Rob has been playing and enjoying the guitar for over 30 years, during which time he has had the pleasure of studying with modern-day guitar greats such as Pat Donohue (guitarist for A Prairie Home Companion), Muriel Anderson, Adam Rafferty, and many more. He is also a diverse and accomplished teacher, himself, who is well versed in the styles of classical, fingerstyle, jazz, blues, folk, and rock n’ roll. He has been a member of the Warren Wilson Jazz Ensemble since 2004, and has participated in the Swannanoa Gathering Guitar Week since 2000.

LESSONS WITH ROB

Rob loves working with students of all ages, from young children picking up the guitar for the first time, to intermediate- and advanced-level players looking to refine their technique. Rob caters his lessons to each student’s unique needs, goals, and capabilities. He teaches with joy and patience, helping his students to find both fun and fulfillment in their playing.

Depending on student age and experience, lessons may include (but are not limited to):

For Beginners…

•How to properly hold the instrument for comfort and tone

•Basic strumming patterns

•Introduction to the fret board—learning the strings and their notes

•Chord and song-playing basics

For Advanced Beginners on up…

•Well-rounded musicianship—playing in a group setting, learning songs by ear, improvisation

•Making the most of your practice time—learning how to practice more effectively

•New chords, voicings, and inversions—seeing the neck as a unified whole

•Strumming and finger-picking patterns

•Positioning the guitar to allow for optimal left and right hand alignment

•Sight reading—standard notation and tab

•Music theory—learning how chords and scales are constructed and applied