Sounding Brass » Students

Steven Mead to Give Internet Music Lessons

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 07 May 2007 17:38:38 +0000

If you’re interested in getting some tutelage from Steve Mead, there is now an opportunity for a limited number of students to receive lessons via the Internet.

1. lessons with be given via ‘Windows Live Messenger’ video call
2. lessons will be of one hour duration, and students can book one or two hours during this period. (subsequent appointments will be offered should the trial period in July be successful). Internet connection to be made 5 minutes before the start of each lesson.
3. all students should have access to broadband internet connection and should have a computer with camera , microphone and speakers of good quality (headphones can be used but quality speakers preferred)
4. applications can be made immediately by e-mailing stevemead@compuserve.com
* lessons days and times available: Five hours per day between 2pm-9pm UK time (GMT)
* Monday 2nd July
* Tuesday 3rd July
* Wednesday 4th July
* Thursday 5th July
* Friday 6th July
* Monday 9th July
* Tuesday 10th July
* Wednesday 11th July
5. prior to lessons beginning, repertoire to be played by the students to be faxed, or e-mailed to Steve by 25th June
6. the content of the lesson(s) can be requested my the students, ie
* specific repertoire performance
* coaching on practice routines
* specific techniques, e.g. breathing, embouchure, finger technique, tonguing techniques or…
* …or a combination of the above
7. cost of one hour lesson: £70 (approx 105 euro, or 136 USD) Payment to be made in advance , by 11th June, payable by paypal or credit card.
8. following the lesson an email summary report sheet will be sent to you by Steve
9. lessons for this period will be 1:1 although other people will be allowed to watch ! Group/ensemble tuition will be available at a later date, following this trial period
10. lessons may be recorded but strictly for personal use and no duplication or broadcasting (including youtube) to be allowed.
11. all students to sign an agreement form once acceptance onto the internet course has been agreed.

Steven Mead Information

Why Warm Up on a Brass Instrument

Ian McKenzie — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:13:06 +0000

There are two basic reasons for warming up on a brass instrument.

Getting the muscles around your mouth working. Just as an athlete warms up prior to competition or a game, so the muscles the brass musician is about to work need stretching and loosening.
Helping with the intonation. Cold air in a brass instrument is denser resulting in the pitch being flatter. The body-temperature air coming from you to your instrument will cause the pitch to sharpen. It’s good have the instrument up towards playing temperature, before you start.

Tags: brass, music, warming+up

Tutoring Tutors

Ian McKenzie — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:33:22 +0000

Theme Magazine —from The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory— has republished some thoughts from Staff Bandmaster Brian Burditt on being an effective brass teacher.

The teacher’s responsibility is threefold: observation, diagnosis and prescription.

First, the teacher observes the student and his performance problems; second, he thoroughly analyzes the problem; and third, he prescribes a remedy to solve the problem, which, with patience and careful practice, will in time correct the difficulty.

Salvationist.ca – Theme Magazine -Tutoring Tutors