Athletes know it: Prior to undertaking any physical effort, it is important to warm up the muscles and their specific functions in a flexible and relaxed manner...
This is not different with musicians, for example with the facial muscular system for the brass players. It is of interest of each individual to develop a well thought and individualized approach of the choosen warm up and to practice it as regularly as possible.
Before warming up
The daily initial contact (or the first one after a prolonged absence from playing) is to determine the planning and protocols for an apropriate warm up. The point is to evaluate the shape of the lips at this precise moment rather than to thoughtlessly and routinely begin the warm-up. Are they already flexible, and how are they responding well to these little and light appeals and tests?
If the answer to the first question is yes, the warm up can be undertaken efficiently and quite quickly. This allows even trials to push the mastered personal limits by developping more flexibility and refining the sensations.
If in contrary the lips are tired, stiff (from not recovered efforts), the strategie has to be adapted, slowed down, shortened, to avoid any worsening of the problem. Instead of a warming up it will be a recovering exercise. A physically brutal and stressful warm-up on tired lips can have catastrophic effects. If the evidence provided by the diagnosis shows that the lips have not recovered from unusual effort, it is better to decide to take a longer rest and to postpone the warm up session.
In principle, if the warm up proves to be delicat, more progressive, shorter and well spaced (with rests) sequences will help to bring the good sensations and the vitality back.
Warm-up conceptionThe adapted attitude while working on warm-up exercices is decisive: relaxation, patience, concentration (focused on self-observation). To avoid: routine exercices spout out like tibetan prayer wheels.The support - in our case for example the Warm-ups & Studies by James Stamp - even if systematically followed, must always be balanced in accordance with the physical state of the lips. (But don’t forget rule no. 1 for elite world-class athletes: "No Pain, No Gain!")
Intelligently conceived warming up contributes greatly to musical and technical confidence to the instrumentalist. It is indispensable for the music artist who wants to give the best of himself.
(engl. edited by Thomas Stevens)Buy the original James Stamp Warm-ups & Studies at the Editions Bim's Online Shop |
