Bass Trombone Warm Up Routine Worksheet Template printable pdf download

Warmup: preparing to play

bass trombone

Nick Keelan

September 2009

I Breathing (30 seconds):

The following short exercises are intended to change one from the normal breathing pattern of everyday

living to the kind of breathing one must do to play trombone. For the purpose of this warmup the main goals

are (1) to increase the depth of breathing so the player is taking in air to full capacity (2) to set a standard

of deep, correct breathing that is maintained in all of the warmup and routine and then is used as one

plays music. Correct performance breathing must become HABIT and must be AUTOMATIC. As you do

the following breathing exercises avoid becoming light headed. The goal of these short exercises is to gently

move from the shallow breathing of everyday living to the deep breathing of playing.

A Take 2 or 3 deep, slow. open breaths. Breathe low but also make sure the chest expands.

B Increase the chest expansion in order to feel a slight pull at the sternum

C Maintain this style and depth of breathing as you progrees through the rest of the warmup

II Buzzing (30 seconds)

The goal in this section of buzzing is to GENTLY awaken the muscles of the embouchure with a CLOSED

END buzz on the mouthpiece. At this time in the day's playing DO NOT buzz aggressively or with the end

of the mouthpiece open. The resistance on the closed mouthpiece should be about the same resistance as

playing the trombone at MF. Do a few arpeggios and intervals in a variety of ranges but especially

emphasizing the low register. Maintain the correct breathing established in section I.

III Long Tones (3 to 4 minutes)

The following long tone exercises have very specific goals and are perhaps the most important exercises

in this warmup. The primary goals of this exercise are: (1) produce a big, relaxed, steady tone (2) produce a

matched tone and volume on all notes (3) make a smooth lip slur from one note to the next (4) maintain the

correct breathing established in section I (5) keep air steady. Don't be in a hurry on this exercise. The breath

marks represent a rest which should be just as long as it takes to play each two or three note group. REST AS

MUCH AS YOU PLAY.

q = 72

4 4

˙ b

III-A

œ œ

œ b œ b

œ œ

œ b œ b

œ œ

˙ b

III-B

Bass page 1

Bass Trombone Warm Up Routine Worksheet Template