Dr.

Erik Shinn
University of Florida
Developed Fall 2015

Developing a Warm-up

1. Comprehensive: It should cover all aspects of playing the trombone that

you may encounter during the day.
2. Brief: 15-20 minutes maximum. There will be times when you have 20
minutes (or less!) before you have to sound your best.
3. Memorized: Exercises you know like the back of your hand. No
books/papers needed.
4. Individualized: It will likely include similar elements across other
players, but only you know what works best for you!

Wake up the Body

• Stretching: Start with some simple stretches. Focus on the upper body:
head, neck, shoulders, arms, torso, waist.
o Make sure to focus on anywhere where you might be experiencing
pain or stiffness
o Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique

• Breathing: Maximize potential capacity, flow, and relaxation. Exercises

should be slow and steady.
o 1. Sit Tall 2. Suck Air
o Voldyne, Incentive Spirometer, Breathing Tuba
o Vernon: The Singing Trombone
Wake up the Mind

• Buzzing: A full-bodied buzz is most important. Start with the middle

register and then expand.
o Exercises are good to start, but get to music!
o Patriotic tunes, folk songs, Bordogni/Cimera
o Vernon: The Singing Trombone
o Pollard: Buzzing the Mouthpiece (YouTube); Denson Paul Pollard
Warm Up Video (YouTube)

• Long Tones: Compare what you sound like against your ideal concept of a
trombone sound.
o All Registers
o Hunsberger: The Remington Warm-Up Studies
o Ellefson: “’If I only Had the Time’…Warm-up”

• Articulation: Is it clean, clear and under control?

o All varieties: Single, Double, Triple, Air
o Tah, Lah, Nah
o Arban (ed. Alessi/Bowman): Complete Method for Trombone &
Euphonium
o Marsteller: Basic Routines for Trombone

• Lip Slurs: The foundation of brass playing. Is it smooth and seamless?

o 75% Slow / 25% Fast
o Edwards: Lip Slurs: Progressive Exercises for Building Tone &
Technique
o Davis: 15-Minute Warm-up / 20-Minute Warm-up

Vary the: Tempo, Dynamic, Rhythm, Articulation, Pattern, Key

There are tons of books, cds, warm-up packets out there. The best thing you can
do for yourself is to get your hands on as many as possible, try them, and see
what works best for you!