Welcome to the Robert Edwin Studio!

About Robert Edwin

ROBERT EDWIN has been a professional singer/actor since 1965, a recording artist since 1966, an ASCAP songwriter since 1967, a published author since 1968, and an independent studio singing teacher since 1975. He has sung Bach cantatas in church cathedrals and rock songs in Greenwich Village, New York coffeehouses; recorded for Avant Garde and Fortress Records, and toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad. He has performed in New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, and has appeared with such outstanding artists as opera star Jerome Hines, jazz legend Duke Ellington, and actor-director Ossie Davis. His TV and radio credits include several NBC Christmas specials as well as commercials for everything from politicians to hot dogs.

Mr. Edwin has written a wide variety of published and performed music ranging from hymns to music theater scores. He was a leader in the 1960s “Church Music Reformation” where his albums, Keep the Rumor Going and With Joy, and his Synergy Series of Worship Experiences became a reviving factor in the life of the modern church. In the 21st Century, he has recorded four CDs of original songs: Robert Edwin-Christian Songs; More to Life-Robert Edwin Sings Songs by Crosby & Edwin; Take Them Along, Our Songs; and Legacy.

Robert’s diverse performing career is matched by an equally diverse teaching career. He is a leading authority on Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) and child voice pedagogy. Until May of 2021when he discontinued regular teaching hours, he preached what he practiced at the Robert Edwin Studio, LLC in Cinnaminson, New Jersey where classical singers interacted with music theater performers, rock, pop and jazz vocalists, child singers, and pageant contestants. He has served on the voice faculties of the University of Michigan, the New Jersey School of the Arts, Burlington County College (NJ), the Applied Music Staff of Camden County College (NJ), and is a frequent faculty member at the Voice Foundation’s Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice. He is an active member of the distinguished American Academy of Teachers of Singing (AATS) and has led master classes and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, The Bahamas, and Australia.

Mr. Edwin is a chapter author for the Oxford University Press 2012 Handbook of Music Education and for the book, Pediatric Voice Disorders (Plural Publishing 2008). In partnership with CCC-SLP Barbara Arboleda, he created a groundbreaking DVD on child voice training, The Kid & the Teacher (voicewize.com 2008).

More recently, he is a featured master teacher in Elizabeth Ann Benson’s book, Training Contemporary Commercial Singers (Compton Publishing 2020); Elizabeth Blade’s A Spectrum of Voices-Second Edition (Rowman & Littlefield 2018); Matthew Hoch’s So You Want to Sing CCM (Rowman & Littlefield 2018); and has a “recipe” in Brian Winnie’s The Voice Teacher’s Cookbook (Meredith Music 2018).

Commissioned by then Editor-in-Chief Richard Miller, Robert’s column, "The Bach to Rock Connection" (1985-2002), became the first column in the NATS Journal dedicated to CCM (“nonclassical”) voice pedagogy. In 2002 he was appointed an Associate Editor of the NATS Journal of Singing. Under Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Richard Dale Sjoerdsma, he created the “Popular Song and Music Theater” column (2002-2021) and is now shepherding the “Singing A Cappella to Zydeco” column that better embraces the “A to Z” diversity that is Contemporary Commercial Music.

Robert Edwin taught for over ten years in New York City under the aegis of the Helena W. Monbo Studio, a studio that included actress/singer Grace Jones, Tony Award winner Ernestine Jackson, and A Chorus Line original cast member, Donna Drake. Past and present students from his New Jersey studio include Bianca Ryan, the Season One winner of America’s Got Talent; members of The Fabulous Greaseband and Grey Eye Glances; Kristen Alderson, who played "Starr" on the ABC-TV soap opera, One Life to Live and continued her run on General Hospital; and contemporary Christian recording artist and songwriter, Paul Baloche.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Serving as both a singing teacher and a coach since 1975, Mr. Edwin teaches an integrated method that includes the “tions” of voice technique (body position, respiration, audiation, phonation, registration, resonation, articulation, and emotion), repertoire development (the right songs for the student’s voice, personality, age, and appearance), and performing skills (stage presence, fear management, audition skills, mic technique, actor/singer coordination). His dynamic and personalized approach encourages students to discover and cultivate their own creative resources and to modify technical and behavioral traits that interfere with artistic expression.

PERSONAL

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1946, baritone Robert Edwin comes from a professional musical family. His father, the late Edwin Robert Steinfort, sang in vaudeville and premiered the song, "Yes, We Have No Bananas" in the musical revue, Barney Google. His mother, the late Helena W. Monbo, was a prominent New York City singing teacher and his own personal teacher for over fifty years. Robert is married to Faith Sanderson Steinfort, a retired Language Arts teacher and his personal in-house editor. They have two adult sons, Kurt and Matthew. Matthew and his wife Ana have two children, John Patrick Steinfort and Ella Elizabeth Steinfort.

LINKS

American Academy of Teachers of Singing
www.americanacademyofteachersofsinging.org
A forty-member academy of nationally and internationally-known voice teachers.
Robert was elected to membership in 2001.

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
www.nats.org
A 7,000 member professional organization
Robert Edwin is a past NATS national Secretary/Treasurer and is presently an Associate Editor of the NATS Journal of Singing as well as chair of the Investment Advisory Committee. He has been a member since 1981 and was sponsored for membership by the renowned 20th century voice pedagogue, Richard Miller.

New Jersey Chapter – NATS
www.njnats.net
A state chapter within NATS
Robert has been a member since 1981 and is a Past-President of the chapter.

Harmony Helper
www.harmonyhelper.com
Robert is a consultant for this company that offers an amazing app to help singers learn melodies and harmonies quickly and accurately. He also counts its Founder and CEO, Andrew Goren, as a student in his studio.

Singing in Popular Musics
www.singinginpopularmusics.com
Robert blogs for Jess Baldwin’s site dedicated to CCM singing styles.

Philadelphia Ethical Society
www.phillyethics.org
Robert is a member of this humanist community which is a part of the American Ethical Union. He serves as a songleader and directs the PES Pop-Up Chorus.

PHOTOS

Click here to view and download high resolution pictures of Robert Edwin.