[Trombone-l] Trombone Warmups

[Wayne Dyess]

I have to say, Carlberg, that this is a topic of interest to me, as  
well.

I can vividly remember receiving my first copy of the Remington warm- 
up (daily drills) from Dr. Neal Humfeld.  I was a freshman in high  
school at the time.  He gave me a free lesson, and I walked out with  
the Remington in hand.  He took the time to show me how to practice  
them, even though I couldn't play every page.  The most beneficial  
part of that routine for me at the time were the long tones.   
Eventually, I would learn how to lip trill because of the later  
exercises.  Start slow, gradually work them up faster.  So good.

By my senior year and well into college, I was playing all 8 to 10  
pages and doing so every day.  It was about a 30 minute routine.  In  
high school, I got the most good out of 5 to 10 minutes of the first  
page -- LONG TONES.  Even in college, whenever I only had a limited  
amount of time those were the things I gravitated to.  They always  
got me going.  Breathing, tone, relaxation.  All there in a 10 minute  
blow.  Good stuff.

When I went into the Navy Band, I continued to do my Remington  
routine.  But at some point in my military band career, I found that  
I no longer needed that time getting "warmed up".  I was playing 6,  
8, 10, even 12 hours a day.  The next day, it would simply feel like  
I had not quit playing.  I didn't need a warm-up any longer.  To this  
day, if I am playing 1 to 3 hours a day, I am able to pick up the  
trombone and just feel right.

Years and years of face time.  No prob, right?

--Wayne Dyess


On Oct 25, 2007, at 6:29 PM, Carlberg Jones wrote:

> Greetings -
>
> Warmups have been of increasing interest to me
> over the years. Having just returned to the
> trombone, I've collected several warmup routines.
>
> Most of these routines seem to take too much time to complete.
>
> I'd say start easily and gradually expand the
> parameters: range, articulation, dynamics.
>
> I figure there's two factors to consider: the
> player's level and the amount of time available.
>
> What might be good for a student beginner with
> only a minute or two? A high school senior who
> knows the importance of warmups but has only ten
> minutes to do them? A professional with a busy
> schedule, but who does take time to warm up?
>
> What I'm mainly curious about is what are the
> bare essentials to cover in the minimum amount of
> time.
>
> Or, are warmups not necessary or beneficial?
>
> Two centavos for your thoughts.
>
> Regards, Carlberg