Mark Phillips doesn't have to think long about why he became a music teacher.

It's always been music that's inspired him, he said. He's simply trying to get a new generation excited about making music.

Phillips is teaching in Southport this year, which marks his 10th year teaching music. He said his goal is to have students be inspired enough to keep up with music even after school is out.

“It's fun and inspiring and I try to share that with the kids,” he said. “I want them to have some kind of relationship with their music. I want it to be something they enjoy and hopefully (they) will have a hobby for life.”

Phillips is originally from outside Philadelphia and has taught throughout Maine.

“My summers during college I would come up to Maine to work as a camp counselor,” he said. “I was a counselor at a music camp in Sydney and I just fell in love with the state. I came up here right after finishing college.”

From there, Phillips has been everywhere, man: he has spent time in Calais, Eastport, Orono, Farmington, Dexter, Indian Island and now Southport.

He has also been to sea with NOAA as a hydrographer before settling on music.

Which was a natural choice, Phillips said.

“I love music, when I was in school had some really inspirational music teachers,” he said. “They inspired me to be a musician. They weren't just music teachers; they were musicians. They enjoyed what they were doing.

“I try to share that idea. I'm not a music teacher; I'm a musician who teaches.”

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen