Some players do not distinguish between the warm-up and the routine. I would generally agree with this with the distinction that as I discussed in the warm-up post we are focussed particularly on the three basic elements of playing. This is not to suggest that we forget about them as we move to the routine but only that the warm-up is a special time to make breathing, quality of sound, and body awareness a priority.
As we move to the routine we start to focus on particular playing skills that we require to achieve complete competence on the trumpet. We can divide up these competencies in many ways.
Embouchure development
- Buzzing
- Flexibility
- Pitch Bending
- Long Tones
Technique
- Scales and Patterns
- Articulation
- Tonguing
- Intervals and Arpeggios
Overall Goals
- Range
- Endurance
Where routine is a repeatable daily collection of exercises I distinguish that from practice of music. This will include the studies and repertiore we are learning.
Depending on what part of your education or career you are in the mix of warm-up/routine/music will differ. The thing that is consistent, and I think many students are a little surprised to hear this, is that the bulk of our practice time will always be spent with the routine – 60-75 percent, in fact.
Look through the Routine page to find some excercises that you can use to personalize your own routine.