To warm down, or not to warm down

[GJDavis1]

Inspired by the recently created "To buzz, or not to buzz?".

Simple question. Should we as brass musicians warm down after a long day of playing, or should we not. I have heard both opinions before...which seems to be a better idea? What are the advantages / disadvantages to both?

Thanks!

[rocksanddirt]

my thought....unless you are playing later in the day, it's not neccessary. If playing later in the day, you might want to do a bit of warm down, if you are the type of person who gets stiff after a hard work out.

I've never really done any sort of warm down with music.

[Dylan King]

Tommy Johnson taught me a warm-down method that works great for me. One can relate it to the last-lap sprint of a l-o-n-g jog.

Play a Gregoriev etude AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE and slurred, slowly, making sure that every note in your phrase is louder than the one before it--in a great crescendo. Always keep the loudness and forward volume in mind, and make sure the notes connect together, but the tempo is not important. As long as you have two notes or more connected and you are playing as LOUD as possible with a good sound, you will feel the effect.

At the end of the etude you should feel (perhaps a bit dizzy) like we tubists sometimes do after a good amount of days or weeks without playing. That "tingling in the lips" kind-of feel.

MAKE SURE THIS IS THE LAST THING YOU DO in your daily routine, and that you have at least 12 hours to rest until you pick up the horn again.

The next day, you will feel and sound GrrrrrEAT.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I'm not sure that the term "warm down" makes sense. I'm pretty sure that should be "cool down", to be the proper opposite of "warm up" ...

Yup -- "warming down" would go with "cooling up".

[bearphonium]

I will ususally use a cool-down to cement what I've worked on and to set the stage for my next session. If I've been focusing on tone or range, I'll play a brief, mid-register melodic line, slowly and softly. If it is tempo, some soft low notes at exact time. I am currently at about middle school level with my expertise, so YYMV. I like to end on a positive note (so to speak) as I find that motivates me better than ending up in a less than positive manner, and using "sucky" as a motivator.

[Rick Denney]

Sprinters often jog a bit to try to dissipate some of the lactic acid that has built up in their muscles. That helps prevent cramps and soreness the next couple of days. That said, I rarely see sprinters in any sport doing much in the way of cooling down after a race. They may go into a back room and stretch.

I don't think tuba players should be working their muscles that hard, and if they are, they are probably playing beyond their embouchure.

I NEVER see marathoners jogging a bit after the end of the race, unless they sprinted all out to try and race to line with someone. Then, it's just a minute or so. To a marathoner, building up lactic acid is a complete strategic failure, so they usually have none that need to be dissipated. After my last marathon (and after an Ironman triathlon), my compulsion after finishing was to sit down. As I said, playing tuba should never require such muscular effort as to cause lactic acid buildup.

I never hear pros play anything after the last note of a gig. In fact, most I know think that doing so is unprofessional. It annoys me when amateurs around me do it, because I want the audience to go away with our best sound in their head.

But when I'm practicing high stuff towards the end of a long practice session, I might blow some low stuff on the big tuba for 20 or 30 seconds before quitting. I do that more to remind myself of air flow and tone concept than to do anything with the muscles. It may also be a form of stretching, which is a relaxation technique as much as anything. I bet that's why Herseth did it. And I bet he didn't do it on stage--ever.

Rick "Gig's over. Go home." Denney

[imperialbari]

In spite of being overweight/out of shape/wearing tails, I didn't sweat a drop.
* http://www.meinl-weston.com/5450.htm

Isn’t an efficient air condition on the stage part of all US orchestras’ contracts with the musicians?

The original “designer” of the Thor apparently found it necessary to remove a top layer of insulation.

K

[The Big Ben]

In spite of being overweight/out of shape/wearing tails, I didn't sweat a drop.

That is probably your personal constitution more than anything else. Some people sweat a lot, others don't. Also, it is probably a rare occasion that a person with your experience is nervous before and during a gig.

As far as 'cool down', I do as others have said: either just put the horn away or toot a few notes or some simple tunes to end the practice session on a positive note.

[Dan Schultz]

Simple question. Should we as brass musicians warm down after a long day of playing, or should we not?

not

Agreed. My idea of 'warming down' is putting the horn back in the bag and heading for the car. It's just about the same as 'warming up'. Which is usually lugging the horn from the car and taking it out of the bag. I've seen trumpet players 'warm up' to the point where their chops are shot before the performance!

[jeopardymaster]

After a good workout I like to treat my chops with a liniment containing ethyl alcohol. I let it flow into my mouth, between my upper lip and lower teeth. Usually does the job. Not recommended for those under 21 years of age.

[ztuba]

I like to take a piece of ice and put it in my mouthpiece and then put my mouthpiece on my face like I am playing. I hold it there until the ice is gone then I get some ice and put it on my cheeks and the corners of my lips. no longer than 10 minutes. My physical therapist would always have me do this to my back muscles after I would do a workout.. so I dont see why we dont treat our face muscles the same way. My wife used to have to stand in a tub of ice after running around in high school track. Football players and baseball players ice their most used areas.

[ztuba]

and that is why tiger woods wins everything

[lgb&dtuba]

I've played some fairly marathon jobs over the past few years. 6-8 45 minute sets in a row. I've never had my lips cramp after just stopping and heading for the beer. It's always been enough to just stop playing.

[Rick Denney]

I like to take a piece of ice and put it in my mouthpiece and then put my mouthpiece on my face like I am playing. I hold it there until the ice is gone then I get some ice and put it on my cheeks and the corners of my lips. no longer than 10 minutes. My physical therapist would always have me do this to my back muscles after I would do a workout.. so I dont see why we dont treat our face muscles the same way. My wife used to have to stand in a tub of ice after running around in high school track. Football players and baseball players ice their most used areas.

The above-mentioned liniment, applied on the rocks, will do the same thing.

Rick "who has never had inflammation of the lips except when resorting to too much pressure" Denney

[jeopardymaster]

Ice is nice, and neat is a treat.

Ether will do.

[TubaRay]

If I'm not mistaken, the ice is used to reduce or avoid swelling. I also believe the standard wisdom calls for an injury calls for ice the first day, followed by heat on the days that follow. I'm not certain exactly how that applies with a thorough muscular workout. Perhaps someone more athletic than I could be more detailed.

(Note: I may not be the most athletic member of TubeNet. In fact, I may be the least athletic. Please keep this information secret. I wouldn't want anyone to find out.)

[Wyvern]

But when I'm practicing high stuff towards the end of a long practice session, I might blow some low stuff on the big tuba for 20 or 30 seconds before quitting.

That is precisely the sort of thing I do too. Just to relax the lips of any tension.

Otherwise, I just put my tuba away after playing

[ztuba]

Well if you wanted to really warm up .. you could apply a hot pad to your face prior to playing and treat you facial muscles just like any other abused muscle group.