Transverse (10, 11, 12 hole) ocarina teaching workshops, book an ocarina workshop for your event
Robert Hickman can be booked to host workshops teaching various aspects of playing the Italian transverse ocarina, catering to 10, 11 and 12 hole ocarinas in various keys, as well as multichamber ocarinas.
Ocarina workshops can cover many different aspects of the instrument which will be agreed in advance. A selection of possible ideas includes:
- Ocarina quick start, covering the essential skills of playing the ocarina as a serious musical instrument.
- The essentials of reading sheet music, or playing by ear.
- Ornamentation and musicality in ocarina playing.
- An introduction to playing multichamber ocarinas.
- How to play Irish Traditional Music on the ocarina, including idiomatic ornamentation and articulations.
Workshops can cater to beginner musicians, to experienced players of other instruments, although prior experience with other instruments is strongly preferred as it allows much more progress to be made.
Ocarina workshops can be delivered as:
- A short 90 minute workshop introducing the essentials of playing the ocarina.
- A progressive series of 90 minute workshops over multiple days, covering progressively advanced topics.
About Robert Hickman
Robert has been playing the ocarina as a serious musical instrument since 2011, studying effective practice methodologies from other instruments and compiling that research into a book — Serious Ocarina Player — among the most detailed resource on playing the ocarina.
His main focus musically is the adaption and performance of Irish traditional music on the ocarina, and he has been regularly playing in Irish music sessions around the UK for years.
He has previously taught workshops at:
- Budrio ocarina festival.
- Sidmouth folk festival.
- Gate to Southwell festival.
- Chippenham folk festival.
- The bagpipe society blowout.
Do students need their own ocarina?
No. A set of ceramic ocarinas in G are available for lending to students.
Ocarina workshop attendees are welcome to use their own instruments as long as they are of adequate quality, and tuned properly. It is strongly preferred that all ocarinas in the group be in the same key.
Please note that 4 / 6 hole 'English pendant' ocarinas are not appropriate, and Robert does not advise learning them as serious musical instruments. The transverse ocarina is overall a more capable instrument, offering better tuning, easy chromatics, more scope for ornamentation, and easy progression to multichamber instruments as players gain experience.
Booking
To find out more, please contact Robert Hickman using the contact form below: