We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bob Ross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bob below.

Bob, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

The learning process initially started in the school environment with music classes and band class with a focus on trumpet. At the age of 14 I started playing guitar and pursued a self taught path until I started college. At that point I majored in guitar performance at Morehead State University and began formal lessons. I then continued on to receive a masters degree in Jazz Studies from The University Of The Arts.

Outside of academia, my education has continued through trial and error mixed with teaching and performing.

If I had to change my approach to learning it would have been to trust more in the direction my professors were leading me instead of pushing back. The experience they acquired and shared was meant to take away some of those pitfalls that deter growth. I would also change my attitude towards performing in the early stages. Although I had pursued and accepted some gigs, I had kept a mindset of “not good enough” throughout the earlier years. This hindered multiple opportunities.

There are a multitude of skills that once acquired can pave the way to success. The first would be having the discipline to immerse yourself into your craft so as to become an expert. Although talent can be a useful asset, putting in the sets and reps will be the defining factor on becoming 1% better everyday.

The second skill is to be teachable. You have to let the ego go and understand that there is always improvement that can be made. Recognize weaknesses and work to overcome them while pushing hard on your strengths. We cannot be a master of all things, but we can learn the essential concepts that will allow us to improve.

The third skill is communication. This is one that as an introvert can be a challenge. It is easier to be consumed with your thoughts and take the actions needed without communicating with others. The issue is that those we have relationships with will be left in the dark. In the world of performing, especially in the genre of jazz, there is a constant dialogue between you and other musicians. That can be spoken and unspoken (through musical dialogue). Be clear as to what direction you are trying to go musically. This also applies to booking gigs where it is imperative to be clear in your communication and set boundaries as to what you are willing to accept.

This is also a must in teaching. I have taught a multitude of students of all ages and levels in a variety of settings including online, high school, college, and one on one. You have to clearly communicate the material and the expectations you have to get results.

The fourth skill I would include is understanding personal finances. When I started teaching I would be paid once and month. You have to be able to set a budget and account for the fact that as an independent contractor that you could gain or lose multiple students in the blink of an eye. The same goes for booking gigs. Some months are great and others not so much. Having a variable income in the earlier years pushed my wife and I to be very aware of where our money was being allocated. The key is to have a buffer and save as much as possible to offset the bad months.

One of the biggest obstacles that stood in my way was myself. The constant questioning of “how good is good enough” limited my opportunities. It is through performance and teaching opportunities that the learning process can continue. Once I moved to Philadelphia to attend UARTS I began to break out of that mindset.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

At the age of 16 I had made up my mind about pursuing music as a career. Coming from a very small town I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it happen other than the fact I knew I had to move at some point. I had never imagined that teaching was going to be one facet of my career, or that it would be the primary focus.

After teaching at multiple locations I had started to receive request to teach privately out of my home. At this point I began taking on a few students and later began to offer online lessons. To grow my presence and establish authority in my field of study I began a YouTube channel that included performance videos and educational videos. Not long afterwards I began selling lessons and courses on Musiclessons.com.

My online lessons and courses are focused on guitar with a leaning towards jazz. My goal is to equip students with the fundamentals that they can apply immediately to advance their knowledge of the guitar. I also cover topics dealing with improvisation.

At this point I teach full-time at a high school while also teaching online to students across the US and in other countries. I also maintain my position as an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Joseph University.

Teaching continues to be my main focus. However, I do continue to perform under my own name at various venues in Ohio.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I decided to pursue music I was met with resistance. For someone in my hometown to say they wanted to be a musician was a ridiculous statement since most, including my family, went into nursing, military, and/or construction. Even though there was a constant questioning, I pushed ahead because I couldn’t image doing anything else. As the years have went by and I have worked to establish myself I have gained support from those that questioned my choice in the beginning stages.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Music is a universal language. In high school I had thought about this statement often and began to consider how that applied to my journey. Throughout the years during those difficult times and losing loved ones I would always fall back on music. As the years have continued on I have come to realize the universal reach and impact of music with greater depth. It is because of this that I have continued to compose, perform, and teach with the goal of reaching as many people as possible.

It is also though this journey that I push to keep music alive in the education system and to highlight the genre of Jazz, which is America’s one true original art form.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bobrossguitar.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobrossmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobrossjazzmusic
• Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheBobrossmusic
• Other: Lessons and courses: Musiclessons.com
  Email: [email protected]