Rockdale teachers are the real deal—we make sure of it! We select our teachers here carefully (think CIA application process but harder), making sure that our team meets three key criteria:
Today, we’re chatting with Rob, one of our OGs who teaches guitar, bass, trumpet, piano, and ukulele.
How long have you been playing music and how did you get started?
I began playing the trumpet in fourth grade and my first performances were with the concert band at Rose Tree Elementary. I stuck with trumpet all through high school, but after discovering Led Zeppelin and later Dream Theater I found myself drawn to the electric guitar and driven towards a career as a musician.
What was your motivation for becoming a teacher?
Helping students learn to play a song they love and achieve something that they maybe weren’t sure they could play when they first came in for lessons.
What is your most memorable teaching moment?
I’ve been teaching long enough now that many of my older students have gone on and become professional musicians themselves. Watching students learn, grow and become young adults with their own musical sound and vision is incredible.
What advice would you give to a new music student?
Practice the night of or the next day after your lesson so you don’t forget what you just learned. Also a small, consistent ‘real world’ practice schedule is your best friend.
What have you been listening to lately?
I’ve recently been jamming to Brazilian guitarist Liverplate’s newest release ’Amarelo’ and Amar Alhoch’s ‘Redemption’. The newest Dream Theater record is also crazy good!
What’s a fun fact we might be surprised to learn about you?
My wife and I ran the Philadelphia half marathon last weekend!
Any recent projects you’d like to share?
My original music and Youtube channel is called ‘A Minor Error’. I write original progressive metal instrumental music and I post play through’s. All of my music can be found on Spotify, & iTunes as well and I’m also currently working on a full length cover album and another original EP that will all be out in the spring and summer of 2022.