All About Warm-ups

How To Use Warm-ups For Young Bands

At this time, Warm-ups For Young Bands might be the only comprehensive warmup material available for young musicians in their early stages of band instruction. We feel that it sets the warm up standard and if used correctly, can focus your players on fundamental playing procedures and techniques, build embouchure strength, improve tone, extend quality band time, and properly prepare your young musicians for a highly organized rehearsal to achieve maximum performance and progress, and to help you achieve your objectives.

There are three ways to use this material:

1   Chorale Warm Up

Many top notch Junior High and High School bands systematically warm up with chorales because they provide a gentle breakin period for young embouchures, and present an opportunity to listen carefully to tone and intonation. Unit IV in Warm-ups For Young Bands consists of several chorales which can be used for this purpose. Additional chorales are found in Unit VIII.

2   Random Selection of Exercises as Part of Your Warmup

Select exercises to correct specific problems you have identified in your band's performance. We feel that this is the least effective way to achieve systematic growth and development, however, it may be the most effective way to zero in on problems and make quick improvements. This kind of warm up can be used very effectively in combination with chorales.

3   Warm Up By Key (also a great way to teach your young students about keys)

Warm-ups For Young Bands is intelligently and systematically laid out in four major keys with their relative minors. Almost all easy band literature is written on one of these four keys.

Step 1

Select your warm-up exercises in the key of the selection you are planning to rehearse. 

Step 2

Start with the daily warm-ups in that key, found in Unit I. The comments under the daily warm-up exercises will systematically focus your players attention on fundamentals of playing such as careful listening, good breath support, clear tone, good posture, precise rhythm, etc.

Step 3

Following the daily routine, select one or two additional exercises from the index by key that focus on a playing technique needed for the successful performance of the selection you are planninng to rehearse. There are exercises for a variety of disciplines as shown in the content listed below. Remember to choose the exercises in the same key as your target number.

You are now ready to play your regular music. Your students will be thinking, breathing, and playing in the key of your target number and will have done additional exercises related to its proper performance. The carry-over from warm up to rehearsal is the objective here.

The ability to perform well on a musical instrument is developmental. There is no quick fix when fundamental playing ability is lacking. A good warm up can provide the basis for steady growth and development and should be stressed in the players private practice as well as in the band rehearsal.

Warm-Ups For Young Bands

By albert Stoutamire and Kenneth Henderson

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    Content includes

• Daily warm-ups in F Major, B-flat Major, E-flat Major, A-flat Major
• Interval Studies
• Chromatic Studies
• Tone and Intonation Studies
• Arpeggio Studies
• Interval and flexibility Studies
• Rhythmic Reading Studies
• Traditional Melodies-Lyric style Studies
• Scales