“A GREAT START: First Warm Up”

Beginning Band students face many tasks when learning a new instrument. This warm
up is designed to be a supplemental resource for reviewing notes and fingerings while
reinforcing sound, posture, breathing, and hand position. This is a great way to start
every beginning band rehearsal.

Instruments included in this packet: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, alto saxophone,
tenor saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and keyboard percussion
and snare/bass drum percussion.

Fingerings: Fingering charts are included at the top of each part. Here are a few notes
regarding these fingering charts:
Flutes: I begin my flute players on “Thumb Bb”, but I know that most method
books begin flutes on the chromatic fingering. Therefore, I have included both
fingerings so you can instruct your students which one to use. I have “blackened”
both thumb keys when either one can be used. If your flutes begin on Thumb Bb,
they will use the left thumb key throughout the warm up. If your flutes begin on
the traditional method book fingering, they will use the right thumb key
throughout. Be sure they know they do not need to push both thumb keys down
and never slide between the two.
Clarinets: I teach my clarinets to put right hand down on G from the very
beginning. The fingering chart reflects this philosophy.

Suggested Uses: I use this warm up every day for the first half of the year (arguably
could be used for the entire year depending on the frequency you see your students).

*BONUS CLARINET PART: I have included a bonus clarinet part. I hand this part
out to my clarinet students to play instead of the original part once they are producing a
good sound, comfortable holding the instrument, and reading their first five notes well.
This bonus part, while not in unison with the rest of the band, helps prepare the clarinet
section for the arduous task of going over the break. I do not expect them to read these
notes, but rather understand a finger pattern. The numbers are there to help them
remember which fingers to use.
Line #1: This exercise simply has clarinet players adding fingers down then
picking them back up. It is designed to help the clarinet players maintain good
hand position, learn to cover the holes, and learn which pinky keys to use.
Line #3: Have students begin with the “F skip” because it is easier. As they find
success with this, have them try the “E skip”.
Line #5: This one gets them acquainted with the register key.
 Band Warm-up
Score
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE
Note to Director: Student parts have note names and fingerings in this exercise.
Flute/Oboe/
° bw w w bw
Bells &

Clarinet & w w w w
Advanced
& F F F F
Clarinet
bF F F F
Alto/Bari
& w w w w
Saxophone

w w w w
Ten. Sax. ¢&
°
Trumpet & w w w w

Horn & w w w bw

Trombone/Baritone/ ? bw w w bw
Bassoon/Tuba ¢ w w bw
bw
R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

Perc. / fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f

Flute/Oboe/
° w bw w w bw
Bells &

Clarinet & w w w w w
Advanced
Clarinet &
F bF F F F w
F F F
Alto/Bari w w w w
Saxophone & w
w w w w w
Ten. Sax. ¢&
°
Trumpet & w w w w w
Horn & w bw w w w
Trombone/Baritone/ ? w bw w w
Bassoon/Tuba ¢ w bw w w
bw
bw
R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R

Perc. / fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f ff Œ Ó
 Score
2
#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

Flute/Oboe/
° bF F F bF F bF F F bF Ó
Bells &

Clarinet & F F F F F F F F F
Ó

Advanced
Clarinet & F F F F F F F F F
Ó

Alto/Bari
& F F F F F F F F F Ó
Saxophone

F F F F F F F F F
Ten. Sax. ¢& Ó
°
Trumpet & F F F F F F F F F
Ó

Horn & F F F bF F bF F F F Ó

Trombone/Baritone/ ? bF F F bF F bF F F bF Ó
Bassoon/Tuba ¢ F F bF F bF F F
bF bF
R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R

Perc. / fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF Œ Ó
=
° bf f bf
Flute/Oboe/
& f f bf f f bf Œ Ó bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó
Bells

f
fff fffff f
& f f f f f Œ Ó Œ Ó
Clarinet
f f f
f
fff fffff f
Advanced Œ Ó Œ Ó
Clarinet & f f f f f f f f
Alto/Bari
& f f f f f f f f f Œ Ó fff fffff f Œ Ó
Saxophone

f f f f f f f f f Œ Ó fff fffff f Œ Ó
Ten. Sax. ¢&
°
Trumpet & f f f f f f f f f
Œ Ó
fff fffff f
Œ Ó

