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Kristian Steenstrup:

Teaching Brass Second Edition

Published at Aarhus University Press

Ass. Professor of trumpet at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus Kristian Steenstrup has published the book Teaching Brass, which is a scientific exposition on brass technique and - pedagogy.

Trumpet player Kristian Steenstrup (born 1966) received his Diploma Exam at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus in 1992. He has had additional studies at Northwestern University in Chicago with Vincent Cichowicz and studied privately with Arnold Jacobs and John Henes.

He has played with the major orchestras in Denmark and has been employed as associate professor at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus since 2000.

He has given master classes in Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Danish Military orchestras, The Guildhall School of Music, London College of Music, The National Music Academy in Estonia and conservatories in Scandinavia a.m.o.

Kristian Steenstrup has been appointed as visiting professor at the London College of Music 2004-2005

149 pages   ISBN 87 988393 3 0

Teaching Brass Contents:

The Laws and Physics of Brass Players
          Analogies between Singers and Brass Players
          Mouthpiece Playing
          The regime of Oscillation

The Oscillation of the Lips and Embouchure
          The Embouchure of the Singer
          The Vocal Chords of the Brass Player
          The Musculature of the Embouchure
          Placing the Mouthpiece
          The Acoustical Properties of the Embouchure
          The Embouchure and Aerodynamics
          The Brain's Control of the Physiology of the Brass Player
The Brain's Control of the Face

The Brass Player and Solfeggio

The Power of Imitation
Mirror and Echo Neurons

Respiratory and Aerodynamic Aspects of the Teaching of Brass
          Conscious Control of the Respiratory System

          The Physiology of Breathing
The respiratory muscles and their involvement with various methods
The Diaphragm
The Abdominal Muscles
The Intercostal Muscles
The Accessory Respiratory Muscles
Posture
Lung Volumes
The Relaxation Pressure
The Size of Inhalation
The Vital Capacity of an Individual
The Valsalva Maneuver
Articulation and the Valsalva Maneuver
Valsalva and Stuttering
Aerodynamics and Sound
Aerodynamics and Mouthpiece Pressure
Other Aerodynamics and Acoustic Aspects
Volume and Timbre

The Psychology of Breathing
Inhalation
Exhalation
Dynamics
Breathing Excercises

Bibliography

Index

$29.95 Order

"Kristian Steenstrup's Teaching Brass is a most comprehensive and detailed treatise on the pedagogical requirements associated with sound principles of performance on a brass instrument. His treatment of the laws of physics, physiology and psychology provides a wonderful guide to the interrelationship of these disciplines in performance practice. His research and documentation are impressive and I believe this volume to be a worthy addition to this field of study."

Vincent Cichowicz, Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University, Former member, Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

"I recommend every wind player includes Teaching Brass in his or her library. Kristian Steentrup has done the hard work of researching the physiological aspects pf wind playing for you. This book will give you a very comprehensive view of what is necessary and I think more importantly what is not necessary to play a wind instrument.

John Henes, certified Alexander Teacher, former ass. Principal Trumpet. Chicago Lyric Opera.

"In my opinion, Teaching Brass by Kristian Steenstrup is the most complete and comprehensive work available to date on the art of brass teaching and playing. The explanations and analysis of the science of brass playing are clear, concise and accessible and the text flows with structure and congruency. Its content challenge many of the 'accepted' concepts and language of previous writings and methods and I believe that it makes available the knowledge to enable any brass player to perform with the ease of a master player. This should be on every brass teachers bookcase!"

Nock Thompson, Principal Trumpet, Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Instructor of trumpet at The London College of Music.

"At last the book all brass- and woodwind teachers have been looking for! This book demystifies some of the old brass- and woodwind teaching methods. It comes with sharp and clear facts about hos the body, lip and brain work and how you can achieve tremendous results as a brass player. The book is a must for all brass- and woodwind players as well as their teachers."

Jonas Haltia, trumpet, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Brass Herald
Book Review
Teaching Brass, by Kristian Steenstrup ISBN 87 - 988393 - 2 - 2
AARHUS UNIVERSITY PRESS  (2004)

Kristian Steenstrup and the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus , have produced something to be proud of. Teaching Brass is a concise but comprehensive treatise on the physics, physiology and mental approaches to teaching (and playing) brass.

Steenstrup’s principles relate particularly closely to those of the singing voice and are backed up with accurate and clear reference to both established performance practice and what seems to be sound scientific research. Analogies between singing and brass are traced through sections such as “the embouchure of the singer”, “the vocal chords of the brass player”, and a section on mouthpiece buzzing, “the brass player’s solfeggio”.  Likewise, in his section on breathing, he refers to various singing techniques (for example the traditional German approach) in his thorough appraisal of our common concepts of support, diaphragm and posture. His principles may seriously challenge some existing views and perhaps even dispel some myths, and in my case shed really valuable light on many areas, such as just why many an unorthodox embouchure works so well!  Other sections, on solfeggio, ear training and imagery are highly practical and can be put to immediate use.

This book is rare in that it inter-relates painstaking detail with simple and effective approaches. Steenstrup points out succinctly that a prerequisite of an excellent teacher is being a performer who can know (and preferably demonstrate) nuance of timbre, phrase, intonation and stylistic tradition. He clearly fits this bill.

Beautifully translated to English by Agnete Schmidt, Teaching Brass can be recommended to any teacher, player or serious student of any wind instrument.

John Miller.

 

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