Getting back into playing shape after a long time away (long enough to be in the category of Star Wars) is not for the weak. And, in just a week back, my lips are feeling like they did after a week of band camp. No matter how long the time away from the instrument, things never change.
My warm-ups always start the same way: long tones. Get the instrument together and just play notes for 12, 16, 32, or whatever counts are comfortable. Concert A (F# on alto) is my starting pitch. It just feels like home. A old friend welcoming me back to their home. This week, however, I started in a place never done prior.
Low B-flat. Or concert D-flat. The hongiest of all hongy notes on the saxophone.
What the change? Why visit the weird friend that you like but just find things awkward and strange, like they are about to ask you what is your favorite smelly sock? Well, a couple reasons. First of all, I starting diving into the online saxophone teaching world and found some interesting perpectives. The low
B-flat requires a focused embochure but relaxation in the lower lip. You can’t bite when you play the note or it won’t speak. It is a good starting point for getting a long, forgotten skill back into some sort of shape. Second, the instrument is based off the B-flat overtone series. Starting there guides the ears to the note and possible overtones. It is as much of an aural trainer as a physical one.
So, my practice today starts with long tones on low B-flat. This is followed by low B-flat, slurring to a C, and back down. Then a D….E-flat….F….all returning to the low B-flat. This reminds the embochure where homebase is when playing.
After a few rounds of this, then I dive into overtones (or at least try), scales, then pattern. And practice moves on from there.
The good part is having a routine. The best part is knowing why it is your routine. What about your routine works and builds towards others? Do you have spots in your routine to reeinforce embochure?
J. Corey Francis 
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