About

Credentials:

Trinity Grade 8 Electronic Organ

Rockschool (Trinity) Grade 8 Electric Guitar

Trinity Grade 5 Piano - Merit

ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory - Distinction

Enhanced DBS certified

My journey in music began in January 1999 when I started keyboard lessons alongside my brother - at the time, I literally had ZERO music ability and (due to being put off music at school) NO desire to have lessons. That was soon to change...

Much to everyone's surprise, I picked it up really quick and then spent the Summer holidays trying to play the "Teacher part" (i.e. the twiddly bit!) of Pachelbel's "Cannon". When lessons resumed in September, I played what I'd learnt to Adam and he encouraged me to move into a group that had been playing 2.5 years and were on book 4 of the "Electone Mate" course (for Electone - 2 keyboards and pedals). In the years that followed, there were solo and group performances in The Courtyard theatre and in 2005 I passed Trinity Grade 8 Electronic Organ.

During this time, due to the high cost of the top-of-the-range instruments (we're talking in the region of £6k!), I was finding ways to improve the sound of the keyboards I did have, using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and software - notably, Propellerhead's Reason which I still use today. I am hugely inspired by cinematic orchestral music and emulating other instruments using keys ("Sweet Child O Mine" guitar solo anyone?), so the software opened the doors for me to do this.

My love of rock and blues also led me to pick up electric guitar - lessons followed and this REEEALLLLY opened the door to learning improvisation. When learning keyboards I'd been reading music (and did ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory), but with guitar, music theory was taking on a more practical application which has fed back into my keyboard playing and set me up well for playing in bands.

I've played in various church/worship bands (keyboards, guitar and bass at different times) and also keyboards in originals rock band (providing piano and string orchestration - all played LIVE!). Sometimes thrown in at the deep end, the ability to improvise and play something that fits and enhances the music has been invaluable and made the experience more enjoyable.

For me, imparting the love of music to others is the most fulfilling, hence why "Learn with Rob" exists.