Cellist Susan Robison is an active performer and a dedicated teacher. She began studying the cello at age 11 and soon entered the prestigious Indiana University String Academy. She earned a Masters Degree in Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors Degree in Performance from Ball State University. Her major teachers include Susan Moses, Mihai Tetel and Tanya Remenikova.
Robison has been on the cello and chamber music faculty at the Hartt School Community Division, a high level preparatory performing arts school, since 2007. She served as string chamber music coordinator from 2009-2014, during which time she presented at two ASTA National Conventions. She was Artist Teacher at the University of Rhode Island from 2009-2013. In the summer of 2006 she was Susan Moses’ assistant at the IU Summer String Academy (where she had spent previous summers as a student) as well as the cello teacher of the Junior String Academy.
Many of Ms. Robison’s students have won principal and assistant principal seats in Connecticut’s Northern and Eastern Regional competitions. Other student accolades include solo performance in Carnegie Hall (Weill), regional concerto competition winners, HCD String Honors Recital winners, chamber music honors, and acceptance into major music conservatories and universities.
Robison is a founding member of the Clara Piano Trio and regularly performs chamber music with colleagues and friends throughout southern New England.
Robison and husband Mihai Tetel enjoy raising their two young and boisterous sons, who love to dance and sing to music.
My hope for every cello student I have the privilege of teaching is that they each grow to be independent thinkers and passionate musicians. Each person’s journey towards developing these qualities is different; my role is to facilitate the process in an encouraging, enthusiastic, and enjoyable way.
I believe it is important to be sensitive to individual learning abilities, how students think (right brained/left brained), any fears or anxieties when playing, and then stretch the abilities and get rid of inhibitions to help all students grow as cellists and human beings.
Developing technical skill is a high priority in my teaching. I teach a steady diet of scales, arpeggios, double stops, and etudes so that students can achieve technical security. Through this diet of technique students develop into independent thinkers who can come up with imaginative solutions to cellistic problems.
Alongside teaching technique I strive to stretch each student’s imagination by engaging them in a creative musical education. I believe assigned repertoire should be challenging but not too difficult so that students produce performances at a high level. This not only sets an attainable goal but develops healthy self-esteem.
Most importantly-learning to play the cello is a serious skill, but the process should be fun! There will always be good humor in my cello teaching!