Brass Methods, Article Review #1

Mark Hyman Schallert MUSE 1101 5 February, 2017 Practitioner Article Review #1 Antonio Garcia, associate jazz editor of the International Trombone Association journal, discusses the intent and usefulness of a warm-up to a professional trombone player in his article, “The Warm-Up.” He boldly starts the article by stating that he does not warm-up; a message that would immediately present initiate argumentation and controversy among other musicians. He anticipates this and begs the readers to allow him to explain. Garcia’s explanation consists of him redefining and renaming what others refer to as a warm-up. Many musicians are taught that a warm-up prepares them to perform or play “real music.” Garcia’s argument follows the cliché statement that “only perfect practice makes perfect” meaning that the musician should practice or “warm-up” the way he or she wants to perform, not simply play before beginning repertoire. To practice this mentality, Garcia uses specific exercises and techniques to keep him focused on essential elements to performing and producing the best sound he can. The most essential base to his argument is that every note a musician plays should be music, whether it is part of a warm-up or the first note of a performance. The reason for this mentality, he says, is that sometimes musicians are not always awarded the opportunity to warm-up before a performance. To prepare for this, Garcia practices making music from every first note he plays, so if his first note of any day is in a performance; he still retains the musical ideas, concepts, and sounds that he strived to play before that note.

References Page Garcia, A. J. (2009). The Warm-Up. International Trombone Association Journal, 37(4). Retrieved from http://www.garciamusic.com/educator/articles/the.warm.up.html.