Master Ocarina Maker Interviewed     More ocarina pictures     Listen To Our Ocarinas

Covering the Holes It is sometimes helpful with smaller children (or with anyone for whom covering the tone holes is frustrating at first) to put tape over the ocarina’s two bottom holes, or thumb holes, for the first several lessons. Clear packing tape works well. Because the ocarina plays an entire octave using only the holes on its top, the bottom holes are not necessary until a child has been playing for some time. With two less holes to cover, little guys with tiny fingers and budding motor skills have an easier time getting started. Later, simply remove the tape when they reach a point where they need to play the two highest notes. Don’t worry if they have trouble covering the tone holes right at first–this initial struggle is common to learning any woodwind instrument. With a little practice, they will quickly improve. It is, though, easier to cover the holes with the fingers slightly bent rather than with straight fingers. In the beginning, children sometimes make the mistake of gripping the instrument very tightly with straight fingers, making it difficult to cover the tone holes.