Bob Oates is a 1973 graduate of SUNY Cortland with a teaching degree in Physical Education and a Dance minor. He has taught at every level from Pre K to college spending 12 years at the high school level teaching Dance History and Choreography. He also choreographed 12 musicals while there, his favorite being "Singin' in the Rain"....with REAL rain on stage.
His two sons were both Suzuki students playing violin and cello. At his first institute with them, he recognized a need for there to be rhythmic movement to aid a student's musicality. He has taught at the Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Institute and Ithaca since 1989. He brings very different activities to develop full body rhythm for a student's musical benefit. In addition, he has choreographed Minuets and a Bouree for students to "live" the music.