Horn & f f f bf f bf f f f Œ Ó f f f bf f f f f f Œ Ó
Trombone/Baritone/ ? bf f f bf f bf f f bf Œ Ó bf f f bbff ff ff f f bf Œ Ó
¢ f bf f bf f bf f f f f bf
Bassoon/Tuba
bf f f bf
L R L
R L R R L L L R L
R L R R L L R R L R L R L R L R

Perc. / fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF Œ ÓÓ fff fffff f Œ Ó

f f f f f
 Score
#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise! 3

Flute/Oboe/
° bF F bF F bF bF bF F bw
Bells &

Clarinet & F F F F F F F F w
Advanced
Clarinet & f f f f f f f bf f f f f w
f f f f
Alto/Bari
& F F F F F F F F w
Saxophone

F F F F F F F F w
Ten. Sax. ¢&
°
Trumpet & F F F F F F F F w
Horn & F F F F F bF F F w
? bF F F bF F
Trombone/Baritone/
¢ bF bF bF bF F bw
Bassoon/Tuba
bF F bF F bF bF bw
This sticking pattern is called a "paradiddle".
R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R

Perc. / ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff Œ Ó

=
#3b
Flute/Oboe/
° F bF F F F F F bF w
Bells &

Clarinet & F F F F F F F w
F
Advanced
&
f f f f
f bf
Clarinet
f f f f f f f f f f w
Alto/Bari F F F F F F F F w
Saxophone &

F F F F F F F F w
Ten. Sax. ¢&

°
Trumpet & F F F F F F F F w

Horn & F bF F F F F F F w

? F bF F F F F F w
Trombone/Baritone/
¢ F bF F F F bF
Bassoon/Tuba
F F bF w
R L R R R L R R L R L L L R L L R L R R R L R R L R L L L R L L R

Perc. / ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff Œ Ó
 Score
4 #4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!
Flute/Oboe/
° bf f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó
Bells &

Clarinet & f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f F
Ó

Advanced
Clarinet & f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f F
Ó

Alto/Bari
& f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f F Ó
Saxophone

f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f F Ó
Ten. Sax. ¢&
°
Trumpet & f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f F
Ó

Horn & f f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f F Ó
Trombone/Baritone/ ? bf f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó
Bassoon/Tuba ¢ f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF
bf f f f
Watch your stick height! Not too high!
R L R L R LR L R L R L R LR L R L R L R LR L R L R L R LR L R L R L R LR L RL R L R LR L R

/ ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff
f ff
f ffff
f Πff
f ff f ff f ff f ff ŒÓ
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z
Perc.

=
#5 Keep fingers curved and close at all times!

Flute/Oboe/
° 4 bf f f bf f bf f f bf f f f bf f f f bw
Bells & 4

4
Clarinet &4 f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f w
C-G (add your register key)
4 w F f f
Advanced
&4 w
Clarinet F f f w
Alto/Bari 4
&4 f f f f f f f f f f f f f f
f
f
w
Saxophone

4 f f f f f f f f f f f f f f
f
f
w
Ten. Sax. ¢& 4
° 4
Trumpet &4 w w F F f f f f w

Horn
4
&4 w w F F f f f f w

Trombone/Baritone/ ? 44 bw w bF F bf f f f bw
Bassoon/Tuba ¢ w F f f
bw bF bf f bw
Be sure to use your wrist!
R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R

/ 4 ff fffff ffff ff ff fff ff fffff

f ff fffff fffff
f ff fffff ff fffff ff Œ Ó
4
Perc. f f f
Flute Band Warm-up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

Bb C
w wD Eb
bw wF Eb
bw wD C
w
Bb
& bw bw
or or

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

F F bF F bF F F
& bF bF Ó
f bf f f bf Œ Ó
& bf f f
bf bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

F F bF F
& bF bF bF bF bw

#3b
F bF F F F F F w
& bF

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

b f f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó
&

#5 Keep fingers curved and close at all times!

