Learn to play the ocarina

Ocarina basics

What is an ocarina?

What are ocarinas capable of?

The types of ocarina

What type of ocarina should I learn?

The design of transverse ocarinas

Ocarina anatomy

How ocarinas work

How to identify ergonomic ocarinas

The ocarina's fingering system

Breath curves and tuning

Tuning and ambient temperature

Choosing an ocarina

Identifying playable ocarinas

Keys and pitch ranges

Playing characteristics and timbre

Recognising badly tuned ocarinas

Materials, finish differences and ocarina care

Choosing your first ocarina

Playing your first music

How to play the ocarina

Getting rhythm

Learning the fingerings

Playing your favorite songs

The types of music notation

Introducing musicality

Controlling your finger movements

Moving forwards

An introduction to music

The components of melody

Understanding rhythm

Octaves and scale formation

Figures, phrases and motifs

The logic of sheet music

Harmony for ocarina players

The relationship between melody and chords

Effective practice

A philosophy of learning musical instruments

Practising effectively

The value of mentours

Finding interest in technical exercises

Scales, intervals and arpeggios

Recording for practice

Playing at high tempo

Holding, blowing and playing in tune

How to hold an ocarina

Playing the high notes

Blowing an ocarina correctly

Tongue posture and articulation

Intonation (playing in tune)

Dealing with warm or cold environments

Getting a good sound on the high notes

Getting started playing ocarina with sheet music

Playing ocarina with sheet music

Reading rhythms in sheet music

Sharps, flats and key signatures

Identifying playable sheet music

Transposing sheet music to fit the ocarina

Sight reading sheet music on the ocarina

Recognising common melodic patterns in sheet music

Getting started playing ocarina by ear

How to play the ocarina by ear

Finding notes and playing longer melodies

Recognising melodic patterns

Learning to identify melodic intervals by ear

The basics of improvisation on the ocarina

Music and the ocarina

Music for the ocarina

Choosing an ocarina to fit the range of a song

Modifying music to fit the ocarina

Playing ocarinas in different keys

Making your music sound musical

Introductory notes

Articulating notes on the ocarina

Playing cuts and strikes on the ocarina

Ornamentation

Ornamentation: rolls, cranns, and strike cranns

Articulation and ornamentation applied

Notating fingered articulations (cuts and strikes)

Playing multichamber ocarinas

Multichamber ocarinas & tunings

Multichamber fingerings

Holding a multichamber ocarina

Blowing a multichamber ocarina

Chamber switching on multichamber ocarinas

Frequently asked questions

Is the ocarina easy to play?

Where to breathe

Is the ocarina a good instrument for young children?

What is the differance between a 12 hole and 10 hole ocarina?

How do I play vibrato on ocarina?

Why do I get hand pain from playing the ocarina?

Why do I get a lot of moisture in my ocarina?

Why does my ocarina have airy high notes?

Why does my ocarina sound airy in recordings?

Why does my ocarina screech on its high notes?

Why does my ocarina sound out of tune?

Why are my ocarina's high notes flat?

How do I mute an ocarina?

How do I switch chambers smoothly?

Appendices

Want to play well? Stop using ocarina tabs!

Cons of the ocarina as a first instrument

How to teach the ocarina to children

How to become a great ocarina player

Seven common ocarina mistakes to avoid

Fourteen tips for practising the ocarina effectively

How to record an ocarina

Composing for the ocarina

Challenges in marketing the ocarina

A case for electronic ocarinas

Exercises

Beginner sheet music sight reading exercices for ocarina

Basic scales for single chamber ocarinas

Diatonic intervals for ocarina

Pentatonic scales for the ocarina