Routine
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This document outlines a two hour practice session for a saxophone player consisting of six parts: 1) Long tone exercises descending and ascending chromatically. 2) A chromatic exercise repeating each note twice at a metronome setting between 100-140 BPM. 3) Playing major scales up and down using different articulations each time. 4) Playing "finger buster" excerpts from a jazz studies book using the same articulation pattern. 5) Playing motifs in every key, writing them down at first and then trying to play by thinking of the chord. 6) Playing "licks" over C major 7th, then transposing to two other keys, analyzing how the
Routine
- 1. 1 The Two Hour Practice Session Eric Marienthal Part 1. Long Tone Exercise (Approximate time 5 minutes) With your metronome set at 1/4 note = 100 BPM, start on a note in the middle of your range. Middle "C" on a saxophone, for instance. Play each note for 8 beats and descend chromatically, taking breathes as often as you need to. Take as few breaks as possible to get the maximum benefit. Once you reach the bottom of your instrument start again on that same middle range note and this time ascend chromatically until you reach the top of your range.
- 2. 2 Part 2. Chromatic Exercise (Approximate time: 25 minutes) This is a well known routine that can be played a number of ways but I'll give you one example here. Set you metronome anywhere between 1/4 note = 100-140 BPM. Repeat each one twice, take as many breathes as you need but take as few breaks as possible. The idea behind this exercise is to develop control and evenness between each interval. Note: The lowest ones and the highest one are the hardest so take some time to work out the fingerings before turning on your metronome.
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- 6. 6 Part 3. Scales (Approximate time: 30 minutes) Play each Major scale up and down starting on the "C" scale. Practice the scale at roughly 1/4 note =160 BPM on your metronome. Play the scale 4 times up and down. Use a different articulation each time you play it. Example: 1st time: All Slurred 2nd time: All staccato 3rd time: Slur 2 notes, tongue 2 notes 4th time: tongue 2, slur 2
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- 8. 8 Part 4. Finger Busters(Approximate time: 15 minutes) This is an excerpt from my "Comprehensive Jazz Studies and Exercises" book. Play each one of these 4 times anywhere between 1/4 note = 110 & 140 BPM. Use the same articulation pattern as you did in Part 3. If you're interested in the book itself, you can order it through my Merchandise Page.
- 9. 9 Part 5. Motifs (Approximate time: 30 minutes) Play each of these 5 motifs in every key. I've written the first one out for you. For the rest, I've given you only the first motif. Write them down if you have to but try to play them just by thinking of the chord because that's what you do when you're improvising a solo. *Note that once you've practiced your scales, this will be easy. Just think about how each note fits into the chord.
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- 12. 12 Part 6. "Licks" (Approximate time: 15 minutes) Over a C Major 7th chord, practice the following 5 motifs or "licks" at around 1/4 note = 150 BPM Once you've played the licks, transpose and play them in the 2 other keys that follow each lick. Lick #1 has been written in all 3 keys. For the remaining 4 licks, see if you can transpose them in your head over the 2 additional chords. *Analyze each note of each lick and determine how they fit in the chord above. (Root, 3rd, 5th, etc.) When you transpose to a new key, try playing each lick without writing it down and think about where you are in the chord. Write them down only if you need to.