Biography

Get to Know Us!

Robert M. Snyder, Jr.

With over thirty years as professional guitarist and vocalist, Coraopolis native, Bob Snyder, has played for over twenty years in full time A-circuit touring bands, while also managing these bands. He spent five years in Minneapolis/St. Paul and the five state area and another fifteen-plus years in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Reno and Portland, playing all up and down the west coast--eventually playing over 4000 live shows in over forty states. If this wasn't already enough, after this, he tour managed for other internationally touring artists for another 500 gigs.

When not on the road, he also taught guitar, bass and voice over the years, and worked for six years as Director of Promotions at Inside Out Music America (www.insideout.de), the premier label for the finest progressive musical artists in the world. He’s also been guitar and bass technician at NEARfest (www.nearfest.com) and production manager at RoSfest (www.rosfest.com)--and in 2008 and 2009 was production manager for the first major Pittsburgh area progressive rock festival 3RP, the Three Rivers Progressive Rock Festival (www.3rprogfest.com). At these festivals, he’s worked with such luminaries as Steve Hackett, Keith Emerson, Derek Sherinian (Kiss, Dream Theater, Billy Idol), Virgil Donati, Dennis Chambers, Tony Levin, Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa), Spock’s Beard, Starcastle, Rich Williams (Kansas), Neal Morse, Kerry Livgren (Kansas) and King's X.

Currently teaching guitar, bass and vocals at the 808 Music Haus studio, he fills in his “spare time” by tour managing for and touring with some of the finest artists in the world (Asia, Jeff Berlin, Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Jude Gold [of Jefferson Starship), James LaBrie, the California Guitar Trio and the Flower Kings, to name a few). And Bob is also the guitarist and singer for the greater Pittsburgh area's premier vocally driven power trio "GumBand" (www.thegumband.com and also at Facebook: TheGumBand). Most recently, he's also performing with the Davis-Gray acoustic trio as well as playing solo instrumental acoustic guitar shows at the HomeWood Suites Hotel in Robinson Township. We're also on the short list for production assistance (monitor mix, lighting, etc.) at the Pepsi Roadhouse (www.pepsiroadhouse.net).

“While it goes without saying that it is a music teacher’s job to teach music, I also believe that it’s the instructor’s job to instill a love of music into the student. That is, to have a student ‘want to practice’ as opposed to ‘having to practice’. I do this by incorporating traditional teaching methods with learning newer, more popular songs that people will again, want to practice, then I explain the musical structure--reverse engineering, as it were. My particular music specialty is rock, blues, pop, metal and AOR, but I love it all'".

David Resto

Dave Resto is a working drummer/percussionist, drum teacher and music journalist. Born and raised on Long Island, he has lived, studied and played in and around New York, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Currently a resident of Mount Lebanon, he gigs in the Pittsburgh region with River City Blues, The Honey Tone Ramblers and Ruby Red and the Dirty Devils. He’s also a first-call substitute drummer for many of Pittsburgh’s leading bands, as well as an in-demand percussionist and studio drummer.

As a music journalist, he was a staff columnist for the Bisbee Observer newspaper during his time in Arizona. He’s now a staff writer for the Los Angeles-based entertainment website Rock and Blues Muse, a contributing writer for the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania’s quarterly ‘Blues Letter’ and a freelance writer for various publications and promotional services.

At 808 Music Haus, Dave teaches drums to students of all ages and skill levels--from beginner to intermediate to working professional. Starting with a strong foundation rooted in basic techniques, he introduces music theory and song structure and instills a sense of musicality in drumming composition and improvisation. Dave’s teaching is based upon his 40 years of dedication to drums and percussion. Always happy to share his knowledge and experience, his lessons are geared toward the individual needs of the student and are infused with humor and encouragement.

UPCOMING SHOWS

2018-19

GumBand (www.thegumband.com)

Saturday, May 25 The R Bar (9:30 pm) www.rbardormont.com

Friday, June 14 GreenHouse Winery (6 pm) www.greenhousewinery.com

Friday, June 21 Moon Park Amphitheater www.moonparks.org

Saturday, July 13 Sunny Jim's Tavern (8-11pm) www.sunnyjimstavern.com

Friday, August 9 North Side Farmer's Market (3-4:30 pm) East Ohio St. at Cedar Avenue

Friday, August 16 Roy's by the Tracks (8:30 pm) www.roysbythetracks.com

Saturday, September 7 Downey's House (9 pm) www.downeyshouse.com

Saturday, October 5 Robinson Township Car Cruise (1 pm) Robinson Towne Center

Friday, November 8 Roy's by the Tracks (8:30 pm) www.roysbythetracks.com