Bob Stanton

Bob Stanton serves as Associate Professor in the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches fingerstyle guitar techniques spanning Blues to modern Jazz. A renowned performer, he has collaborated with James Taylor, Bo Diddley, the Temptations, and appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and Dave Brubeck's A Welcome Home Christmas, while contributing to publications like Guitar Player magazine.

His educational background:

• Master of Arts in Music, McNally Smith College of Music, 2013
• Bachelor of Music in Music, Berklee College of Music, 1983

Stanton's research and performance focus centers on Guitar Performance, Jazz, and Blues, emphasizing experiential learning through his philosophy: "Words pale next to the experience of music." He integrates piano-like approaches into guitar instruction across diverse genres.

His honors include:

• Ovation Award (first student recipient at Berklee)
• BMI Songwriting Award
• ASCAP Songwriting Award

As an educator, Stanton operates as "a mentor more than a strict disciplinarian," nurturing students "as if they were my children" to achieve their artistic goals. He leads the Bobby Stanton Band and maintains an active performance career with the Minnesota Orchestra and international artists.