Learning to play any kind of instrument is a wonderful thing. Playing music can benefit your health and your social life. It can also boost your confidence. Simply put, it can make your life beautiful. Choosing the right musical instrument can be complicated because you have to consider many things, including your music taste and your abilities.

However, if you love wind instruments and you have a knack for them, you should definitely consider ocarina. This wonderful and exotic instrument will bring happiness and a little bit of island atmosphere into your home.

Even though ocarina is not a complicated instrument, you still have to know what you are doing in order to make music. This is exactly why today we are going to provide you with some tips on how to play the ocarina.

First, Learn How to Hold the Ocarina

Before you start playing this wonderful musical instrument, you have to learn how to hold the ocarina. The first thing you want to do is hold it with your right hand facing out and your left hand facing you. Then, place the right index finger on the hole closest to the mouthpiece. This is called a sound hole and you control it with your index finger while playing.

When it comes to your left index finger, you should place it over the hole located near the edge on the left side of the ocarina. Once you do all this, you should place all of your fingers down. Also, make sure you place your thumbs on the bottom holes. Cover the holes firmly, but don’t squeeze too tight. The ocarina should feel comfortable in your hands.

This might sound a bit complicated, but ocarina is actually one of the best wind instruments for beginners, no question about it. Once you figure out how to hold it, you will be ready to make wonderful music.

Blow Into the Ocarina Properly

In order to blow properly into this instrument, you have to learn how to breathe first. You must learn how to breathe from your stomach, not from the chest. When it comes to proper breathing, good posture plays a rather important role. Therefore, keep your back straight and your shoulders leveled.

Now it’s time for you to blow into the ocarina. Start by saying “tu” a few times until it sounds clear. Once you master this simple sound, you will be able to play with this instrument and make complex music. Naturally, it will be a lot easier for you if you know sheet music, but it’s not necessary. You can always learn songs by ear or by looking at tabs. Pay close attention to breath pressure. If you start to sound flat, make sure to blow harder. If, however, you sound sharp, try to blow softer. In case you have a hard time tuning yourself, feel free to use a tuner. Also, you should know that breath control is paramount if you want to play the ocarina properly.

Keep Your Fingers Relaxed

The trickiest part of playing the ocarina is fingering. Once you figure this out, you will be able to play your favorite songs on this beautiful instrument. There are many fingering techniques, but the most important thing is to keep the ocarina steady in your hands. To do this, you must relax your fingers. Don’t squeeze the ocarina too hard. Make sure it’s loose in your hands. This way you will be able to change the position of your fingers without making a mistake.

Be Patient

When it comes to learning any kind of instrument, you have to arm yourself with patience. The case is the same with the ocarina. This wonderful and exotic wind instrument will bring you a lot of happiness, but only if you give yourself enough time to learn it properly. It might be frustrating at first, but don’t give up easily. Have faith in yourself and your skills. Trust us, there aren’t too many good ocarina players out there. This means that if you master this instrument, you will be able to choose the band or orchestra in which you want to play.

Playing a musical instrument is a beautiful thing, especially if it’s as exotic as the ocarina. If you or your kid are into music, you should know that this instrument is perfect for every beginner. You can learn how to play the ocarina all by yourself, but if you want to see results right away, you should pay a professional tutor.