Once your air and buzz are working, your tongue starts and separates notes. It should shape the air, not stop it in your throat.
- Start a note: whisper “too” or “doo” while the air is already moving. Let the tongue touch just behind the top teeth, then release it.
- Keep the air continuous: practice four even notes on one pitch, then four notes with the valves changing. The tongue moves; the breath stays steady.
- Build rhythm: set a slow metronome, count “1-and-2-and,” and play one note on each count before adding fingerings.
- Listen and tune: use a tuner occasionally, but trust your ears too. A steady tone, relaxed embouchure, and gentle air support matter more than chasing every cent.
Start with a comfortable middle register. Range comes gradually from efficient air and consistent practice, never from squeezing the lips.