Brass Warm Up & Preparation Survey Results
Poll conducted November, 2003

There were a total of 89 responses to this survey. This is not an on-going project, so please do not send in more responses. Some of the totals for each question do not add up to the total surveys received, due either to responses which went against the criteria or because they were omitted by the submitter of the poll.

I am only submitting data here, rather than try to interpret the results. The first two sections are number specific only, while the third section relates the additional answers I received.

The survey questions were initially geared toward determining if there were any significant differences in preparation between players in differing genres or with different strengths in regard to their pre-trumpeting habits or their beliefs about playing preparation. Rather, I found that there is no particular difference from genre to genre, but a wide variety within each "group" and similarity of preparatory ideas between groups.

Warm-Up & Performance Preparation Survey

I. General Background -please select just ONE answer for each question.

1. What is your age?
a. 5-15 (2/89)
b. 16-25 (14/89)
c. 26-40 (57/89)
d. 40+ (16/89)

2. For how many years have you played?
a. 0-5 (3/89)
b. 5-10 (11/89)
c. 11-20 (45/89)
d. 20+ (30/89)

3. Which term best describes you as a musician?
a. professional (52/89)
b. serious amateur (31/89)
c. amateur (5/89)

4. What is your primary genre of practice?
a. classical, large ensemble (37/89)
b. classical, small ensemble (9/89)
c. jazz, large ensemble (19/89)
d. jazz, small ensemble (7/89)
e. concert band (4/89)
f. rock, jobbing, or pop (6/89)
g. other (2/89)

4a. What is your primary genre of performance?

a. classical, large ensemble (34/89)
b. classical, small ensemble (5/89)
c. jazz, large ensemble (24/89)
d. jazz, small ensemble (7/89)
e. concert band (2/89)
f. rock, jobbing, or pop (7/89)
g. other (2/89)

5. What is your music education background?
a. high school class or less (6/89)
b. college courses (11/89)
c. bachelor's degree (26/89)
d. masters or doctorate (40/89)
e. school of "hard knocks" (5/89)

6. Describe the physical nature or level of music you generally perform or practice.
a. easy (3/89)
b. moderate (27/89)
c. difficult (42/89)
d. very demanding (13/89)

7. What is your general physical health and conditioning?
a. below average (2/89)
b. average (7/89)
c. physically fit (44/89)
d. excellent (32/89)

8. Rate your overall physical range or strength as a player.
a. below average (2/89)
b. average (11/89)
c. above average (47/89)
d. superior (25/89)

9. Rate your overall physical endurance or stamina as a player.
a. below average (3/89)
b. average (17/89)
c. above average (23/89)
d. superior (45/89)

II. Instrument Warm Up - Answer succinctly, or elaborate your ideas as you deem necessary.

1. How does it feel when you first try to play on a typical day?
a. poor - hard to get the chops going (3/89)
b. average - some days better than others (23/89)
c. great - usually ready to go almost immediately(61/89)

2. Do you use a routine or go by feel before "being ready" to play or perform?
a. routine (25/89)
b. feel (38/89)
c. other or combo (24/89)

3. How much time do you spend warming up?
a. not at all (1/89)
b. less than 15 minutes (42/89)
c. 15-30 minutes (31/89)
d. 30-60 minutes (9/89)
e. 60+ minutes (1/89)

4. Do you warm up at a consistent time, either the time of day or a set number of minutes before practicing or performing?
a. yes (25/89)
b. no (61/89)

5. What type of rudiments do you include in your warm-up?
a. scales (62/89)
b. arpeggios (21/89)
c. long tones (39/89)
d. slurs (68/89)
e. multiple tonguing (27/89)
f. articulation style (11/89)
g. range extension (25/89)
h. other (7/89)

6. Does your warm-up vary with the different types of playing you are required to do?
a. yes (15/89)
b. no (69/89)

7. Are there any special techniques or devices you use when warming up?
a. yes (25/89)
These include, in order of most to least mentions, mouthpiece buzzing, leadpipe buzzing, free buzzing, mutes or resistance, BERP, pitch bends, air tubes, breath attacks, and a few systems (Stamp, Shulman, Thompson, Caruso, and Adam).
b. no (25/89)

III. Non-Musical Warm-up - Answer succinctly, or elaborate your ideas as you deem necessary.

1. Do you do breathing exercises?
a. yes (11/89)
Including breathing tube and yoga exercises.
b. no (78/89)

2. Do you do mental exercises?
a. yes (5/89)
Including visualization concepts and "synergy," having music in your mind, performance desires, proper mood setting.
b. no (82/89)

3. Do you do other muscular exercises or work out before playing?
a. yes (7/89)
Several individuals listed working out as part of their preparation, although only two cited it as something do immediately or close to practicing or performing.
b. no (80/89)

4. Do you do cardiovascular exercises before playing?
a. yes (6/89)
Like working out, several individuals listed cardiovascular exercises as part of their preparation, although none cited it as something do immediately or close to practicing or performing. This is largely attributed to the drying up of the body and breathing struggles immediately afterward.
b. no (81/89)

5. Do you do stretching exercises before playing?
a. yes (11/89)
Some specific activities cited include upper body stretches, as well as facial stretches or loosening ("horse flaps," or cheek stretching by closing nose and mouth and trying to forcefully exhale). b. no (78/89)

6. Are there any foods or beverages you find particularly beneficial to ingest before playing?
a. yes (27/89)
Of particular note was water, followed by coffee, juices, and other caffeinated beverages.
b. no (61/89)

7. Are there any foods or beverages you specifically avoid before playing?
a. yes (51/89)
The most common answer, actually, was the volume of food ingested, being careful not to be too full. Others gathering numerous mentions were salty or spicy foods, fried foods, caffeinated beverages (particularly coffee - although note that this was also a favorite to try to have before playing),sweets, and alcohol.
b. no (38/89)

8. Do you brush, rinse with water or mouthwash, or chew specific gums before playing?
a. yes (49/89)
Almost all who specified said brushing, with one person mentioning a problem with tartar-reducing toothpastes.
b. no (38/89)

9. Do you avoid medications before playing?
a. yes (28/89)
Almost exclusively, antihistamines or ones which cause drowsiness.
b. no (60/89)

10. Do your sleep patterns affect your ability to get ready to play?
a. yes (38/89)
The answers heard consistently referred to two areas, trouble being mentally alert or motivated, and physically being somewhat impaired when lacking sleep.
b. no (50/89)

Thank you to all who contributed to this survey.
Dr. Michael Stewart, December 2003

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