Reply To: Junior high appropriate band warm-ups

[nafmeadmin]

SP415,

I am a music education student at Kent State, and we are currently discussing band warm-ups and chorales in class. I was wondering if you could provide me some more insight to your warm-up routine.

My first question would be how long you generally allow for warm-ups and how long of a band period you have each day. Also, with your long tones, do you ever stray away from the Bb concert pitches? While I understand the lip slurs are for your brass players, what do you have your woodwinds play? I know some band directors have their woodwinds work on sluring intervals while others have them play scale patterns. As far as the chorales, do you ever you have your students learn the different lines? Such as, have the entire ensemble learn the soprano line together, then the alto line, etc. and slowly break the ensemble off into the different parts? Finally, do you ever have your students sing during their warm-up or rehearsal, and what do your percussionists do while your wind players are warming up?

If you could answer any of these questions, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks so much!
Sammy