Change in Routine - From Sat 26th May 2012

Each weekend I review my routine and see if needs any change.  I don't like to change too much at once, because I can't then focus in on what is working well etc...  Because I aim to keep my routine to less than an hour, instead of adding more material, I adjust current material to give more of a workout.  The important thing to note here, is that I do this very gradually.  I also want to note that we are preparing for Whit Friday this week (Friday 1st June) which is the annual Brass Band Night of the year for the entire country!  I will add a post about Whit Friday after the event to let you know the full feeling and what it is all about.

My routine this week...

WARM-UP:

1. CG Breathing:

• Preliminary Exercise: CG 5-5 x10
• CG 5-5-5-5 (as previous weeks)

2. CG Long Holds + 5 + 5 Notes:

• Low C, B, B-flat, B and C then two octave arpeggio down from Low C to double pedal C, then B, B-flat, B and C (holding double pedal C)
• Then in B-flat and G
• Middle F, E, E-flat, E and F then three octaves down from middle F to triple pedal C, then E, E-flat, E and F (holding triple pedal F)
• Then in E-flat and C (down to triple pedal C)
• The extra notes at the top help to establish a full sound before moving down to the pedal register and help to connect the registers better

3. CG Upward Two Octave Arpeggios + 5 Notes:

• Two octave arpeggio (tongued, minims) from pedal C to middle C, slurring to C#, D, C# and pause on C
• Then E-flat, F and G, then each key as high as possible
• Again, this focusses on connecting the registers

MAINTENANCE:

1. Lip Flexibility

• Earl D Irons Group 9
• Earl D Irons Group 12

2. Clarke Second Study

• Slurred, single tongued, 'k' tongued and double tongued, starting on:
  • Low G, Bb, Db, E, mid-G, Bb, Dd and E [+ upper G] --OR--
  • Low Ab, B, D, F, mid-Ab, B, D and F [+ upper Ab] --OR--
  • Low A, C, Eb, mid-F#, A, C, Eb and F# [+ upper A]
• Followed by two octave G dominant seventh from low G to upper G, slurred and then double tongued, then triple tongued, as fast as possible, two (or three) notes per pitch

REPERTOIRE:

• Work on pieces that need it (preparation for the English Nationals and ofcourse Whit Friday)!

WARM-DOWN:

• Three octave arpeggio down from low C to triple pedal C
• Then in each key down as low as possible (usual to G)

The only thing that I have changed is the warm-up.  I am also working at doing more breathing exercises this week, because I slacked a little at this last week.

As an aside note, I want to point out what I do on rehearsal and performance days.  I don't do any of the Maintenance or Repertoire work on these days because, ultimately, I want to sound as fresh as I can.  I warm-up in the same way and warm-down in the same way.  I sometimes spend more time on the breathing throughout the day, which is a good workout in itself.

For example, this week I have band rehearsal on Monday and Wednesday (which is typical) and I also have Whit Friday on Friday (as I mentioned above).  So Saturday to Friday will go like this:

• Saturday - Full Routine (c.1 hour)
• Sunday - Full Routine (c.1 hour)
• Monday - Warm-up; Rehearsal; Warm-down
• Tuesday - Full Routine and some private teaching (c.1 hour+)
• Wednesday - Warm-up; Rehearsal; Warm-down
• Thursday - Full Routine (c.1 hour)
• Friday - Warm-up; Whit Friday; Warm-down (hopefully!)

I will review this next week and let you know if it panned out how I have planned!