The Target is where we aim the air.
It is the center of the upper lip, at its lowest point. If you stick your tongue out and close your lips, it is where you tongue touches the upper lip.
The Target is where your lip actually vibrates.* It's where we want to aim the air. Always. We can aim up or down but the air must pass through the target.
Most players aim up higher than the target, especially when playing high notes. Unfortunately aiming above the target makes it harder to play high notes!
It make so much sense, to aim up when we play high and to aim low when we play low. Fortunately for those of us in the know aiming up or down doesn't make the pitch go up or down.
What makes the pitch go up or down depends on the size of the aperture (the hole where the air goes out your lips), the speed and intensity of the air and the tension of the lips.
Note that we are talking about aiming the air at the Target or above or below it. All air should be aimed at the Target regardless of pitch or range.
This straight ahead kind of playing has numerous advantages
Why Tongue at the Target?
Tonguing at or near the target produces clean and powerful attacks and reduces the movement of the tongue. Moving the tongue too much brings the back of the tongue into play, constricting the flow of air, changing the tone and slowing the tonguing down.
When most people tongue at the Target for the first time they can't believe it can work because they are so used to tonguing higher.
Having a Target gives you something to aim at
How handy!
You know that feeling right before a high, quiet entrance? How are you going to get the first note to sound nice? Wouldn't it be great to get rid of that abstract, almost lost feeling?
You have a really loud entrance and don't want to splat the first note?
Give your brain and body something to focus on! Think about the target, where it is and how you are going to deliver the air to it.
* Yes we know vibrates is the wrong word but let's keep it simple.
It is the center of the upper lip, at its lowest point. If you stick your tongue out and close your lips, it is where you tongue touches the upper lip.
The Target is where your lip actually vibrates.* It's where we want to aim the air. Always. We can aim up or down but the air must pass through the target.
Most players aim up higher than the target, especially when playing high notes. Unfortunately aiming above the target makes it harder to play high notes!
It make so much sense, to aim up when we play high and to aim low when we play low. Fortunately for those of us in the know aiming up or down doesn't make the pitch go up or down.
What makes the pitch go up or down depends on the size of the aperture (the hole where the air goes out your lips), the speed and intensity of the air and the tension of the lips.
Note that we are talking about aiming the air at the Target or above or below it. All air should be aimed at the Target regardless of pitch or range.
This straight ahead kind of playing has numerous advantages
- It helps to keep the tone quality good and similar in all ranges
- It make slurring smoother
- It allows for large leaps without changes in tone
- It helps you understand where to tongue
Why Tongue at the Target?
Tonguing at or near the target produces clean and powerful attacks and reduces the movement of the tongue. Moving the tongue too much brings the back of the tongue into play, constricting the flow of air, changing the tone and slowing the tonguing down.
When most people tongue at the Target for the first time they can't believe it can work because they are so used to tonguing higher.
Having a Target gives you something to aim at
How handy!
You know that feeling right before a high, quiet entrance? How are you going to get the first note to sound nice? Wouldn't it be great to get rid of that abstract, almost lost feeling?
You have a really loud entrance and don't want to splat the first note?
Give your brain and body something to focus on! Think about the target, where it is and how you are going to deliver the air to it.
* Yes we know vibrates is the wrong word but let's keep it simple.
