University of Southern Mississippi Clarinet Studio
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Dr. Oakes
Long Tone Warmup
This daily routine will dramatically improve your phrase length as well as tone, breath support, and control. It’s the most important of all of these exercises.
1. Set your metronome for an appropriate speed. For those new to this exercise, try 120.
2. Play an E major scale starting on the lowest e. Play in whole notes with the metronome clicking quarters. Play up one octave in one breath.
3. Rest for eight beats.
4. Return down the same scale. Rest for eight beats.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 with F major. Continue with F#, G, etc. for the full range of the clarinet.
6. Continue to play each major scale until you reach G major at the top of the range.

7. This exercise should tax your breath to the fullest, so choose a metronome marking at the edge of your ability (the slower, the better). Try bumping down the tempo at every eight-beat rest until you find your limit.