+David Erick Ramos - Ocarina lol Holy cow, thanks for replying, David. I've been following you since the original octalk videos from way back and just wanted to say you're a real inspiration and to keep on doing what you're doing :)
"Don't practice at work." I'm so guilty of that. I recently got a Songbird ocarina from ren faire and occasionally bring it into the back office at my job. It probably wouldn't be so bad if it was like a soft-breath tenor ocarina. Unfortunately, I happened to pick up a soprano ocarina :P
My mom has been making an ocarina for her girlfriend in her pottery class, I'll have to point them to your channel. (I have been subbed for a few years now.)
how brilliant idea, i can make an ocarina to my girlfriend, maybe then i can get into ocarina's world (or art world, cause im actually painter and comicker bit live ocarina)
Hey, Long time fan. You taught me how to play the ocarina from scratch, so thanks. Don't stop making the world a better place. P.s. My music teacher told me it's not an instrument and banned ocarinas from the school music room :( but I ain't giving up! Thanks
Well if your music teacher thinks that an ocarina is not an instrument (which it is) there must be something going on His/Her brain. She must be euthanized immediately.
Thanks for the kind words and sorry to hear about the ban :( The best thing you can do is get really good at the ocarina to to help show the world that it is an awesome musical instrument and don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)
@@jamesmoreland7569 Professional tubist and teacher here, I would never discourage a student from playing or learning an instrument that brings them joy, especially when there's no risk of damaging or undoing your low brass embouchure and skills. I can only consider it a positive (especially since it's another wind instrument)
#BegginerTips learn how hard or soft you need to blow for each note, I learned (from Doc) that lower notes on the scale need less force when played and that not higher notes need more.
If you're not sure if you're using the correct amount of air, use a tuner and play long notes to get familiar with what it's supposed to sound like! There are also free tuner apps available for PC and smartphones.
That was cute at like 7:00 when you suggested using playing for someone as a goal, I could see you were thinking of someone special. That was sweet :) Great overall video too. Your patient gentle and intelligent and you did this all really well. Thanks! My boyfriend just surprised me with a toy Ocarina from Ocarina of Time and the packaging and Ocarina looked so on point. I had to learn to play a song for him even if it is just a crappy plastic one lol so thanks again have a good day!
#BeginnerTips After you finish one song, dont forget to congratulate yourself, and bask in how awesome you are! Do your best to Remember compliments, something even I have trouble with. And most importantly keep going. Dont stop at one song, learn more and keep learning!
just came in from having a cig outside and my wife knows how much i love zelda games and pulled out a Box with the purple ocarnia i love it and really excited to learn to play it :-)
I’m actually getting my Ocarina tomorrow, this was a huge help for finding my first Ocarina, this and other videos. I made sure to do all my research, and I’ve got a great spot to practice my Ocarina. I live in the middle of nowhere so my “neighbors” are almost a mile away!
Hey david, I love your videos man. What really helped me improve in my ocarina playing was playing around my family - I felt that if I couldn't play well around them i'd be embarrassed and want to motivate myself to improve. So far its just dandy and everyday I practice for at least 30-45 minutes. My favorite song to play is Lilium from the anime elfen lied. I think you would enjoy playing it too.
I have a 12 hole Ocarina now, came in today :³ Thank you for this! Edit: I also got a 6 hole sweet potato :3 I got this for my free time because I play the trombone in a band but I also play the piano and the baritone (euphonium, depends)
This tips are actually good. Them works for all instruments(expt. breath). I think, I would love music much earlier if i hear this tips 9 years ago, when I started play the piano. Thank you!!!
Im getting my first ocarina on Tuesday and im trying to learn how to play and these videos have made me want to get one. So thank you David Erick Ramos- Ocarina.
Thank you so much for your videos! I just got my (first) ocarina last week, and I'm so excited to learn how to play it. Your videos have helped me so much already, but I'm really looking forward to your video next week about practicing. Thank you again for this, and for always helping us, and I hope you're having a very good summer!
