How to Warm Up

Remember, in order to warm up properly, you need to arrive earlier. Here is a suggested warm-up routine:

Before you get to school:

q Start taking deeper breaths, increasing your lung capacity

q Stretch and get into good body alignment and posture

q Move the muscles you will use (arms, hands, fingers, lips, etc.)

Once you get your instrument out:

q Put the instrument together, doing a visual scan to see if there is anything that needs to be adjusted (proper maintenance will lead to better playing)

q Oil valves, check your reeds, check your slides

q Blow warm air into the instrument

q Brass players, buzz on your mouthpiece

q Get accessories out that you will use during the musical, such as

o Your pencil

o Mutes

o Reed holders

o Instrument stands

o Anything else that you will need (percussion, use practice pads to continue warming up without disturbing others)

When you are ready to play:

q Play long tones, starting in the middle of your range and descending by half steps (always play with your best tone)

q Play long tones with dynamics, 8 counts of crescendo, 8 counts of diminuendo

q Play the chromatic scale descending to the bottom of your range (pick a tempo and use it, be steady)

q Play the chromatic scale ascending to a little past the middle of your range

q Play all 12 major scales

q Play arpeggios (1, 3, 5, 8, 5, 3, 1, go down a half-step and repeat)

q On woodwinds, play octaves and 12ths (Standard of Exc. has great exercises!)

q On brass, play lip slurs (Standard of Exc. has great exercises!)

q On percussion, play scales and rudiments (Standard of Exc. has great exercises!)

q When you are finished warming up, play some tuning notes with other players or the piano/keyboard

q Use any remaining time to look over and mark (with a pencil) parts that are challenging to you, and practice them

Here’s what not to do:

q Take your instrument out and play as high, loud, and as fast as possible

q Play the easiest part of the music to show off

q Play the easiest part of the music as high, loud, and as fast as possible

q Play something that has nothing to do with the rehearsal or performance with which you are currently involved (to show off, as high, loud, and as fast as possible)