Piano with Rob B.

I have been playing guitar since August 1992. I cut my teeth on the alternative music that was popular at the time (Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Nirvana) but soon began to focus on earlier movements, specifically the playing styles and mindsets of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. I formed a band in 1996 and began gigging in Austin and throughout Texas. During this time, I immersed myself in jazz and did everything I could to bring the sonic palettes of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis into my playing, even taking up saxophone and piano in order to better understand what they were doing. I eventually moved back to my hometown of Lubbock, where I graduated from Texas Tech University with a BA in English and a minor in Music, having played guitar and saxophone in the Jazz Band in addition to taking several classes in theory. During this time, I was giving private lessons in Lubbock and setting up arts education programs at the Lubbock Boys & Girls Club and The Buddy Holly Center. Since then, I have started a family and begun writing fiction, both of which have given me a much wider spectrum through which to channel my songwriting. *** Lesson Details *** These are your lessons. I see my role as being nothing more than helping you get to the place that you want to be, in whatever fashion and at whatever pace that you set. While it would be disingenuous to say that I don't take pride in watching my students succeed, I believe that the instructor should only be as concerned with measurable results as the student. If the student wants to learn three scales and two songs every week, then it's the instructor's responsibility to have those ready to go, along with a few suggestions for additional work. If the student wants to learn a few chords and then spend ten minutes talking about Led Zeppelin, it's their dollar and their time to spend however they wish. All of which to say, my teaching style varies dramatically from student to student. It can be laid-back, strict, calm, or rapid-fire, depending on the learning environment that the student prefers. My experience is that this approach leads to the greatest level of student satisfaction, which I consider to be of the utmost importance. *** Studio Equipment *** 1 Paul Reed Smith, 1 Fender Stratocaster, 1 Jasmine Takamine 12-string, 1 Alvarez acoustic 12-string, 1 Jasmine Takamine 6-string, 1 Montana electric/acoustic bass, 1 '75 Gibson SG electric bass, 1 88-key electric piano, 100-watt Fender Twin tube amp, 35-watt Mesa-Boogie solid-state amp, 1 Fender bass, 1 Yamaha tenor saxophone *** Travel Equipment *** I have an acoustic guitar and I could provide one for the student, though he or she is not going to get very far without one to spend hours practicing on outside of the lesson. *** Specialties *** I'm best at teaching students music what they want to learn. I specialize in rock, blues, beginning to intermediate jazz, songwriting, and music theory in general.