How to Play an Ocarina

How to Play an Ocarina

On behalf of tvlesson.com, this is Trevor Ross representing EarthToneInstruments.net. In this clip, I’m going to show you about a clay ocarina. It’s a vessel flute dating back 30,000 years and during the renaissance period, this was played by roving vans of musicians. So this is an authentic, 16th century renaissance instrument.

We can wear this as a necklace. I like to show a musical bling on a string and I can play a little didi for you. Typically the way you play these things as you’re going to cover these holes. You’ve got four on top and you’ve got one on the back. Okay this is the thipple. This is where the sound comes out and you can see we’ve got few other designs on the back as well. I see a little sea horse there.

You’re just going to cover these holes all the way and you’re going to kind of work your way up the scale like this one at a time and I’ll demonstrate that. So you simply covering the holes and then uncovering them. And you’ve got the one on the back for the thumb so you’re going to—everything covered is going to be the low octave. And everything open is going to be the high octave.

On behalf of tvlesson.com, thank you for watching.



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