Saxophone Warm-up

1. Long notes are an essential starting point in any saxophone warm-up. They bring the instrument to a proper
playing temperature whilst gently activating emouchure, diaphragm, fingers and brain. Play this mf thoughout
to begin, then repeat adding written dynamics. Hold the pauses until your diaphragm is completely empty.
,U ,U ,U ,U ,U
4U
&4 w bw w bw w bw
pp f pp f pp f pp f pp f pp f

2. Activating the lower register. Concentrate on producing a beautiful sound on every note. Diminuendo as
far as possible without compromising the tone.
U ,U ,U ,U ,U ,U ,U
& w w bw w bw w w
f pp f pp f pp f pp f pp f pp f pp

3. Adding more articulation. Using a metronome, keep the tempo very slow (around q=60) and hold
pauses until diaphragm is empty.
, U , U , U , U , U ,
4œ œU
˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ bœ œ ˙ bœ œ ˙
U
&4
œ œ ˙
p ff ff ff ff ff ff ff

4. Expanding the register upwards

U U , œ œ U
˙ œ œ U
˙ , œ œ U
˙
4 U , U , œ œ U
˙ , œ œ ˙ , œ œ ˙ ,
&4 œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙
p ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff

5. Introducing greater flexibity with slurs and leaps.

U
U , ˙ ˙ , U ,b ˙ U
˙ , U ˙
, b ˙ U ,
˙
U ,U
˙ #˙ w
4˙ ˙ #˙ ˙ #˙
&4
ff pp pp ff ff pp pp ff ff pp pp ff ff pp

6. Wider slurs whilst activating the upper register.

U U U U U U
˙
˙ ,#˙ ˙
# ,˙ ˙ ,b ˙ ˙
b ,n ˙ n˙ ,˙
4˙
&4
mf

Sheet Music from 8notes.com © Copyright 2017 Red Balloon Technology Ltd
 7. Articulation. Practise with a metronome, gradually increasing speed. Play in all keys and vary dynamics.

4 .
œ .
œ . . . œ. ˙
œ
&4 œœ œ œ .
œœ. œ œ
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. . . œ. œ. . .

bb . . . .
& b b b œ œ œ. œ. œ œ œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ œ. œ. œ œ ˙
. . . .
etc.

8. Articulation. Practise in all keys and vary dynamics. Increase speed.

> >
4 œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ œ
& b 4 œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. >œ
> > >
p f p f p f p f p f p f p f p

9. Articulation and leaps. Practise in all keys and vary dynamics. Increase speed.

4 -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ -œ
& b4 -œ -œ -œ
f

10. Scales. Essential for warming-up the fingers. Play slowly to begin (preferably with a metronome).
Then increase the tempo. Vary articulation.

œœœ œ œ œœœœœ
4 œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœœ
&4
œ œœœœ œœœ w
semitone higher etc.
11. Blues scale.
b 6 œ œ œ
& b bb 8 œ œ œ nœ œ œ nœ bœ œ ˙™
semitone higher etc.
12. Arpeggios.

œ œœ œœ
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœœ ˙
&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ

œ œ œ œ œ
b b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
&b b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
semitone higher etc.

Sheet Music from 8notes.com © Copyright 2017 Red Balloon Technology Ltd