Mark Zauss - Warm Up Exercise

Why it's so important warm up in a non tense manner 
As a clinical psychotherapist and professional trumpet player, I discovered many trumpet players become unconsciously tense when they warm up or because they do not warm up. If you condition your brain and muscles to be tense when you first play each day, you will likely be tense the rest of the day. You can condition your body to play in a relaxed and efficient manner by using a warm up that practices steady air and builds an efficient aperture. Below is a PDF of the warm up as well as a video. 

Breathing relaxed while warming up:
Breathe in as deep as possible without being tense, release the air and relax the shoulders. Buzz the mouthpiece play a G in the staff for 8 counts. repeat this 4 times and you should notice you are playing more relaxed.  In the relaxed position the shoulders should be all the way down on either side. (Not forward, just down on both sides). If you feel your shoulders raising up at any time, especially when playing, this is a good indication that your shoulders are more tense than they need to be. Never tense your jaw - it does not help anything. 

mark_zauss_warm_up.pdf
File Size:	210 kb
File Type:	pdf

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​The purpose of warming up - 

Establish Steady Air

Focus the aperture

Reinforce proper tongue placement
 
Reinforce relaxed playing
 
Clear your mind 
Click file below to Download PDF file of the Zauss Range Building exercise - (Free)

mark_zauss_warm_up.pdf
File Size:	210 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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