Biography

Christine Brown was born and educated in Leeds. At the age of sixteen she won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London where she studied piano and viola for four years. She returned to the North, won the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra Concert Soloists' Competition and began to develop a combined career as performer, teacher, composer and adjudicator. Having taught in a number of schools she then became a lecturer in music at Bretton Hall College for fifteen years. She had a flourishing practice in Leeds with pupils ranging in age from six to over sixty.

Well known through her teaching publications Christine has lectured widely to piano teachers in Great Britain, Korea, Cyprus, Singapore, Hungary and the U.S.A. Her study of Bartok's educational music was recognised by Boosey and Hawkes in 1988 when they commissioned her to write a Guide for Piano Teachers to coincide with the publication of the definitive edition of Mikrokosmos.

Christine believed strongly in the value of ensemble playing at all stages and her pupils took part in groups of various sizes from duets to octets. Her publications included two books of duets for pianists, three for violinists and two books of trios (violin, 'cello and piano) for young players.

Christine was among the first people to join the European Piano Teachers Association and she ran the Yorkshire branch for fifteen years. She was also a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and was honoured to be elected Warden of the Private Teachers' Section in 1991.

In her spare time Christine enjoyed painting and gardening, especially looking after her collection of camellias.

Education & Qualifications

Institution

Allerton High School, Leeds
Royal College of Music (Foundation Scholar)
University of London Institute of Education
University of York

Qualifications

A.R.C.M. Piano Performing
A.R.C.M. Piano Teaching
G.R.S.M. (London)
M.A. in Music, University of York
F.T.C.L. (Piano Performing)
Diploma in Philosophy of Education, University of London