Rob Elston is a multi-percussionist whose focus includes rudimental percussion, and hand drumming/ethnic percussion styles from around the world. He also composes, arranges, and instructs on a myriad of percussion topics.
Elston started his career marching in drum and bugle corps in 2001. He has been on the percussion staff of Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps since aging out in 2004. While marching drum corps Rob earned his B.M. in music performance from Eastern Illinois University in orchestral percussion. During his time at EIU he developed an intense interest in tabla and after graduating he relocated to Los Angeles to puruse his studies.
Once in L.A., Elston attended the California Institute of the Arts where he earned an MFA in multi-focus percussion. Rob's studies included tabla, kanjira, pandeiro, riq, frame drum, daf, tonbak, and timbales to name a few.
While learning the tradiitional role of these instruments, as well as a modern approach, Elston's focus has been finding commonalities between them. By doing this he is able to create music that blends the styles and techniques of each instrument.

Rob's teachers include:

Swapan Chaudhuri
Randy Gloss
Andrew Grueschow
David Johnson
Alfred Ladzekpo
Kobla Ladzekpo
Johnny Lee Lane
Houman Pourmedhi
Eric Willie

Rob Elston Multi-Percussionist