Welcome to
Hi there! My name is Robert Brooks and I am a professional singer and conductor based in London. I offer online and in-person tuition for voice, conducting and music theory for all levels, and also teach piano and cello up to grade 6.
Welcome, my name is Robert and for the past 7 years I have been helping students of all ages and abilities to progress along (or even begin!) their musical journeys, as well as conducting and singing across the U.K. and Europe.
I began my musical journey aged 5 at the Junior Guildhall, before training as a chorister in the choir of New College, Oxford. I then went on to study music at the University of Manchester, where I graduated with first class honours.
I have a diploma in singing performance from the ABRSM, as well as grade 8's in piano and cello. I also work for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as a conductor and section leader.
Get in touch to find out more.
Get in touch now and start learning to play the piano in Marylebone!
My teaching style is based around three priorities: being holistic, practical, and enjoyable. The holistic element means that, whatever instrument you are learning, I will help you to use and understand your body better, and also broaden and deepen your understanding of music/your general musicianship skills.
The practical element means that I tailor advice to the individual needs of the student, borrowing tools from different schools rather than sticking inflexibly to one particular dogma. I will give you incremental exercises to enable you to reach challenging but achievable goals, and to be able to appreciate your progress.
The last and most important element is of course having fun! I enjoy a sense of unpredictability and variety in lessons, and am always willing to explore interesting tangents that arise (as they always do!) from your musical interests rather than just my own.
Lessons are pay-as-you-go, weekly, fortnightly or as suits you.
I welcome students of all ability levels. I will make a lesson plan that works for your playing standard.
I have experience teaching beginners.
I have spent the last 7 years teaching 1 to 1 music lessons every week, from the ages of 8 to 75! I have taught complete beginners and also advanced students. I specialise in classical repertoire, but teach fundamental skills that are applicable across all genres. My three-sided approach of being holistic, practical and fun, enables students not just to benefit from my teaching, but also gives you the tools/understanding to practice effectively and become your own coach.
I also take my own professional development very seriously. I continue to have lessons myself, and also follow pedagogical forums online, as well as regularly working alongside many of the UK's elite young musicians and teachers. This means that I stay up do date with the best teaching practices, and am constantly absorbing new and fresh ideas to help you get the most out of your music making. I as a teacher will therefore be learning and developing alongside you, so that lessons never stagnate, and the quality of my tuition will always be improving.
I've also helped many advanced players reach their goals.
Singing: I help my more advanced students to maximise their vocal potential for classical singing. On a technical level this involves identifying and releasing unnecessary tensions, setting up the vocal tract for maximum resonance, establishing neat vocal fold closure, exploring and balancing junctures of posture and vocal support, and optimising breath flow. Expressively, this means helping the student to fully understand and engage with the style, language and form of their repertoire, in order to implement strong and emotionally moving character choices.
Conducting: I help advanced students to fully realise the clarity and expressive potential of their gesture and beat patterns, in a way that allows them to use their own bodies efficiently. Work is done with and without a baton, and attention is also paid to 'softer' skills of rehearsal demeanour and effective communication. I also help with score preparation and analysis, as well as broadening repertoire knowledge (particularly in the choral field).
Music Theory: I can help students prepare for exams in the higher theory grades, especially regarding harmonic analysis (including figured bass and jazz charts). This can also involve learning techniques of counterpoint and harmonization, analysis of common musical forms, and also effective pedagogical tools for those who wish to start their own teaching.
My favourite part of teaching is watching a student discover a new aspect of their capabilities or personalities of which they were previously unaware, especially if I have helped them to facilitate that development. I live for those moments/lessons where 'the penny drops' or there is a 'breakthrough', and the joy it brings to both student and teacher!
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My lessons are charged at £30 per hour for all students.
I teach my lessons from a teaching space located on Jaques Samuel Pianos – 142 Edgware Rd, London W2 2DZ.
I teach students of all ages and all learning backgrounds.
Weekly lessons are the best way to improve but this isn't essential.
Lessons cancelled with less than 48 hours notice will still be charged full price.
Get in touch and start learning to play the piano today!
Piano Teacher
Robert Brooks
