So far no one has offered any comments about my last post. Surely someone will step up and defend the common and accepted practice of lone tones (either 1. I have no following, 2. everyone takes my word for it or 3. no one will stick their neck out and face me). Which is it folks?
My Last post stated that for three reasons the practice of long tones should be discontinued. I gave my reasoning for this rebellious statement and in this post I will give the trumpet world an alternative concept which should prove my assertions about the benefits of a more musical form of long tones.
Download Sheet #1- Improved Long Tones- Single line
Download recorded example #1- Improved Long Tones- Single line
In sheet #1, I have written a common set of exercises used as long tone exercises. As you play the recording, visualize yourself spending these 7:00 full minutes dutifully playing your required long tones.
Now
Download Sheet #2- Improved Long Tones
Download recorded example #2- Improved Long Tones- Trio
Look at sheet #2 and play its recorded example.
Which of the two would you rather play every day in your practice room?
The sample I have offered is a very crude example of what can be done to liven-up your long tone exercises. I’m sure you all can come up with an even more creative exercise. The problem is, most people are content doing the same thing over every day and getting bored with the results.
Suggestion on the use of exercise #2.
1. Don’t play the top line at first.
2. Play the second part for a while until you get the feel of the “play rest” technique.
3. As you gain strength, switch over to the top line for a while.
4. When your chops get stiff, return to the second part until they feel good again.
Now if anyone would like to discuss the benefits of the old form of long tones, bring it on…….
I still find the long tone warm up a valuable tool. It is especially helpful when I have had to miss a few days of playing due to schedules/etc. It has helped my endurance during a long rehearsal especially after not playing for a few days.
There is no question that long tones are helpful to our development, the question is, are there more musical and enjoyable ways to get the job done?
Also is this the Curt Schroeder from UNI?
I think I came off really long tones some time ago. I do gentle chromatics and slurring instead, to combine finger and lip flexibility with tone production.
I”m not saying that long tones do not have value for I use them every day. What I have found is that using long tones in a fashion which makes them more enjoyable to play is a better way.
Every day I go through some Claude Gordon range exercises which use long tones, but now I am able to get through them much easier and they are less boring.
Your use of “gentle chromatics” and “slurs” are two of the best ways to improve ones playing as well as being more productive and interesting. For many years I promoted chromatics to increase upper range because of the “gentleness to the chops and nothing can replace regular slur exercises.
Bravo on you comments. You are right on!
….best comments this week.
Go to my other site at….
http://www.trumpetensemblemusic.com/
and pick out any arrangement you like.
Send your request to this address brucechidester@hotmail.com and I will send it to you free as a PDF file.
The best to you and yours from the Branson Trumpet Ensemble
I used long tones for a good while; now I have switch to flow studies and similar patterns to basically do my warn-ups.
Good switch. The “Flow Studies” book is a gold mine. There are more benefits in that book than tons of other exercises on the market.