Hey guys, I was just curious what type of warm-ups y'all do before you start playing. And if you had advice for the "best" warm-up. What I usually do is "2 minute scales". My band teacher makes us advanced students do them. There basically the C,D,Db,E,Eb,F,G,Gb,A,Ab,B,Bb, scales two octaves, except the C is three octaves!

Although this is very personal, I think you'll have to choose from your own experience.
Anyway mine is Taffanel's E.J.4, all legato and not really speedy. Reason is because it works the whole 3 octaves, covering basically all the notes and keys on the flute, also this is done gradually. It works all your fingers and take no more than 20 minutes to be completed.

Let's get it better:
"Because this is very personal, you'll have to choose from your own experience..."

I think this way my idea makes more sense... :-)

Personally, I do long tones from the B-natural above the staff to the B-natural below middle C. Then I do long tones from the original B up to high B-natural. Then, I do T&G Exercise 1. If I'm feeling like a good student that day, I'll do Exercise 4 in addition to everything else.

It all depends on how I'm feeling that day. Sometimes I'll just do long tones down to low B, and skip the high notes entirely before jumping into whatever music I'm learning. (I know it's not good, but sometimes I just feel lazy.) Sometimes I'll play Exercises 1 and 2, but not 4. I prefer not to have a set regimen that I force myself to do every day. It's good to mix things up.

Same as you instrumentcrazy,
normally in orch, I just run through 12 major scales in 30 seconds,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSHmzM5jLFI
this covers pretty much most keys and warms the flute instantly. If I had time I cover the other 24 minors as well.

<Added>

BTW, our orch just performed inside the famous EGG of China - (national center for the performing arts ~ it took China US$400million to build)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh9CB6zM7DI

Pyrioni: Wow, I haven't gotten my that fast yet! I can't get over how good you are! I've been able to get mine at 140 16th notes.

Personally, I begin by holding a long F (the one on top of the staff), dropping down to hold a long Bb, then coming back up to hold a long F. Then I do short little chromatic runs from F UP to Bb, then from that Bb back down to F. I repeat the chromatic run from F up to Bb, then I run from Bb up to Eb. Finally, I do (or rather, attempt) a chromatic run from Eb all the way down to C1. If I feel like it, I may hold another F and practice my double-tonguing and triple-tonguing on that one note (no worries about getting fingerings right!). And sometimes I'll just do long tones, randomly selecting notes from anywhere in the register.

But that's just me. And, like other people have already posted, you want to develop a warmup that works for YOU.

Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it. I just like to get ideas from other flautist! I like to try out new ways of doing things.

Moyse De la Sonorite!!! Love it! I tend to separate warm up/long tones and technique/scales in my practice. I also like Moyse Tone Development Through Interpretation and Trevor Wye Tone. The Moyse books are gems.

Lovely ol' Taffanel and Gaubert, I usually switch up the exercises every couple of weeks, but I think the best one is T.G Exercise #4 where it covers ALL the scales! Also T.G #1 is also a must!

Why are people thumbing Pyrioni down? I enjoyed his post. I always enjoy watching his links, he's a very good flute player.

Crabwise scales - up on one scale, up a semitone and back down on that scale, up a semitone, up on that scale etc.
Maybe a couple of sustained lower and higher notes.
Anything that gets your fingers working and your flute ready for some proepr palying, but it helps if it puts you in the mood for music as well, so if you hate scales, maybe they're not such a good idea.

I'll give it a try! I've never heard of Crabwise scales before.