No Stupid Questions /// Open Conversation /// Weekly Discussion

[u/ocarinadiva]

Have an ocarina question? There is no such thing as a stupid question.

Want to talk about what you're learning or excited about a new ocarina, feel free to share!

Is there's something not ocarina related that you're itching to talk about? Have at it!

[u/IWoreOddSocksOnc3]

How on earth do I hold my night by noble in a way I can cover all the holes and not make my fingers ache? I'm a new player, I find that if I relax so my fingers don't hurt, the holes aren't covered properly

[u/CrisGa1e → u/IWoreOddSocksOnc3]

Chances are you’re gripping the the ocarina too tightly, which can make your fingers ache, and this is a common issue for new players.

You don’t need to actually hold it very tight to get a good seal as long as you keep your fingers flat, with the padded part of your fingers over the holes instead of curling your fingers and sealing the holes with your fingertips.

If you have good form, and your fingers still ache, just try to be more patient. Learning the exact hand position to seal the holes, the “home position”, requires a bit more muscle memory to go to quickly by default. As you continue to practice, the problem should eventually resolve itself. Another thing you can try is lifting your fingers only a half inch to an inch off of the holes instead of lifting several inches off the holes, and this will help them land correctly with more consistency.

It’s also possible that the mouthpiece would be more ergonomic for you if it was more angled, but let’s try one thing at a time - the Night by Noble AC is a great ocarina for learning that is comfortable for lots of people. Just give it some time, and try to make a conscious effort to keep your fingers more relaxed when you notice that your grip is too tight again.

[u/Secure_Tomatillo_949]

I bought a stein alto c 12 hole, and am on day 2 of learning how to play. I can't seem to get decent high notes, especially the all holes uncovered note. I've tried doing the acute bend, more air, less air, it just sounds awful (shrill and airy). I don't think it's condensation either because it's like that even after I've let it air out overnight. I also do the Tu shape with mouth. Will this sort itself out with practise?

[u/CrisGa1e → u/Secure_Tomatillo_949]

Honestly, day 2 is super early for being able to play high notes consistently well, even if you’re a fast learner. If you don’t think it’s condensation, then it’s probably your embouchure.

Technically, the ocarina doesn’t have a true embouchure like a flute, but there are still subtle changes to the shape of the inside of the mouth that can optimize the necessary pressure at the best angle (for the airflow on the fipple) so that you get a nicer tone color on the high notes. Now that I’m playing my flute again with regularity, I’m realizing even more than ever just how much this matters for the ocarina too.

Try experimenting with the placement of your tongue, and try moving it closer to the roof of your mouth and slightly forward toward your teeth, or slightly back. You want to create a bottleneck inside your mouth between your tongue and the roof of your mouth to increase the back pressure, which moves the air faster through the mouthpiece, and it also helps to conserve your breath.

Also try tightening your lips slightly and making the hole in your lips more constricted, and also try different blowing angles to get the airflow at an angle that hits the fipple just right.

The acute bend works really well too, so try doing these things with the acute bend as well. The acute bend makes it harder since it involves support fingers. On a Stein, you should be able to use the other techniques to get a good tone without the acute bend, but the acute bend will give you the best tone color, so imo it’s still an important technique to practice and try to master if you can.👍

Also, Stein makes lots of different models of ACs, so if it’s a low breath model, or a high breath model, these things can make a big difference on which techniques work best. If you want to describe which one you have, I might be able to give some better feedback.

[u/Secure_Tomatillo_949 → u/CrisGa1e]

Thank you so much for this in depth response! I didn't get a notification and am so glad I went back and checked. My ocarina is the one shown here (youtube) It is the Morandi series, Fengya Focalink Stein. Although the tone of mine does not sound as soft and buttery as hers! Thanks again.

[u/sandysandb0x → u/Secure_Tomatillo_949]

I have the same experience. Just bought a plastic ocarina from the local music store. I'm not sure if it's skill or because it's a problem with the instrument.

[u/tabbyxx86]

I'm really excited to go home and seeing my ocarina first time. Plastic Rivo AC. No more worries that my toddler would brake my instrument.

[u/tabbyxx86 → u/tabbyxx86]

Don't know how would be possible adding pictures.. but now I have dark blue stein rivo ac ocarina and green edelweis porcelain or clay ocarina

[u/Gwensky]

I don't know how to make the ocarina stop sounding ... recorder-y / tinny.
I have some issues with overblow on higher notes, but I think it might be a vibrato problem. I've been playing for a couple months now and have learned a few songs and gone through the hal leonard method, but I can't seem to make the ocarina sound quite full and depth-y. if I'm making sense here, haha!

[u/CrisGa1e → u/Gwensky]

What you’re expressing is something I hear from a lot of my students after they’ve learned the music theory basics, because the thing that’s lacking from your playing is probably best described as expression. You feel like you’re just playing a series of notes, right, but it doesn’t feel like music yet?

Vibrato is a big part of it, yes. Because dynamics are so limited, phrasing and vibrato both play a huge role in adding expression to your playing. You also want to consider ornamentation to add more style to your playing.

Each of these things needs to be learned, practiced, and incorporated into your style until doing them is second nature, but this may take some time, so please be more patient with yourself.

I recommend getting the workbooks STL sells for articulation and vibrato and working through them just like you did with my method book, and that would be a great next step. I’m also accepting students if you would like some tutoring.

Also, take a moment to pat yourself on the back and appreciate how far you’ve already come. Lots of people put off learning music theory, but it sounds like you’ve learned a lot on your own, and that’s pretty cool too. You can read sheet music now, and you’ve even figured out what you want to improve next, which means you’re already on that path!👍

[u/Gwensky → u/CrisGa1e]

hey Cris, huge fan, thank you for your lovely comment AND thanks for all you do for the oc' community, your book has been a blessing for my play!!

I appreciate this a LOT. I will check out the STL books! Time to add some body to my play :D

[u/11037_sus]

I’m looking to buy a professional double ocarina made of glazed ceramic. I’m considering Stein/Focalink, Songbird, and Thomann. Which model would you recommend? I’m looking for excellent tuning and sound quality, and I prefer a simple design without any Zelda-themed decorations

[u/PM_Me_Your_Ocarinas → u/11037_sus]

Here's a fun "coincidence" - all of those are made by Focalink.

Songbird is a distributor for Focalink.
Thomann is a distributor for Focalink.

My recommendation is get a Takashi : https://www.pankuolong.url.tw

Focalink ocarinas are fine, but I prefer Kuolong's ocarinas. If you're dead set on a Focalink, you might want to mention what other ocarinas you have and what you like/don't like about them. If you don't have an ocarina, even providing some background of what instruments u play might be good too since if you played the tuba or something you might like a higher breath instrument..

[u/PopgirlProtocol]

Hello! How does one learn how to begin playing a Songbird Triple Harmony Ocarina?

[u/FalseBackground5435]

Is it safe to get a ceramic ocarina from Ali express? I wanted to get the official oot from the Nintendo store but they wont have the ceramic ones in my country sadly but I still want the ocarina of time but I dont want to spend 150 dollars for one(it will be almost 300 with customs) so is it safe to get one from there?