Hey,Janet, I made a post on this topic a little while ago. I ditched my lip slur routine a few weeks ago because of exactly what you said. I was bringing a lot of Me 1.0 into my warmup every day. I finally realized that I wasn’t going to make progress by taking backward steps. My warmup consists of simple chromatic slurs in the middle and low range. I only cover a fifth at a time. I start on my second line G and go down to middle C. I then start on F# and go down to B, etc. What I do next depends on what I’m playing in my next concert. This week, I’m working on Brahms’ 1st symphony. If I don’t have any specific needs, I’ll work on the Singing C series.

I believe getting a new routine in place can be very helpful for all of us who are taking this journey. I’ve been part of WindWorks for over a year and I’m just beginning to understand what I need to do. I’ve never had dystonia, but I’m sympathetic to what you are going through. I had a thought about re-learning how to blow. I tend to do a lot of cooking, and I was cooking some sauce for pasta. I was getting ready to taste it and I was gently blowing on it to cool down the sauce. I realized that I should try blowing my horn in a similar manner. I certainly don’t have any tension in my body when I’m cooking!. Hang in there and keep us posted!

Hi Janet

maybe my answers will surprise you.

Since MtM I changed the hole Idea with warmup.
The question is what would you like to warmup or what is really important to be warmuped ?
I am very convinced that your body need the warmup not the trumpet.

Therefore I start with flapping the lips,
Stretching the face muscles, etc

Than I take my trumpet without mouthpiece and blow air through it until water drops out of the bell.
With that exercises you warmup your hole body, especially the breathing muscles.

After that I am ready to practice as I perform.
I do the same warmup before going to stage.

That work for me.

Regards
Hajo🎺

Hey Janet,
I’ve changed everything since I met Greg’s method. Not just my warm up routine. I start my warm up every day with: stillness, energize the lungs, humming and release. I practice these 4 stages for a few minutes each. I continue with the first 4 stages of the singing c- series. I want to be very careful about the aperture corners. And I try to play all exercises passively. I keep humming and playing the low C. Then I take a break of a few minutes. Then I play some chromatic scales. Both slurred and tongued. A short break follows. I either continue with technical studies or whatever is pending.
That is my way to warm up. It feels good. The lips are warm but not stressed.
Regards
Pia

Recently I have been:
(Note, I try to rest as much as I play throughout, sometimes I cheat)

1. AAHOO Leadpipe long tone x 3 to 5
2. Leadpipe staccato releases x 3 to 5
3. AAHH OOO on low C# – Singing tone – big sound x 2
4. C# (123) to F# (123) Harmonic Slur – the basic: Corners in, AW – OO, Airstream up x 3
5. Single harmonic slur routine from MTM
6. Double Harmonic slur routine from MTM
7. Octave Harmonic slur routine
8. Lip Bends (MTMs or random ones. Both down and up)

Depending on what I am working on I then either do traditional technical routines such as Clark #2, Flexus, scales or do MTM’s above the stave routines if I am trying to build consistency for a ‘choppy’ gig. ie. A Exercises, Bb Exercises onwards. Sometimes I also do Caruso 6 notes a few times a week.

I also recently have been doing some meditation to get more focus and less ‘inside my head’.

Ultimately, you need to work out something that works for you. If you are struggling, perhaps Greg can help you with developing a warmup in an online lesson.

Hope that helps.

It took me a very long time to commit to practicing at all, let alone warming up. A daily\weekly practice schedule my family could agree too was the key for me. I became overwhelmed with the abundance of technical exercises on offer, MtM helped me get back to the basics of just producing a great sound, focus on breathing and my body and the Warm-Up has turned into something very I look forward to everyday now. Kind of like meditation.

Also, for me, having a practice journal is a great tool. It helps me keep track of what exercises I have been doing and for how long.. what Im exercises I find difficult, what ones I find counter productive.
Monday – 10min Dynamic Control of G Minor *My Eb was sharp and PPP dynamic was wobbly to control*

This way, I found – it helped me to start building more structure into my practice, while also giving me the freedom of letting me warm-up how I like. By the end of my warm-up I’ve usually started writing a short melody for a new song. Its very fun and relaxing for me 🙂
I hope this helps. Good Luck!