I recommend on your down time practice making only foam as if you’re making a cappuccino over time you’ll get how milk aerates and how it sounds. I was always taught it should sound like paper tearing.

i would also try just aerating the milk for longer!! i never really count the seconds, i just kinda... aerate until it feels right.

i always hold the pitcher so that the steaming stem rests perfectly in the spout where it pours out if that makes sense. I also was told the paper ripping technique but I find that you can still over aerate, so i like to say a soft paper ripping. Really just practice as much as you can and groom your milk!

I learned a great grooming technique from (@) morgandrinkscoffee on tiktok where she takes an extra steaming picture and just pours the milk into the extra one, then back and back and forth if that makes sense. Doing that has helped my foam a lot too!! if you still cant get it ask a fellow partner most are always wiling to help.