Exercise 1: Flow Studies (Vincent Cichowicz) Play at comfortable dynamic level, taking care to achieve a full, resonant sound on low notes. Use these exercises as a warm-up prior to your regular practice session.Unless otherwise noted, all exercises should be played at a very soft dynamic level, in order to promote maximum flexibility.
Cichowicz Flow Studies Trombone
The Cichowicz flow studies are something that all trumpet players should know about. Before I talk about the studies it is important to know who Vincent Cichowicz was and why his studies are so important. Vincent Cichowicz was a trumpet player with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was later a teacher at Northwestern University. Many of his students went on to play in symphonies as well so maybe theses studies might be a good idea to try.Here is a link to the studiesThe way you do the studies is up to your own interpretation but here is how I prefer to play them. On the first set of the studies I start on a slow tempo and I try to play them at a relaxed piano.
As I move through the sets I speed up the tempo gradually and get slightly louder. I find it very beneficial to play with a drone in the background in order to hear the pitches easier. The whole purpose of these studies is to “Flow the air”. Another way of thinking about it is to keep pushing the air in a smooth arc and to keep it as smooth and connected as possible.These studies begin to go into the higher register as you move through the sets. If you cannot hit the notes while staying relaxed on not using pressure do not strain and pinch out the notes as that is not the purpose of the study. These studies can very well expand your range if you do them in the way they were intended. Keep in mind the purpose of the studies and remember to stay relaxed while using as little pressure as possible.