Throughout his musical development, RGRhoades has had both the pleasure and good fortune of knowing and learning from talented musicians and educators.
          While in high school, his most influential musical experiences resulted from his band director, Clyde M. Barr (soundofamerica.org). Under his direction RGRhoades participated in the marching band percussion and low brass sections, as well as playing guitar in the award-winning jazz band, “The Galaxies”. The result was a resolve to pursue a career in music.
          Initial college training occurred under the tutelage of Edward F. McGuire, whose book, “Guitar Fingerboard Harmony” published by Mel Bay (melbay.com) in 976 continues to serve as a valuable resource to those students of the guitar seeking to gain an understanding of music theory as it applies to their unique instrument. It was during this same period that RGRhoades learned the tools necessary for composing and arranging, which were imparted to him by Ron Dekker, a talented composer and arranger, with published instrumental arrangements and original compositions for string ensemble, jazz band, marching band, concert band and flute ensemble). RGRhoades recently collaborated with Mr Dekker to create Magic Island, an energetic Latin tune for jazz ensemble.
          During the last two years of his undergraduate preparation RGRhoades shifted to a more intense approach to the classical guitar with Irvin Kauffman, acclaimed guitarist, double-bassist and cellist for the Pittsburgh Symphony, as his mentor.