Mary Robb
(she/her)
As a lifelong musician with two decades of experience as a cello teacher, the most rewarding aspect of my work is fostering students’ love of music.
I grew up in a Scottish-Persian family in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alongside my string-playing siblings, I studied cello and piano, developing an early love of ensemble play. As an early-career musician, I toured places as diverse as the Baltic States, Central Europe, and New York. I completed degrees in Music at King’s College and Goldsmiths, University of London, and later earned a Ph.D. at The University of Edinburgh. Now, as a teacher and fellow parent in New York City, I am gratified to see my students become adept cellists who share their love of music with their communities.
How I Teach
I specialize in cello instruction for middle and high school musicians interested in solo and ensemble opportunities. I offer a flexible approach to the Suzuki method and curriculum. From Suzuki, I emphasize core classical repertoire, parents’ participation as practice partners, and focus on musicality paired with rigorous technique. Beyond Suzuki, my students become proficient at sight-reading, participate in the Brooklyn Cello Choir, and perform all-cello ensemble repertoire with multiple harmonies throughout the year.
My goal is to guide my students to become versatile musicians who will succeed in any number of ensembles and performance contexts. My decade of experience teaching college music courses allows me to understand my students’ musicianship as an integral part of their broader education. I help students prepare for auditions, create portfolio recordings, and organize workshops to support their college applications. As part of the School’s Cello Choir, students also gain experience as Teaching Assistants, mentoring younger cellists and developing skills in pedagogy, stage management, and more. In turn, Junior cellists benefit from this mentorship and get inspired by their more advanced peers.
Education
Suzuki Cello Training Units 1-10, Revisiting Unit 1 and Every Child Can!, Suzuki Association of the Americas
PhD, Musicology University of Edinburgh, UK
Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, Cello Performance Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music, UK
MMus Contemporary Music (Distinction) Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK
BMus, Music (First Class Honors) King’s College, University of London, UK
Associate of King’s College King’s College, University of London, UK
Cello Choir performs, Hungarian Dance No. 5, J. Brahms arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle
“I successfully auditioned for the New York Youth Symphony orchestra. Mary’s communication about the music itself - from the most basic elements of musicality to the deeper and more complex ideas about style and interpretation - was invaluable for me.”
Max, Studio Alumni
