Fundamentals - Sub-Sections
Slurs and Scales
Slurs and scales is a series for brass to develop the fundamentals of lip slurs while the woodwinds work on the fundamentals of scales/patterning exercises. There are also developmentally appropriate percussion exercises as well. These exercises can be used as a conceptual teaching tool, but also as an ensemble warm-up. I'm always searching for new ways to approach the basics in order to give variety to teaching warm-ups/fundamentals. One big difference between this and other sequences is that it only focuses on the keys of Bb and Ab. This can be a time saver for younger ensembles where the woodwinds may not be fluent in the keys of A, G, Gb, etc.
Register Stretching
These sets of warm-ups are designed for the full band, but adapted from an individual focus.
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Band Basics - Fundamentals Package in Varying Keys
These ensemble warm-ups/fundamental packages have several purposes. Each page is in a different key, helping students to solidify the notes and patterns. Included in each key is several different exercises: the scale proper, an easy etude to listen to the sections and then blend the sound together, an exercise that plays the scale from 1 to 5 DOWN to low 5 and back to 1 (this is to help students realize that the key is not just the scale), technical patterns for developing individual and ensemble articulation, an (most) importantly, a CHORALE!
My goal for these warm-ups is to have one page that addresses what you usually have to go to several different places (resources) to achieve. I use these for myself especially for festival preparation. Also, I wrote a TON of percussion parts. Students can play snare, bass, cymbals (suspended and crash), Timpani, Auxiliary instruments (it's a general rhythm so they can play on any single strike percussion instruments), bells, or xylophone/marimba.
My goal for these warm-ups is to have one page that addresses what you usually have to go to several different places (resources) to achieve. I use these for myself especially for festival preparation. Also, I wrote a TON of percussion parts. Students can play snare, bass, cymbals (suspended and crash), Timpani, Auxiliary instruments (it's a general rhythm so they can play on any single strike percussion instruments), bells, or xylophone/marimba.
(if you see any editing errors, please just send me a note and let me know)
Just the Chorales
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Here I've extracted the chorales from Band Basics and put them all in one place. Some of the chorales are the same or similar, just transposed to the new key signature. It could be a good exercise to play the chorale in a comfortable key, then make it sound just as good in the other key (i.e. Bb and G are the same chorale). Either way, these are short and to the point, giving you a chance to work tone, balance, blend, intonation, articulation, dynamics, tempo variations, and literally anything else 😎.
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Ensemble Singing
Many, many directors will tell you that singing within the concert band rehearsal is a game changer. I agree! However, sometimes when students get behind the instrument, they want to hide that singing voice. "I play an instrument so I don't have to sing." This resource is designed to help students through the singing process, making it more comfortable. It goes step by step, and needs nothing other than the ensemble seated in front of you. Try it out and see! Singing in band is a very good thing!!!
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Just Intonation Practice
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I decided to make an accompaniment track/video where individuals and ensembles could practice long tone chords that had been adjusted for just intonation. It's always a great moment when students first learn to "lock in" with an in tune chord. This also allows for a bit of theory development too, since the sequence goes through the circle of fourths. If you use this resource, let me know how it goes... especially since it's a little different than many of the other things I've created. My hope is to help everyone play better in tune :)
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