I start my practicing with scale exercises (scales, thirds, fourths, etc.), I make sure to cover all 12 keys and the range from Low B-flat up to top F always with the metronome and try to keep things as steady and clean as possible. And where applicable, I cover the different inversions. For example: today I played through my scales in thirds all up (C-E-D-F etc.), all down (E-C-F-D etc.), up and down (C-E-F-D etc.), and down and up (E-C-D-F etc.). By the time I take those through all 12 keys the fingers are moving really well. After weeks of the same types of things I need a change so I switch things up. So, I will work through technical exercises from a book as a warm up. For example A different chapter from Comprehensive Jazz Studies and Exercises by Eric Marienthal or a section of 158 Saxophone exercises by Sigurd Rascher. I like these books because they work through all 12 keys and the entire range of the horn.
After I do my long tone exercises I go to scales articulated. I use the Londeix Gammes Et Modes volume one and two that uses different articulation for each scale. I start at quarter note at 120 and work my way up to 152 all articulated. Then I slur at 176. I will do thirds and fourths as well. After those are all finished I do all my major scales throughout the altissimo range of the horn to super F to keep my flexibility. Last and not least I work on double tonguing, fast single tongue and articulation in general. This normally takes about an hour and after that I spend time on the music i'm working on.
Hello everyone. In my daily warmup routine I have a 30 minute warmup. I start with the overtones F fifth line on the music staff regular fingering long tones without the octave key at least 10-12 seconds, then the overtone fingering the same 10-12 seconds and then the tone matching between regular fingerings and overtone fingerings at least ten seconds each. Then changing the overtone series fundamental such as lower Bb, lower C, lower B, lower C#, lower C, lower D, lower C#, Eb ,etc. After I practice different patterns and stuff I'm working on to try to introduce it into my daily playing. Scales in thirds, fourths, minor, major, diminished, half, whole, etc. All within maybe an hour and a half. I also try to play everything while warming up with very little tension trying to get used to a relaxed embouchure, throat position and steady air stream. Articulation is something that I already integrate into everything I do. Syllables such as dah, dit, du etc. Well, this may sound like a lot. But, this is just on tenor. I know guys who actually try to work on their doubles and everything in the same day. It's very time consuming and may also result in physical pain even damage to some essential nerves which are part of our embouchure muscles. I also try to change my routine every month or so depending on how I feel on what needs improving, which is a lot for me. Take care guys. Hope this helps. I'm actually a tone manic when it comes to my horns if I don't sound the way i hear it in my head I actually overwork myself sometimes. Best wishes.
Valerie Gillespie said:
Another thing that I like to do, which not only gets my fingers warmed up, but gets my music theory knowledge engaged is to practice all of my scales and all of my full arpeggios in all modes. For example: modes of a two octave C scale C-C Ionian (key of C) C-C Dorian (key of Bb) C-C Phrygian (key of Ab) C-C Lydian (key of G) C-C Mixolydian (key of F) C-C Aolian (key of Eb) C-C Lochrian (key of Db) I do this on every note, and then I step it up a notch. Full arpeggio (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,13,11,9,7,5,3,1). I found this trickier at first because I was used to counting on my ear as well as my brain to tell me if I had it right, and I wasn't used to hearing the 11,13,15 as much. It really opened my ears, and developed my finger-fluidity. Oh, also, I always use the metronome, no matter how slowly I have to set it that day! ;-)
each mode is just starting one up from the root, and so on correct??
