Here are some of tips for playing your ocarina!

• Know, when you blow, that it sounds great! It really helps. Often people around you will like your playing more than you do.

• The thumb hole(s) should be covered always, except for the highest notes. Not all ocarinas have thumb holes.

• It is important to cover the finger holes completely. No leaks! This is crucial to achieve a proper sound. Have a friend watch you when you play to make sure that there are no leaks around your fingers.

• The more holes that are open, the higher the pitch, and the more holes that are closed, the lower the pitch.

• Experiment with blowing softer and stronger. Give shape, feeling, and presence to the sound with your breath. An excellent practice is to blow just one note for 7 breaths, keeping the same finger combination. This will bring richness and beauty to your playing. Know that breath is where the sound comes from! Feel the resonance down into your body, and put feeling into your breath.

• You can articulate notes by using your tongue while you blow. Say, "ta ta ta". making the "ta" sound while you are blowing into the ocarina, This will make separate notes out of the same tone, and provide rhythm. When you say “ta”, you are playing “staccato”, and when you tie several finger combinations together without saying “ta”, you are playing “legato”. Combine them to create musical phrases.

• Another special technique is called a'trill'. Make a note, any note, and lift and replace one (or more) finger(s) repeatedly and very quickly. This can create a cool warble or yodel. Experiment with varying the speed, note combinations, and placement within your phrases.

• You can add some vibrato to the sound using your diaphragm. This is the muscle between your chest and your belly that helps you breathe. While you blow, make your diaphragm quiver or flutter. You can start with a laugh to get the feeling.

• Roll your "R"s with your tongue while blowing into the ocarina for a special birdlike effect. This is like the Spanish “r” sound. You can also hum while you play to get a bagpipe or didgeridoo sound. Try humming just one note (as a bass/tonic) while you vary the ocarina notes. Or hum along with the melody, or even a harmony or counterpoint.

• A great way to learn ocarina is to figure out songs that you already know.

• Try to learn songs by heart! They sound better that way.

• Ocarinas have a funny way of being in tune with their surroundings, have you noticed? Try playing along with sounds you hear around you, even industrial sounds!

• Sometimes it is fun to play Ocarina at unexpected times and in unexpected places! Who knows, you may just make someone's day!