A Scottish-born composer and organist, How is the son of the late Most Revd J C H How, Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland.  He lived in Glasgow during his boyhood, and was educated at the Repton School, where he was a Music Scholar. He attended Clare College, Cambridge, where he read Music and Theology.  He has spent most of his career with the Royal School of Church Music, where he was known principally as a choir trainer specializing in the training and motivation of young singers. In this capacity he initiated and developed the RSCM Chorister Training Scheme which has since been used in various forms in many parts of the world. Since his retirement from the RSCM he has returned to organ playing as an honorary member of the music staff at Croydon Parish.