Music Journalism Insider

Paul Steinbeck Interview

May 7, 2022, 9:31 p.m.

Paul Steinbeck is a musician, author, and professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He’s also the author of the new book Sound Experiments: The Music of the AACM, a study of the exceptional Chicago jazz and experimental music organization. As Paul puts it, “When I was in college at the University of Chicago, I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to become a musician or an academic. For a while, I prepared myself to pursue both careers, studying all day and practicing, rehearsing, and gigging every night. Eventually I discovered that my training as a performer and composer would help me conduct original research about the music I was most passionate about.”

How did you get to where you are today, professionally?

When I was in college at the University of Chicago, I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to become a musician or an academic. For a while, I prepared myself to pursue both careers, studying all day and practicing, rehearsing, and gigging every night. Eventually I discovered that my training as a performer and composer would help me conduct original research about the music I was most passionate about. So I got a PhD at Columbia University, then started applying for academic jobs. After working at three different schools in four years, I was hired at Washington University in St. Louis, where I’ve taught since 2012.

Did you have any mentors along the way? What did they teach you?

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