I began my wonderful journey into the world of classical guitar over three years ago at the age of 45. Long a fan of the instrument and genre, I finally mustered up the courage to seek out a teacher who would dedicate the same level of commitment to my learning as he or she would a younger music major. I am so grateful to have found Rob Marino! Rob is truly one of the most patient, dedicated, and knowledgeable teachers in Houston. His background and pedigree in the classical guitar are second to none, but what really sets Rob apart is his very personalized approach to each student. In short, he makes learning the instrument accessible, interesting, and fun. My lesson with Rob is truly one of the highlights of my week, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. - RCS
Rob’s amazing guitar talent is matched only by his incredible patience and passion for teaching. I enjoyed every lesson! - PT
Learning the classical guitar under Rob Marino's guidance has been a great experience. He is extremely talented and very well informed about Western Classical music. During each lesson, he ensured that equal emphasis was given to playing as well as understanding of the music. Rob is very patient, encouraging and inspiring. In addition, he makes great efforts to accommodate changing schedules. I would definitely recommend learning from him! - ES
Rob teaches classical guitar for the best possible reason: to pass on his love for the instrument to others. His formal background in music and in guitar is second-to-none, and this shows in the lessons: he's as interested in your development as a musician as he is in your development as a guitarist. With each lesson, you gain valuable insights about your playing and have a much better idea about how to move forward. You learn how to improve your technique, which is critical to making progress with guitar and to be able to play complex pieces with ease, you learn how to approach your practice sessions, and you learn how to be more musical. As a beginning classical guitarist, much of what you gain from Rob's insights is very difficult (if not impossible) to learn on your own. I cannot recommend him highly enough! - FJ
Rob is the kindest, most patient teacher one could hope for. He is very skilled and very focused on your learning. He gives invaluable instruction for a reasonable price from his comfortable studio. More important than learning a song, Rob teaches you how to actually play the guitar - the proper way to hold the instrument, pluck the strings, fretting, all of it is paid very close attention so that you do not form bad habits. He is also open to teaching you styles that appeal to you. If you are looking for an excellent learning experience, look no further. - CS
I LOVE my classical guitar lessons with Rob Marino. Before Rob, I hated taking music lessons of any kind because I felt the teachers were forcing me to do things I did not want to do. Rob’s manner, on the other hand, is kind, gentle, patient and wise without his compromising any standards. Being so tuned into both the guitar and the student, he can watch me play, immediately see the things I need to improve, and precisely tell me how to improve them. He does all of this in such a way that I want to listen and I am happy and grateful for his guidance. There is rapid and measurable improvement in my playing every week. His ability to teach and to help students improve, and actually enjoy improving, is a great and unique gift. I highly recommend Rob. - DD
A pleasant, disciplined and patient instructor who shows a lot of care about his students. An artist who is passionate about his trade. Great teacher. Highly recommended. - HV
Tired of tiny, cramped rooms in the back of music stores with teachers more interested in signing you for extended lessons or selling a guitar than your desire to play? I bounced around a lot of small rooms with indifferent instructors until I met Rob. Come prepared to work in a nice studio with an exceptional teacher who is really interested in teaching you to enjoy playing the classical guitar to the best of your ability. - JBL
Playing the classical guitar is a truly adventurous journey that may happen for many years or a lifetime. Over the four years of lessons with Rob, he showed me many new aspects, such as technique, analysis, practice methods and musicality. Perhaps the most important thing that Rob taught me was the sensitivity and ability to teach myself. Rob helps his students to use previous experiences, analyze music and draw their own conclusions on how to approach particular pieces. These days, every time I pick up a guitar, I know that it does not have to be a boring scale practicing session, but I can create an opportunity to acquire a new skill or new tool. I travel often, but this has never been an obstacle in continuing lessons, because Rob always finds time, regardless of the continent and time zone I am in. Rob is the most patient teacher on earth. He has the ability to discover the individual strengths in a student. He can precisely indicate the way of further improvement, no matter what the circumstances are. He knows how to encourage students to work, making sure that this work becomes a true enjoyment of playing the guitar, too. - RR
