Robert Conti
Customer Testimonials
My cover interview with Robert Conti in the November 2010 issue of Just Jazz Guitar was to have a sidebar of customer comments on Robert Conti's teaching materials and methods. Somehow this was not included with the interview so I am including them here. Originally I had asked that they restrict themselves to two sentences for reasons of space, but since that is not an issue here I am including the entire answers of those who wanted to say more.
I think they speak for themselves.
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The concepts, principles, and foundation of Robert Conti's methods have been consistent and effective since the 1960's. They are based on "playing music" and "what works". They have stood the test of time and do not change with the current changes in technology or fads. They are built on rock solid ground. Many of the other websites are technology driven, not content driven, and are therefore subject to influence by current fads, trends and fashion. 5 years from now many of these other websites will either be out of business, irrelevant, or passe' because they are subject to trends. Conti's materials have been around for 10+ years and, as I understand, are selling better than ever, definitely bucking the current market trend. The proof is in the facts and satisfied customers. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts (paraphrased from Daniel Patrick Moynihan).
There are great players, and there are great teachers. But the rare breed is the artist who is both a great player AND great teacher. Conti is in that elite category. That is another reason why his materials are standing the test of time. He has been a dedicated teacher since the 1960's. Many of the other websites that are up or going up are from players whose gig income is falling off and they are reaching for any income they can to stay afloat. So, they hang their shingle out with the IMPLIED premise that "since I am a great player, I am therefore a great teacher." Not true. Buyer beware.
I personally have used Robert Conti's materials since 2002 to hone my skills and advance my playing. They have done just that. Because I am an educator AND a performer, my personal practice time is limited. I use Bob's materials to keep my chops sharp and my ears keen. They are very effective in this respect.
For my students (all instruments), the Ticket To Improv series is great for beginning-intermediate players to develop a jazz vocabulary. The Jazz Lines allow intermediate players to move to the next level with the "ones" concept. Our jazz arranging students love to use Conti's Chord Melody Series to explore very beautiful substitutions and reharmonizations on jazz standards. The students like his materials because they start playing some very hip jazz lines and chord changes immediately. It is fun and it really fans the flames of their desire to play jazz.
I personally do not use or ascribe to any jazz learning materials that don't work. Robert Conti's materials deliver exactly what he says that they will. In short, they work and are fun to play. 'Nuff said!
- Mike Irish
I feel that Robert Conti is one of the best player/teachers in the world. His "hands-on" approach works. Robert seems to genuinely care about your progress and he actually makes you believe that "it can happen" and this makes him so much more effective than most instructors that I have had experience with. This includes College instructors.
- Steve Vetter
Wow it's hard to put what impact he's had on me in two sentences since it
has be HUGE. But if two sentences is all there is room for I would have to say:
Conti's method delivers all it claims and more. Having bought everything else out there,I have to tell you I've had more fun and learned more with this than anything else I've studied in the last forty years .
Bob's stuff rocks...I can't say it enough...
- Jon Puhl
After years of practicing fruitless exercises at jazz guitar college, it is now incredible to quickly play professional level solos and chord melodies, thanks to Robert Conti's no-nonsense lesson materials and friendly approach.
- Will Kriski
Constricted by the modes in college, Mr. Conti's products busted open the dam and enabled me to play real jazz improv, in a stream-of-consciousness way, that pure academic sensibilities were never able to.
- Vince Maruzzi
As a working musician playing pop, rock, and jazz, not a night goes by that I don't use what I have learned from Bob. His lessons work in all the categories of music that I play, and my bag of tricks is much larger because of him.
I really believe in Bob's material and it has changed me as a musician.
- Guy Guerra