 His solo guitar playing often utilizes extended techniques and string 'preparations', as in the prepared piano works of composer John Cage.He has been influenced by composers such as Morton Feldman, Giacinto Scelsi, Leo Brouwer, John Zorn and Pierre Boulez, and improvisors Derek Bailey, Fred Frith and Marc Ribot.Andre van Rensburg grew up in South Africa and studied classical guitar from the age of 7.