Dr Harrison

Robin is insanely obsessive about music educational techniques, progression and methodology and his ideas were first formulated teaching classical piano.  All lessons include a very creative and musical structure vastly beyond typical piano methods that you can buy from a music shop. Even the very first lessons include transposition, improvisation and composition.  Pupils develop into intuitive musicians with significant musical intelligence from the very earliest stages.

Advanced pupils particularly benefit from the inner-ear pedagogy derived from that of Kodaly.  They 'hear' the various parts in their playing that are not the main melodic material.  They 'feel' the phrases and structures and thus 'communicate' the music to the listener rather than 'reproduce' the score.  The result is something very personal, very musical and for those who enter examinations or competitions, higher marks.  Technical exercises reduce tension to minimal levels thus promoting independence of the fingers and allowing faster passages to flow with ease.  Other practice methodologies include exercises that enhance the coordination of hands.  Even scales are not taught in conventional ways and they readily become a journey of discovery, creative and imagination, making them fun and useful!

Robin studied singing with Debbie Catterall, ex Director of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Many of Robin's pupils have commented on his ability to teach a diverse range of vocal styles to the highest level.  He also trained as a conductor with leading choral directors nationally including Sue Hollingworth MBE (Gramophone Choral Director of the Year). Past pupils have gained places at stage schools, LIPA, universities worldwide, as well as several successfully competing in national TV competitions.  Many of his pupils have won local, regional and national awards.  

Robin has a very down-to-earth approach to enabling pupils to master seemingly quite complex issues.  His teaching technique rapidly leads to you knowing what it should 'feel like' inside when you get it right!  Pupils’ ranges, tone and ability to create a variety of vocal colour expand rapidly in the first few weeks.