Hi! I’m Bobby Gotsch.

Eight. That's how old I was when my dad came home with a brand new album cradled in his hands. The cover art gleamed with purple, green, and gold. We tossed it in our basement boombox, and suddenly Jimi Hendrix's ferocious "Purple Haze" intro surged through the speakers. What my dad didn’t plan for is me clutching his leg, begging for a guitar—any guitar. After a year of pleading, he finally gave in and started me out with a $99 mini Squier acoustic. I still play it today.

After years of private study with one of Chicagoland’s top instructors, Dale Prasco, I earned the Woody Herman Jazz Award as a senior at Chesterton High School in 2016. I went on to study in the University of North Texas’ renowned jazz guitar program and, after graduating in 2020, began performing full-time in Dallas’ vibrant country, R&B, and gospel circuits. My time as a musician in DFW was a masterclass in adaptability, collaboration—and a healthy dose of Merle Haggard. Exciting opportunities presented themselves, and I was able to perform at venues including the Dallas Cowboys’ Ford Center, the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, and the Petrillo Music Shell in Chicago's Grant Park.

Despite my lifelong love of performing, it wasn't until I took my first K-12 teaching position three years ago that I found my true passion: sharing the joy of music with kids. Since then I’ve taught high school piano/keyboarding, children’s choir, general music, and served as an assistant director for concert band and orchestra. But in truth, my love for music education began much earlier—over twelve years ago—giving private guitar and piano lessons out of my mom’s home office.

Currently, I’m working towards my master’s in music education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and expect to graduate in spring 2027. Whether it’s a packed classroom or a focused one-on-one lesson, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the spark of inspiration in a student—the same spark I felt when I was just eight.