Review

Ben van Dijk
Ben’s Basics:

Den Haag, , Netherlands
Publisher: BVD Music Productions
Date of Publication: 2004

105 pages

Primary Genre: Study Material - book
Secondary Genre: Study Material - etude

One of the world’s leading bass trombonists and pedagogues, Ben was born in 1955 in The Hague and earned his Solo Diploma cum laude in 1980 at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He is currently bass trombonist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and has been a member of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and the Dutch Brass Sextet. Additionally he is a Professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Royal College of Music in Manchester. He has given master classes all over the world and was the recipient of the prestigious ITA Award in 2003. He has also recorded three solo compact discs.  

He states the following about Ben’s Basics:
'This book is a combination of ideas, which have helped me to come to where I am right now. They also have proven to be of value to many of my students. During many of my master-classes I have given in the past years, students and colleagues have asked me to write down my ideas and bundle them into a book. (It) includes breathing exercises, daily routines, warm-ups, and general tips all leading to what I call "a vocal-relaxed way of playing your instrument.”'

The book is divided into the following chapters:  Biography, Author’s Notes, Pre-Warm Up Exercises (mostly breathing), Daily Routines (practice hints, long tones, flexibility, etc.), Warm-up (tonguing, slurs, cool down, etc.), Tip of the Week (Relaxation tips, Orchestral related tips, General tips, etc.), My Equipment (Thein trombones), Discography, and Quotes. Aside from the various exercises and playing tips, there are numerous photos of the author and testimonials from other prominent trombonists. The 105 pages of this book contain much valuable information, gathered from a wide variety of sources.

-Karl Hinterbichler
University of New Mexico