Jim Mahaffey

The Ten-Minute Jazz Warmup

This method, designed for the beginning/intermediate jazz ensemble, is divided into four parts which can be used separately in instructional or clinic settings or played nonstop as a daily warm-up in less than 10 minutes. Part 1 is the Jazz Chorale, indispensable for developing good tone quality, blend, balance, pitch, dynamics and phrasing. The rhythm section also is given opportunity to work on playing 'time, ' a definite underlying beat throughout, without rushing or slowing. Part 2 works on 'Doo-dots', an articulation exercise and a tool for teaching basic swing rhythms. Part 3 includes all Major Scales written with swing-style articulations and arpeggiated Major 7th chords. Part 4 covers 'Kicks' a 12-bar blues-style exercise in playing upbeats and downbeats with precision.