Comprehensive Saxophone Warm-Ups: A Proven Method to Increase Technique and Become a Complete Saxophonist

Nick Mainella

Aug 2018 · Mel Bay Publications

About this eBook

 Your warm-up time is a precious thing. It can get you off to a great day of practicing or it can set you back every time you pick up your instrument. Learning the correct way to warm up will benefit every part of your playing and send you on your way to mastering the saxophone! This book is the product of the last 10 years of building my warm-up routine and will teach you my proven method guaranteed to improve your playing by leaps and bounds. The exercises in this book are designed specifically for the range of the saxophone and address some of the most common problems that people who play this instrument run into.

The main areas of study in this method are:

1. Sound Concepts

2. Scales & Arpeggios

3. Working with a Metronome

4. How to Structure Your Time

A good day starts off on the right foot and a good practice session starts off with a quality warm-up. Treat your warm-up time with the care and precision that a brass player or drummer does, and turn a repetitive routine into a new one which challenges you every day.

Contained Inside: Sound Concepts • Articulation Patterns • Full Range Major and Harmonic Minor Scales • Full Range Major and Harmonic Minor Thirds • Full Range Major and Minor Arpeggios • Staggered Major and Minor Arpeggios • Major and Minor Seconds • Full Range Chromatic Scale Exercises • Combining Keys with Both Scales and Arpeggios • Full Range Major and Harmonic Minor Fourths and Wider Intervals

About the author

Nick Mainella is a New England based saxophonist and woodwind artist. Residing in the Portsmouth, NH area, Nick maintains an active performing and teaching career. After completing his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of New Hampshire, he spent two years in Kalamazoo, MI completing his Master of Music in jazz performance at Western Michigan University. Nick now calls the Portsmouth, NH area home where he is an in demand teacher, performer, and clinician. Nick holds positions at Saint Anselm College, Pinkerton Academy, and Timberlane Regional Schools as well as teaching a large private studio of all ages including Skype students from around the globe.

Nick is also the Creator and Host of the critically acclaimed, 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast where he spreads knowledge of jazz and improvisation to students the world over. Nick also hosts and runs the Everything Saxophone Podcast with his colleague, Donna Schwartz. Together, they interview top saxophonists from around the world and bring the joy of playing saxophone to all who listen. Nick has recently published his first method book for saxophone, Comprehensive Saxophone Warm-Ups with the Mel Bay Publishing Company.

Nick also maintains an active performing career with many ensembles throughout New England and beyond. Over the years Nick has been lucky enough to study and perform with some of the top musicians in the world including, Clark Terry, James Moody, Branford Marsalis, Donny McCaslin, Jimmy Heath, John Clayton, Ingrid Jensen, and Billy Pierce. Nick also maintains an active performance schedule in New England and beyond with ensembles such as, The Soggy Po' Boys, Sojoy, OurBigBand, and The Nick Mainella Quartet.