Routine Progression from 25th June

There have been lots of subtle changes to the routine since June.  I will attempt to go through them as briefly as possible.

Up until I began my ten day break, the routine stayed exactly the same as it was at the 9^th June.  I stopped, completely on Sunday 15^th July, when we had a short march and hymn job.  In the few days leading up to this, I worked one-off-one-on in terms of practice.

On Wednesday 25^th July I began again.

WARM-UP (only)

1. C.G. Breathing (separate to practice, early in the day):

• Preliminary Exercise: 5 in; 5 out – ten times
• Developmental Exercise: 5 in; 5 full; 5 out; 5 empty – at least ten times

2. Initial Long Tones:

• Eight beat notes from low C down to low G, starting with air attacks (no tongue) focussing on airflow and quality of sound
• Vincent Chicowicz First Flow Study, in C down to low F major, again focussing on airflow and quality of sound

3. C.G. Long Holds + 5 at each 8ve:

• Low C, B, B-flat, B, C, G, E, pedal C, B, B-flat, B, C, G, E, double-pedal C, B, B-flat, C and C (holding last note as long as possible)
• The same in B-flat and G majors
• Middle F, E, E-flat, E, F, C, A, pedal F, E, E-flat, E F, C, A, double-pedal F, E, E-flat, E, F, C, A, triple-pedal F, E, E-flat, E, F, C, A, triple-pedal F, E, E-flat, E, F (holding last note as long as possible)
• The same in E-flat and C majors

4. C.G. Upward Arpeggios 2 octaves + 5:

• Pedal C, E, G, low C, E, G, upper C, C-sharp, D, C-sharp, C
• Then in E-flat, F and G major
• Continue up as high as possible (in this case to C major)

I then STOPPED!

Thursday 26^th July: As yesterday, this time working up to D major

Friday 27^th July: As yesterday – no change

Saturday 28^th July: Same warm-up, this time added Irons group 13 afterwards

Sunday 29^th July: The same, now with Irons groups 13 and 17

Monday 30^th July: As yesterday, adding Clarke Second Study in low G, B-flat, D-flat, E, middle G, B-flat, D-flat, E and high G.

Tuesday 31^st July: As yesterday, except Clarke Second Study now in low A-flat, B, D, F, middle A-flat, B, D, F and high A-flat

From Wednesday 1^st August, routine returned to normal (as above, alternating between diminished seventh key sequences in the Clarke), adding Repertoire work of varying degrees daily.

I developed a horrible and painful cold sore on my bottom lip, exactly where I place my mouthpiece, and changed my routine slightly on Wednesday 8^th August – only doing warm-up and stopping at High B-flat Major (because I couldn’t go any further)

From the 9^th August, because my lip was healed, I returned to the routine, this time adding “Franquin” type exercises at the end of the routine, played as softly as possible, firstly with air attack and then tongued.

From the 19^th August, the routine continued, this time removing the Chicowicz Flow Study and with the addition of Clarke Third (in place of Clarke Second), again working through diminished seventh key sequences and employing single, ‘k’ and double tonguing.  I also replaced Irons 17 with Irons 18 (just a little more complex).

From the 25^th August, the routine stayed the same, except the “Initial Long Tones” and C.G. Upward Arpeggios.  The Long Tones were now as long as possible on middle G/E/D-flat/B-flat/low G or A-flat/F/D/B/low A-flat or F-sharp/E-flat/C/A/low F-sharp (matching the Clarke key sequence).  The C.G. Upward Arpeggios were now pedal C, E, G, low C, E and G minims followed by middle C, chromatic down to middle F-sharp and back to C as quavers.  Working in the same manner as previous weeks.

The next change has occurred this week, from Friday 14^th September, where I removed the “Initial Long Tones” altogether and now replaced Irons Group 13 with Group 14.  Otherwise this is the same.

As you can see, this is a progressive development and has proven to be beneficial and essential to the development of control, tone, accuracy and stamina as well as range throughout this period.