MANSFIELD — Many people have told Robert Baker he was born at the wrong time, but he disagrees.
Baker, a Mansfield resident, makes his living riffing the music of Rock Bands from the 70s and 80s and sharing his music online.
“I used to be obsessed with the band Creed, and my dad one day played Van Halen 1984, ‘Hot for Teacher,’ ” Baker remembered. “I said ‘What is that?’ That’s pretty much was started it. I’ve been obsessed from there on out.”
Baker, 27, has played guitar since he was 12 years old, but he found learning to play difficult. He discovered Rob Chapman who taught guitar lessons on YouTube.
Baker said he was impressed with Chapman’s ability to be endorsed for giving guitar lessons and he thought it was something he could do.
“I was like, ‘a normal person can do that?’ So I started making videos too. I started making regular YouTube videos and it has taken off from there.”
Using his experience gained from Pioneer Career and Technology Center in Media Management, he has obtained 29,373 subscribers on the streaming media service.
He makes videos ranging from lessons on famous solos to product reviews.
“I’m just a YouTube musician,” he said. “For me it’s all about music. That’s what it’s always been about. Some videos I may not talk in it, so it’s just enjoying the music.
“Sometimes it could be, ‘Hey I remember having trouble learning this technique.’ Here’s what I do did that helped me.”
Aside from teaching on YouTube, Baker is making a living with teaching lessons worldwide, again using the internet.
“Most of my students live outside the United States,” he said. “I started making YouTube videos, then Metronome Music asked me to teach there. I was there for about four years. And people would ask me through YouTube if I did Skype lessons. I ended up doing it.
“I left Metronome and I was teaching in person with my own students, but now it’s all Skype. People from Germany. It’s crazy to me.”
Baker said he never envisioned himself making money the way he does. When he first began learning the instrument he said the path was: learn to play, join a band and tour.
“It was just so crazy. People started asking for Skype lessons two years ago and now I have about 50 Skype students. It’s gotten so my schedule is full. I couldn’t take on more people if I wanted to. It’s a weird path. I didn’t initially plan on (this), but it’s cool because I get to be home all the time. You get to tour the world, but you’re in your house.”
Baker also is contracted by guitar companies who pay him for his teaching efforts.
“I make videos for a company called Guitar Control. I had to make 26 videos for them, and I basically spent all day Saturday shooting for them and I got 10 videos done,” he said. “It takes some work because then you have to edit.”
The realm of YouTube is continuously changing, with users’ demand seemingly in flux. Baker said ingenuity is important, but he recommends it for everyone.
“I always tell people to just start a YouTube channel,” Baker said. “The problem is most people get discouraged and quit when they don’t have many followers after some time. You just have to keep going.”
