The value of having a mentor or teacher when learning the ocarina

There is an idea that has become pervasive recently that the ocarina is 'easy to play' and that you don't need guidance to learn to play it. But this is not entirely correct.

Learning alone, it is difficult to know how well you are doing as books or video tutorials cannot provide feedback:

• It is extremely easy to develop bad habits when you are new to an instrument, as there are so many things to learn.
• Technique errors can cause hand pain, or make playing much more difficult than it should be.
• You may know that your playing style could be better, but not know what you need to do to develop it.

Alone, you are left reading and watching numerous tutorials, paying very close attention to every joint in your hand, and using a mirror or filming yourself to gain an external perspective. Nevertheless, mistakes can go unnoticed for months, or even years.

By comparison, a teacher can notice and rectify many things in a few minutes. Teachers and mentors can also help you pace your learning, expose you to music you may not be aware of, help you organise your practice time, and help keep you motivated.

Looking for a teacher is also a great idea if you ever feel stuck, unsure what to do next. They can listen to your playing and make suggestions, and possibly offer some exercises to help you improve.

The difference between mentors and teachers

Ocarina teacher

An ocarina teacher will guide your entire learning process, with a curriculum designed to ensure that you cover every aspect. They will give you music and exercises to learn, and may or may not be willing to help you with your own music.

Ocarina mentor

An ocarina mentor will watch you play, and make suggestions about how you can improve. They may give you some exercises to work on, but ultimately, you have control of your progression.

How can I find an ocarina mentor or teacher?

As of the time of writing, skilled ocarina mentors and teachers are rare. Your best bet for finding one is to look online. Such people are very dispersed geographically, but many will work with you remotely over the internet, using Signal, Facebook video chat, Zoom or similar.

Here are some suggestions for finding a mentor or teacher:

• Search for terms like 'ocarina mentor'. There are some people who actively promote themselves as ocarina mentors and ocarina teachers online.
• Reach out to players you admire. Even if they do not actively promote themselves as such, many ocarina players are willing to help learners if asked.
• Look for teachers of similar instruments. While they won't understand the specifics of the ocarina, they will be able to help you with things like music theory, sight-reading, and ear training.

Do take care who you listen to, though. As ocarinas don't have a strongly established playing tradition, it is really easy to find bad advice.

Also, you may find that you don't get along with the first person you contact. Different people also specialise in different genres of music, and play music for different reasons. It can take a few tries to find someone you get on well with, So don't get discouraged.

Closing

While one can learn the ocarina alone, having a mentor or teacher can help you progress much faster. For beginners, they help you avoid easy mistakes, and help you practice effectively, letting you play more interesting music sooner.

For intermediate or advanced players, teachers or mentors can help guide and pace your learning, ensuring continued progress.