Breathing

The air intake should be passive and relaxed even at higher speeds.

• Breathing

 

Buzzing

Use a comfortable dynamic, avoiding force. Connect each note through an even glissando.

• Buzzing ↑

 

Glissandi

Like the buzzing exercise, connect all notes through an even, slow glissando. Keep a relaxed approach to the exercise. Thanks to Ben van Dijk for granting me permission to reproduce this exercise from his book Ben’s Basics.

• Glissandi ↓

 

Tone production

Connect all notes using a constant air stream and a musical line towards the last note. Remain relaxed through the whole exercise, especially when reaching the higher and lower registers.

• Tone Production

 

Flexibility

Reduce mouthpiece movement to a necessary minimum. Like the previous exercise, maintain relaxation through the whole exercise, especially when reaching the higher register.

• Flexibility – ♪
• Flexibility – ♪³
• Flexibility – ♬
• Flexibility – ♬⁵

 

Scales

Use a defined, consistent articulation through the whole exercise. Do not tense when playing the higher register. Think of using a constant air stream while tonguing fast (but not hard). The slide movement should be precise, fast, lacking any tension.

• Scales ♪ from low C

 

Arpeggios

Keep the same tone quality through the whole register. Use a comfortable, singing dynamic. Connect all notes through a liquid legato, using a bump-free constant air stream.

• Arpeggios Legato

 

Long tones

This exercise covers the whole range of the instrument.

• Long Tones Bb1 – E1
• Long Tones F2 – B1
• Long Tones Bb2 – E2
• Long Tones F3 – B2
• Long Tones Bb3 – E3
• Long Tones F4 – B3
• Long Tones Bb4 – E4

 

Soft legato

Based on an exercise by Jean-Baptiste Arban

• Soft Legato Bb
• Soft Legato Eb
• Soft Legato Ab
• Soft Legato Db
• Soft Legato Gb
• Soft Legato B
• Soft Legato E
• Soft Legato A
• Soft Legato D
• Soft Legato G
• Soft Legato C
• Soft Legato F