Hey all,
Does anyone know a really awesome website for warm-ups or exersises for Alto sax? Because I usually go over my scales for warm-ups but I want some melody warm-ups, like just some easy ones to get my started...anybody know a website or just know some that I can use?

Thanks a bunch
~scarlett

well, I do all the scales i know, then i do chords, then i do the chromatic a lot, a\and then i improv random stuff, trying to go really high to low ect. then i play stuff.

Scales in all 12 keys and Chromatics are probably your best, and depending on your level of playing (modes, chords, etc.) but i cannot stress how important your longtones are. It is the best excercise for improving your tone, and should be done daily.

Sorry, what`s a longtone? Is it just like a sustained note?

Yes ~ I think he means a sustained tone.for 10 seconds maybe longer .But it`s somewhat boring ....

I suppose necessary though, as said.

Anyone else know of any small melodies or do you think improvising with scales will be stimulating enough for me. Because the daily warm up of scales can be very tiresome.

Doing some random improv on a minor scale can be fun, or finding random stuff to sight read

Sorry: A longtone is a sustained note, I hold the note till i run out of breath starting at pinanissimo (pp) crescendo fortissimo (ff) decrescendo to pianissimo (pp). I usually do it in the cycle of fourths root movement. ex: C to F to B flat etc. through the whole range of the saxophone. I will also help your breathing, but most importantly your tone. Also I stress that when you warm up play in every key, not just the one`s that are familiar, otherwise it will come back to bite you in the but later, like it did me . I wouldn`t bother playing tunes on warmup because you have plenty of time to do that after warmup.
Just to give you an Idea I play about 2-3 hours a day, warmups usually take 30 min. Then I play what I need to ex: concert stuff, solo stuff etc, then at the end I play the stuff I want to work on or do. This way (imho) you look forward to practicing, instead of seeing it as a daily grind.

Hope this helps
Later

CJ

Just to add, if you want any thing like warmup scales or longtones written out please feel free to e-mail me and i can send you some stuff in adobe reader.

Nah I got some manuscript paper, i`ll write them myself. Thanks a bunch though, that helped.

I`d recommend a part of my warm up that hasn`t been suggested here.
I do fast 4/16 notes, on scale and chromatic, and going faster and faster, it helps improve your tounge technique, although I prefer a player with an amazing sound than a player with an amazing technique. then again, the long tones are essential part of the warm up.

Ok thanks, but do you guys have like any specific exercises, or know a website with them. Like a couple of bars of focusing on the right hand, then left hand, then low notes....etc

thanx ~scarlett

I don`t know any specific things for right or left hand warm ups, but (me personally) I have a problem going from middle C to B i will get a double tone, that i didn`t even notice till it was pointed out to me. So right now I work on perfecting that by moving very slowly and evenly so i don`t pick up that extra sound.

Later