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 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. He was a leader in the 1960s “Church Music Reformation” where his record albums, Keep the Rumor Going and With Joy, and his Synergy Series of Worship Experiences became a revitalizing 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. Preaching what he practiced at the Robert Edwin Studio, LLC in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, he became a leading authority on Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) and child voice pedagogy. 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 has been a frequent faculty member at the Voice Foundation’s Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice. Internationally, Robert has led master classes and workshops in Canada, the Bahamas, and Australia.

Mr. Edwin was a chapter author for the Oxford University Press 2012 Handbook of Music Education as well as 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 Singing Teacher (Inside View Press, 2008).

More recently, he is a featured Master Teacher in Elizabeth Ann Benson’s Training Contemporary Commercial Singers (Compton Publishing, 2020), Elizabeth Blades’ 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).

Supported by then Editor-in-Chief Richard Miller, Robert’s column, "The Bach to Rock Connection" (1985–2002), was 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. With the encouragement of Editor-in-Chief Dr. Richard Dale Sjoerdsma, he began shepherding the new “Popular Song and Music Theater” column (2002–2021) and finally, the third iteration of the column, “Singing A Cappella to Zydeco” (2021–2023). He continues to serve on the Editorial Board of Australian Voice and remains an active member of the prestigious American Academy of Teachers of Singing (AATS).

Robert Edwin taught for over ten years in New York City under the aegis of the Helena W. Monbo Studio, a studio that included Tony Award winner Ernestine Jackson, actress/singer Grace Jones, and A Chorus Line original cast member Donna Drake. Students from his New Jersey studio include Bianca Ryan, the season one winner of America’s Got Talent; members of The Fabulous Greaseband, April Mae & the June Bugs, 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, as well as repertoire development (the right songs for the singer’s voice, personality, age and appearance), and performing skills (stage presence, fear management, audition techniques, mic usage, and 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, performed 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 school teacher and his personal in-house editor. They have two adult sons, Kurt and Matthew, both of whom have performed with their dad.

LINKS

• American Academy of Teachers of Singing (AATS)
  A select, forty member organization of nationally and internationally-known voice teachers. Robert was elected to membership in 2001.


• National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
  Founded in 1944, NATS is the largest professional association of singing teachers in the world. Robert Edwin has served as a national secretary/treasurer and was chair of the Investment Advisory Committee. He has been a member since 1981 and was sponsored by the renowned 20th century voice pedagogue, Richard Miller and NATS Charter member, Louis Nicholas.


• New Jersey Chapter – NATS
  A state chapter within NATS, Robert has been a member since 1981 and is a Past-President.


• Harmony Helper
  Mr. Edwin was a consultant for this company that was recently acquired by RWS Global. It offers an amazing app that helps singers learn melodies and harmonies quickly and accurately. Its Founder and CEO, Andrew Goren, was a long time student in his studio.


• Philadelphia Ethical Society
  Robert Edwin (aka Bob Steinfort) is a member of this humanist community which is part of the American Ethical Union founded by Felix Adler. Bob the Robert serves as a singer/songleader and directs the PES Pop-Up Chorus.

PHOTOS

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