f bf f bf f f f f f f
& bf f bf f bf f bw
Oboe Band Warm-up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

Bb C
w wD Eb
bw wF Eb
bw wD C
w
Bb
& bw bw

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

F F bF F bF F F
& bF bF Ó
f bf f f bf Œ Ó
& b f f f bf bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

F F bF F
& bF bF bF bF bw

#3b
F bF F F F F F w
& bF

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

b f f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó
&

#5 Keep fingers curved and close at all times!

bf f bf f f f f f f
& bf f f bf f bf f bw
Bassoon Band Warm-up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

Eb F Eb
? bBb C
w
D
w bw w bw
D
w
C
w
Bb
w bw

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!
? bF F F bF F bF F F bF Ó

f bf f f bf Œ Ó
bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó
? bf f f bf

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

bF F
? bF F bF F bF bF bw
#3b
? F bF F F F F F w
bF

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

f f f f f bf f f
bf f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f
?
bF Ó

#5 Keep your fingers close to the keys!

? bf f f f f bf f f bf f f f bf f f f bw
Clarinet Band Warm-Up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE
C D E F G F E D C
& w w w w w w w w w

#2
Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

& F F F F F F F F
Ó
F

& f f f f f f f f Œ Ó
f f f f f f f
Œ Ó
f f f

#3a
Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

& F F F F F
F F F w
#3b
& F F F F F F F F w

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

& ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff F Ó

#5
Keep fingers curved and close at all times!

& f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f w
Clarinet Advanced
Band Warm-Up

#1 F and Add/E and Pick Up

1 2 3 R L R 3 2 1
4
&4 ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
b˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w
#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!
4 Ó
&4 ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
œœ œ œ

#3a F Skip
4
&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w
#3b E Skip 1 2 3 R L

4
&4 œ œ œ
b œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w
L R L 3 L 2 L 1 L L L L L

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

4
&4 œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ ˙ Ó

#5 C-G (add your register key)

4 w ˙ œ œ
&4 w ˙ œ œ w
Alto Saxophone
Band Warm-Up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

G A B C D C B A G
w w w w w w w
& w w

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

F F F F F F F
& F F Ó

f f f f
& f f f f f Œ Ó ffffffff f Œ Ó

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire measure!

F F F F
& F F F F w
#3b
& F F F F F F F F w

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

& ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff F Ó

#5 Keep fingers curved and close at all times!

& f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f w
Tenor Saxophone Band Warm-Up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE
C D
w E
wF w wG wF wE D
w
C
& w w

#2
Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!
F F F F F F F
& F F Ó
f f f f
& f f
f f f Œ Ó ffffffff f Œ Ó

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

F F F F
& F F F F w

#3b
F F F F F F F w
& F

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!
f f f f ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff F Ó
&

#5
Keep fingers curved and close at all times!
f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f w
&
Trumpet Band Warm-Up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

C D E F G F E D C
& w w w w w w w w w

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

& F F F F F F F F
Ó
F

& f f f f f f f f Œ Ó
f f f f f
Œ Ó
f ff f f

#3a Keep your air stream steady for the entire exercise!

& F F F F F
F F F w
#3b
& F F F F F F F w
F

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

& ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff ffff F Ó

#5 Keep your air stream strong!

& w w F F f f f f w
Horn Band Warm-Up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

F G A Bb C Bb A G F
& w w w bw w bw w w w
Single:

Double:

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!

& F F F bF F bF F F Ó
F

f bf f f
& f f f bf f Œ Ó f f f bf f f f f f Œ Ó

#3a Keep your air stream steady for the entire exercise!

& F F F bF F
F F F w
#3b
& F bF F F F F F F w

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

& f f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f F Ó

#5 Keep your air stream strong!

w F f f
& w F f f w
 Trombone/Baritone Band Warm-up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

Eb F Eb
? bBb C
w
D
w bw w bw
D
w
C
w
Bb
w bw
Trombones: 1st position 6th position 4th position 3rd position 1st position 3rd position 4th position 6th position 1st position
Baritones:

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!
? bF F F bF F bF F F bF Ó

f bf f f bf Œ Ó
bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó
? bf f f bf

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

? bF F F bF F
bF bF bF bw
#3b
? F bF F F F F F w
bF

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

? bf f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó

#5 Keep your air stream strong!