As a 70-year-old beginner in classical guitar, I selected Rob Marino at random to be my Zoom teacher. After the first lesson, I knew I had made the right choice. Rob’s teaching style is relaxed, and he allows me to learn at my own pace. I finish each lesson feeling encouraged, motivated and wondering how the hour went by so fast! I would definitely recommend Rob to anyone who has the desire to begin his or her classical guitar journey on a “good note.” - EJ
I started lessons with Rob a year and a half ago, after several attempts to learn on my own, with inevitable frustration. After each lesson with Rob I come home with the next steps to take my playing to a higher level. Of course, the hard work in your classical guitar journey is at home practicing, but Rob will give you the tools to take your playing to as high a level as you're willing to go. He is patient and attentive, catching the simple mistakes as well as the nuances of the song that you would not catch on your own. His teaching allows me to come home and look forward to practicing the guitar. - TDP
I always looked forward to my interactions with Rob Marino, a very patient and kind gentleman. I really miss our lessons and I wish he was out here in the Cypress/Fairfield area. Rob is very passionate about the classical guitar as well as other instruments. At times I left his home feeling like I wish I had two hours instead of one, as I was beginning to feel his passion in the music. He has a very nice studio and it is a comfortable atmosphere. Rob is not only my guitar instructor but now a friend. I would highly recommend anyone at any age to take advantage of his vast music knowledge. I was very fortunate to learn from this man. Thank you! - PR
When I first came to Rob, I told him that I am horrible with rhythm and have difficulty controlling my fingers so I don't know if I can EVER play the guitar. Rob is a very patient and talented teacher who never made me feel bad about my mistakes and constantly tries to help me feel the music so my playing can become more smooth and connected. Till this day, I am still learning from Rob and cannot believe that I can play the guitar. Nothing is impossible as long as you try and you have the right teacher to help you. - TT
Throughout my years of studying classical guitar, Rob has taught me to appreciate and understand every single note as it is meant to be played. Rob has helped me advance to another level with his patience and perseverance; he has a great enthusiasm for teaching guitar. His love for music shows when he passes his knowledge along to his students. - LA
I have been taking lessons from Rob for a little over two years. I've been fascinated by the classical guitar for most of my life and have taken lessons for short periods without much success. Now in my mid 70's I have finally found the teacher I wish I'd had 50 years ago. I feel that I have made a lot of progress. Rob lets me play the pieces I am interested in and helps me understand all the mistakes I have made and how to improve them. He is really dedicated to teaching and I hope to continue to take from him for many years to come. I find that my interest in playing is greater now than at any time before. I don't think you could find a better teacher than Rob. - TC
Rob is a great teacher! I had never picked up a guitar before I started taking lessons with him but I don't think I will ever forget what I learned under his kind, patient tutelage. I enjoyed each class with him. He also taught me how to read music! Every class was fun and every class improved my skill, which wasn't easy considering my lack of coordination. ;p - BD
We started out signing our oldest son who was 13 at the time to learn classic guitar. About a couple of months or so into his lessons, I noticed Rob’s unwavering patience and genuine love to teach. I, myself, wanted to learn guitar but honestly thought that that time has long passed and gone. But after a couple of talks and through Rob’s encouragement, I gave it a try. Rob understood and appreciated our different schedules. I had work and sometimes travel. My son was getting acclimated to high school. Rob not only was patient with us, he had a special way to nudge, encourage, and push us to be better and even to go beyond our own expectations. I focused on fundamentals. My son focused on playing. Rob understood and found a balance for each of us. Needless to say, close to 4 years later, we still enjoy learning and playing classic guitar. Now we have added our 7 and 9 year old to the mix. Very few things in life are ever worth their value. Whatever values we established early on, learning classic guitar from Rob has certainly far exceeded them. Rob not only taught us to play, he taught us to love playing. Learning and playing classic guitar is a bond that I will always have with my 3 children. Thank you Rob. - DN
Rob Marino is one of the best guitar instructors I have had. He not only teaches you how to play the guitar with a good technique, he encourages you to enjoy it. - JMA
"I enjoy each note" and that is exactly what you would be learning under Rob, learning to enjoy each note. I have had the privilege to learn with Rob for over a year and it was an enriching experience for me. I thought I could learn classical guitar with sheet music and I was totally wrong about that. Rob taught me a lot about how to improve my guitar skills through fine learning and practice. He has always inspired me with his meticulous and systematic approach to learning the classical guitar. I never felt that he was teaching for an income and that's exactly a quality that has to be in a teacher. - JC