Playing Tip of the Month: Taking AIM

Having worked with elementary band students for the past 26 years, I have found that having my Woodwind and Brasswind students think of the acronym AIM (Air in Motion) works a lot better than asking them to “support their air,” which can mean several things and become confusing.

I have them imagine a target (bull’s eye) across the room that they “AIM” their air at and blow through the horn, thus producing a full, rich, characteristic tone.

Paul Tomashefsky

Mill Pond Elementary School

Westborough, Massachusetts