? w F f f
bw bF bf f bw
Tuba Band Warm-up

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

Bb C D Eb F Eb D C Bb
?
w w bw w bw w w
bw bw

#2 Tongue each note...and see how many notes you can go without taking a breath!
? Ó
F F bF F bF F F
bF bF
? Œ Ó Œ Ó
f bf f f bf
bf f f bf bf f fbf f f f f bf

#3a Keep your air steady for the entire exercise!

?
F F bF F
bF bF bF bF bw
#3b
?
F bF F F F F F bF w

#4 Articulate each note with your tongue...but be sure to keep your air stream going!

? Ó
f f f f f bf f f
bf f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f bF

#5 Keep your air stream strong!

?
w F f f
bw bF bf f bw
Bells Band Warm-up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE
Bb C C
w
D
w bwEb F
w bwEb D
w w
Bb
& bw bw
R L R L R L R L R

#2 Use proper stick grip at all times. Follow the sticking.

F F bF F bF F F
& bF bF Ó
R L R L R L R L R
f bf f f bf Œ Ó
& bf f f
bf bf f f bf f f f f bf Œ Ó
R L R L R L R L R

#3a Notice that your left hand stays on the Bb.

F F bF F
& bF bF bF bF bw
L L L L L

#3b Notice that your right hand stays on the F.

F bF F F F F F w
& bF
R R R R R

#4 Alternate hands. Keep a steady beat and tap your foot!

b f f f f f f f f f f f f bf f f f f f f f f bf f f bF Ó
&

#5 Watch your music (not your hands).

R L
f f
R
bLf f bLf Rf Lf R Lf Rf Lf L Rf L Rf L
R
& b f bf bf f bw
Bells Band Warm-up
#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE
Bb C D Eb F Eb D C Bb
& w bw w bw w
bw w w bw
R L R L R L R L R

#2 Use proper stick grip at all times. Follow the sticking.

F Ó
&
bF F F bF bF F F bF
R L R L R L R L R

f bf f f b f Œ Ó f Œ Ó
b f f f bfL f f
& f f
R L R
bf f b f bf
R L R L R

#3a Notice that your left hand stays on the Bb.

&
F F bF F
bF bF bF bF bw
L L L L L

#3b Notice that your right hand stays on the F.

& F bF F F F F w
R R R
F R bF R

#4 Alternate hands. Keep a steady beat and tap your foot!

& f f f f f f f f f f Ó
bf f f f f f f f f f f f b b f f bF

#5 Watch your music (not your hands).

R L R L R L R L R L R L L R L R L
&
b f f f bf f bf f f b f f f f b f f f f b w
Snare Drum Band Warm-up
Bass Drum

#1 The FIVE NOTE SCALE

R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

& fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f
R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R

& fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f ff Œ Ó

#2 Be sure to follow your sticking!

R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R R R R L L L L R

& fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF Œ Ó
L R L L R R L L
R L R L L R R L L
R R R L R L R L R L R

& fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF f f f fF Œ ÓÓ ff f ff f ff f ff f ff Œ Ó

#3a This sticking pattern is called a "paradiddle".

R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R

& ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff Œ Ó
#3b R L R R R L R R L R L L L R L L R L R R R L R R L R L L L R L L R

& ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff Œ Ó

#4 Watch your stick height! Not too high!

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

& ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff f ff f ff f fΠf ff f ff f ff f fΠf
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R

& ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f fŒ f ff f ff f ff f ff f ff Œ Ó
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

#5 Be sure to use your wrist!

R L RL R R L RL R R L RL R R L RL R R L R L R R L RL R R L RL R R L RL R R

& fffff fffff fffff fffff fffff fffff fffff fffff f

f ff f f ff f f ff f f ff f fŒÓ