Author: sfalexi
Date: 2022-08-20 19:31
So when I think 'warmup', I think "I need to practice with a group". Meaning, this isn't necessarily me going into a practice session on my own, but band practice is starting, a performance will be starting soon, something like that.
With that in mind, I focus mostly on getting into the right head-space, and also warming up the fingers and tongue. I'm not even sure how much of it is "warming up" the fingers and tongue, but at least my brain thinks it is, and I feel more comfortable doing this. I sorta zone out and try to focus on moving fingers smoothly and evenly, and having a stable and pleasant sound.
FWIW, I have put together my own scale study compilation from various sources, but for my warmup, I only use pages 4 and 5 from Robert Spring's warmup found here.... https://www.bandworld.org/pdfs/SpringWarmUp.pdf
My choice for a warmup
So I play page 123 from Klose, 16ths at 80 bpm. All slurred, circular breathed (my circular breathing is NOT great, but hey, why not work on it every time I warm up?). Mezzo forte. Then after that, I play page 14 Langenus arpeggions. Same tempo with 16ths, however this time I play the first two bars slurred, and the next two bars tongued. I likely will not circular breathe at all here, but if I DO attempt it, it's always during the slurred portion.
And that's it. I chose 80 bpm because I'm confident I can play through it pretty darn well at that tempo. And this hits scales and arpeggios (moving fingers in succession, and the moving them in leaps and combinations), and tonguing, all while having steady breath control.
Takes maybe 8 minutes. And I feel good and ready to start rehearsal or perform.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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