Pentatonic Woodwinds Rehearsal Framework
0–5 min — Arrival & Individual Warm-Up
- Setup
- Personal long tones and (optional) chromatic scale
- Individual tuning
- Light articulation
Rehearsal begins formally at minute 5.
5–20 min — Chamber Warm-Up (15 Minutes Total)
1. Unison Tone Center (3 min)
- Sustain one pitch (rotating weekly)
- 8 counts
- Decrescendo to niente
- Re-enter together without conductor
Focus: - Immediate pitch center - Unified tone color - Identical release
2. Scale of the Week (5 min)
- Full range (1–2 octaves as appropriate)
- ♩ = 72, legato
- Once at performance tempo
- Tune tonic chord carefully
- Resolve to dominant → return to tonic
Goal: - Tone consistency - Harmonic awareness - Ensemble listening
3. Blend Exercise (4 min — choose one per rehearsal)
Option A – Chorale Fragment - Use 4 measures from repertoire - Slow tempo - Focus on balance and shaping
Option B – Dynamic Swell - Sustain chord pp → ff → pp - Maintain pitch center and tone stability
Option C – Staggered Entry - Enter same pitch 2 beats apart - Match tone color precisely
4. Articulation Alignment (3 min)
- Take one measure from repertoire
- Play:
- All slurred
- All short
- As written
Goal: - Identical attack - Unified length - Clean releases
20–70 min — Repertoire Work
- Work in focused 10–15 minute sections
- Address specific issues
- Re-run immediately after corrections
- Keep discussion concise
- (Optional) 2-minute stretch reset if energy drops
70–85 min — Full Run-Through
- Perform a complete section without stopping
- Build performance mindset
- Maintain musical flow
85–90 min — Closing
- Brief reflection:
- What improved?
- What needs attention?
- Assign specific practice goals for next rehearsal
- End on a positive note
Ensemble Captain Responsibilities
The Ensemble Captain:
- Leads scale of the week
- Initiates tuning process
- Counts off repertoire
- Helps maintain rehearsal focus
- Models professional preparation and behavior
End of Document