To produce clear attack, the tongue tip should be pointed and placed exactly on the line between and behind the upper two front teeth. During sustained tone, the tongue relaxes to normal position with tip behind the lower teeth.
Two different methods may be used in stopping the tone:
First, and most practical, is to cut the air stream with the throat - which may be gradual or sudden.Méndez suggests these Arban Etudes be practiced with a metronome set at the tempo in which he plays the first few measures of Etudes 19 to 23, thus gaining a chance to observe every note individually and to attain uniform attack. As control is attained in the initial slower tempo, the tempo should be gradually increased to and beyond the speed at which the complete Etudes are recorded.Second, by raising the tip of the tongue to the same position as for the attack. In tonguing, all forms of muscular twitching of mouth, lips, cheeks or chin must be avoided. Such movement will impair clean, sharp attack because it hinders free natural movement of the tongue. These unnecessary movements can be avoided by firmly drawing the lip muscles towards the center, holding the lips firm by tightening the corners of the mouth and making sure to avoid stretching of lips or tensing the throat muscles.
He suggests the performer practice with the recordings - and that the performer "make every note a solo".