influence any of my students, whether it be a kid or an adult, just to have a positive outlook on life and just to be thankful and grow through music, that’s what I want to do.”

When not giving lessons or at his two churches, Goshen UMC and Harbeson Methodist, Gratton can be seen around town playing gigs with his portable piano. Treating his audience to a spectrum of genres and styles, Gratton plays songs from Journey and Billy Joel to Celine Dion and Billie Eilish with a sprinkling of Korn and Metallica mixed in. The musician takes great pride in feeling the vibe of a room, event or worship service and complementing it with the right selection of music.

Whether he is playing in church or at restaurant venues, Gratton said his work is made easier knowing he is giving his glory to God. He takes that role very seriously when playing at Goshen UMC or Harbeson Methodist.

“They're entrusting you to lead, praise and worship, to bring honor and glory to God, and to show people it is fun,” Gratton said.

A world without music would likely result in a broken man, according to Gratton.

“The freedom that I have of being my own boss, of doing what I love, means more than anything,” Gratton said.

Fortunately, in reality, there is plenty of music and Gratton is not only his own boss, but also has converted his garage into a studio, allowing him to practice and teach what he loves from the comfort of his own home.

“If you're walking with God and you're catching what he needs you to do every single day, you're an example,” Gratton said. “Music will catch you and it will get you emotional. If you're having a bad day, it'll put you right back in that place that you need to be, walking with him.”

For anyone wishing to book a lesson with Gratton, they can call him directly at 302-745-9969 or email him at mgratton83@gmail.com.

“I want to be known as somebody who changed people's lives for the better, that gave people a better outlook on life, through music,” Gratton said. “That's why I believe that I'm still here to this day. God has a plan for me.”