How did you come up with the Music Stamp Series? This is the question most often asked by friends, students, colleagues and customers.

…Well, quite honestly, out of necessity is the answer – is it not always the case? Born as my simple idea, just as most inventions usually are, I could not go on any longer trying to figure out all the sloppy notes that my music teachers were giving me for homework between my weekly guitar lessons! I got it in my head to somehow create a device to "STAMP" a fretboard diagram in my music notepad so that I could clearly read the chords and scales that I was trying to learn at the time.

It was the early 1980's when I wondered into a Grand and Toy, an office supplies store here in Toronto, and looked around for a stamp of some kind. We all have seen examples of rubber stamps that say things like, "Paid" or "Return". Obviously they did not have exactly what I was looking for right off the shelf, but they did make custom stamp designs upon request. So I simply had them build me 2 wooden block/handle type stamps with a fretboard, which I still have to this day. At the time these were perfect - an amazing time saver during lessons. Soon, I too became a guitar teacher and incorporated my stamps into all my teaching handouts. I continued using these 2 stamps for many good years with many students. Fellow teachers often inquired where I got these stamps and I kept repeating, "I just had them made at such and such store".

Finally one day, the business aspect of it all hit me square on the head! Why not take a stab at selling these stamps myself? However, there were several problems. First, the inkpads got dry way too fast and were VERY MESSY! Often they opened up unexpectedly inside my music briefcase and leaked ink, ruining my notes. Also the face of the rubber stamp was always exposed, leaving unwanted fretboard impressions stamped everywhere inside my briefcase and papers – an even greater MESS!! The solution came soon after I saw a self-inking type stamp in a magazine and immediately knew this was the answer! The new problem now was who would build these custom music stamps for my distinct and specific purpose. NO ONE really got it or was interested. After countless meetings, nobody seemed to recognize any business potential for this product. I needed large quantities to enable competitive pricing but had no purchase orders to support the new business venture.

This classic business start up challenge then turned into the classic tale of perseverance and knocking on many doors. After so many of the usual "NO" answers, I finally got the one golden "Yes" when I met Mr. Vic Treiguts from a company called Trodat. Vic simply said, "Ok let’s try this and see where it goes". Well 15 years later, here I am and The Music Stamp Series is now a full and ever-growing line of music accessories for the working musician, teacher and student!

The Moral of my story is never quit! Don’t give up on your dreams, passion, love and only HARD WORK will take you far on this ever twisting journey we call LIFE!!

~ Rob Tardik,
Inventor of The Music Stamp Series.

In a career spanning nearly two decades, Rob Tardik has established himself as an award winning guitarist, successful teacher, entrepreneur, and a rising instrumental music artist! Rob has shared the stage with the likes of legendary guitarist Peter White and Grammy award winning saxophonist David Sanborn. Rob is now poised to take center stage with his latest release, "The Right Time", having just won the prestigious award for 2010 Canadian Smooth Jazz Guitarist of the Year! Rob always finds a way to combine his guitar virtuosity and ever tasteful melodic sense to create his signature liquid smooth sound and entertain his fans everywhere!

Rob's Albums on CD may be purchased or listened to online. For this along with more information about Rob, go to his personal website:

www.RobTardik.com