Rob is a gifted performer and teacher of both the electric guitar and the acoustic steel-string guitar. He is equally at home on both and teaches and performs week in, week out between the two. He is passionate about music, all music! Rob took up the guitar in 1993 and was instantly hooked. He then commenced teaching guitar in 1998 and quickly established himself on a professional basis.
A real all-rounder, he has an amazing amount of songs and solos in his repertoire; everything from the classic Rock stuff, to Country and Blues, Fingerstyle, and really whatever sounds good! His influences include; Ian Moss, Gotye, Keith Scott, Andy Timmons, Diesel, Albert Lee, Tommy Emmanuel, Peter Buck, Bob Spencer, Brent Mason, Deep Purple, Rick Springfield, The Eagles, Eddie Van Halen, Mark McEntee, Eric Johnson, Brett Garsed and more!
Rob’s favourite instruments
Rob’s favourite instruments include his much loved Maton's - the TE808 and the Artist 808, a Paul Reed Smith DGT, a Suhr Pro Series and a few Ernie Ball Music Man Albert Lee models- Music Man are the greatest guitars on the planet - His favourite amps are a Fender Super Reverb 4x10 combo, a Ulbrick Firebottle head and a Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker JTM combo; a great clean sounding amp with amazing overdive when cranked up loud!
Current favourite tracks
- State of the Art - Gotye
- DNA - Darwin Deez
- Jona Vark- Gypsy and the Cat
- Calamity Song - The Decemberists
- No Good For You - Cold Chisel
- Boys In Town - Divinyls
- O.N.E. - Yeasayer
- Sunday Best - Washington
- Mine All Mine - Van Halen
- Barricade - Interpol
Rob gigs and teaching style
Rob gigs regularly in Melbourne, either with his band The Nightfillers or his covers band WOMP. He has also worked around with an acoustic duo, a Latin Guitar duo, a progressive country-rock outfit (don't knock Country!), several original outfits and does regular recording-studio session work.
Rob thoroughly enjoys his teaching and is enthusiastic about helping developing players to reach their goals. "People can feel relaxed and excited about improving their playing when they come to see me; there are many ways to learn the guitar and we can find the best method for you". The other thing Rob really wants you to know is that he is just nuts about the guitar! “I knew as soon as I started playing guitar that it was my thing and I was going to stick to it; It’s the best instrument ever!”