Steps for Refining Your Tone

1. Confirm the syllable: For lip slurs, use the syllable "cha-ei-che-ah." The syllables are written below the sheet music, so start by checking them. Since tonguing is involved, the vowels include a T onset. Don't worry too much about pitch—just try singing something like "cha-ei-che-ah, cha-ei-che-ah, cha..." to get the feel.
2. Sing it out loud: Start by singing it out loud. Sing cha-ei-che-ah, cha-ei-che-ah, cha-ei-che-ah while checking that you are correctly singing the articulation and syllables. Singing helps your body internalize the correct articulation.
3. Practice on the mouthpiece: After singing, place your lips on the mouthpiece and, without producing any pitched sound or voice, say "cha-ei-che-ah" in your mouth while blowing only air through the mouthpiece. On the mouthpiece alone, you may not hear much change, but it is important at this stage to confirm the correct articulation image.
4. Play on the instrument: Finally, attach the instrument and play while firmly visualizing everything you sang and practiced on the mouthpiece. By repeating these 3 steps (sing, mouthpiece, then instrument), you will develop correct lip slurs.
5. Expand your range: Once you can perform basic one-octave lip slurs (from low C to tuning B-flat), use the same process to gradually expand your range. For example, repeat the same 3-step practice in both higher and lower registers.
6. Practice lip trills: Lip trills follow exactly the same concept as the lip slurs we have been working on. Play while saying the syllable "che-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yah." What you need to be careful about here is that since lip trills move quickly, you should avoid moving your jaw. Keep your jaw as still as possible and focus on moving only your lips. If you rely on your jaw and let it bob up and down, you will not be able to perform fast lip trills, so be careful.
7. Challenge fast lip slurs: Only after you have solidly mastered basic lip slurs should you begin working on fast lip slurs. Jumping into this exercise too soon may cause bad habits to develop, so it is important to master basic lip slurs first. Since the passage is entirely connected by slurs, play everything in a single breath. Breathing in the middle is not desirable, so play from start to finish in one breath. Start practicing at a slow tempo and gradually increase the speed.