#beginnertips I'm also just having trouble synchronizing my hands with the notes. My first song I've chosen is Mary Had A Little Lamb, and I've decided I'm not going to move onto another song until I get comfortable playing this one. But it's so hard! There were some tips that touched on this problem in the video, but do you have any tips for beginners who are not only just starting out with the ocarina, but also struggling with their first instrument? It's all so new to me, so any tips breaking through and learning how to memorize music and get good at playing it on command would be much appreciated. Thank you again so much!
Great question Ella, and if you haven't seen it already, I HIGHLY recommend you check out my series "How To Play Ocarina", especially because I teach you how to play one note at a time, which will really help your fingers get used to playing on command! bit.ly/HtPO-playlist
@@DavidErickRamos I am struggling withy hands too, it's hard to move them quick enough and apart from that when I'm changing notes I often end up with these short weird sounds as my fingers are right above the holes... Also your playlist is deleted I think..
#BegginerTips What is really helpful with any instrument, I would find a fingering chart for the notes, take the first four notes starting from the lowest and play up the scale, holding the note for four seconds before moving up to the next note. When you get to the fourth note you then work your way back down. This is to remember which fingerings and how hard to blow for each note. Once you get those first four notes down then you add two or three notes. Repeat until you get all the notes memorized.
Just started with a 12 hole ocarina a few weeks ago. I have two (soon to be 3) kids, so I don't get as much practice as I'd like. Ocarina's my first ever instrament, so I'm currently using tabs to play songs... Though, at least for me, I've so far found that the tabs that have a mix of tabs, sheet and lyrics on it help me find the rhythm of the song better. I'm practicing songs I know (currently working on Toss a Coin to Your Witcher) but being brand new to music, the merging to tabs and lyrics helps to let me feel it out.
#BeginnerTips Dont stick to just Zelda Music, or Anime songs, You gotta expand your horizons and trust me, you wont regret it! There are so many kinds of Music that you don't even know about and Ocarina can introduce you to a whole new world, literally!
Another tip for step 1: look up Mr Minute. It's an add-on you can attach to your ocarina to make it much quieter, with adjustable parts to change the volume, so you can practice anywhere without worrying about being loud.
I bought my first ocarina at AX 2014, it's a plastic light blue 12 hole one. Your videos have helped me get better and these tips are awesome! Recently I'm working on ear training and it's alot of fun. The only time I can practice is when no one is home lol.
Awesome tips, thank you! For me, playing Ocarina is an awesome way to enjoy nature. I can go outside, and play whatever I want (almost) wherever I want. I also love playing to other people, although I do it kind of indirectly (for example, going to the shore and playing sea themed songs to ships that pass by). When the winter comes down, I still want to play outside, but switch to winter themed songs. Situational playing like this brings me a huge amount of motivation :)
totally right! When I saw the music sheet, ~ I can't play it, but when I heard you play it, then I could play it on my own. I love to play it by hearing not by seeing
Very very good tips all! One I found for myself as well, is memorize songs you intend to play in public! If you have a song memorized, you can speed it up, slow it down, or pick it back up again far easier then if your still a little unused to the song in question ^.^ (This could also be because I learned to play by ear, so may not apply to everyone!)
Thank you David, I just ordered my first Ocarina and I was very interested in playing the Ocarina. I really need your help so that I can play Ocarina well..
I've been playing music since 2nd grade. I started with the violin, then the standard recorder that you get in elementary school, then the clarinet. My fiancé actually got me a ceramic ocarina last year just because he thought it looked cool. I was able to play it just fine after figuring out the notes and hand positions. But because it was so heavy I put off actually learning the instrument until I could invest in a plastic model. The one thing that really really sucks about learning to play this instrument isn't the instrument at all. It's the fact that 2/3 of the available sheet music you find for it (which there barely is any that I can find) is all tabs. I get that it is an easy way for beginners to read the music but it shouldn't replace the actual staves. To address the lack of availability of sheet music I look for music for the recorder, trumpet or clarinet because they have a similar note range as the ocarina I have. I'm learning to transpose music to the range of the ocarina too so yay new music skill.
Great tips David. I remember that my mom and brother HATED my plastic soprano c that was my first ocarina. They don't mind the lower tones ones my dad got from Chile though.
Ok so, I’ve never even touched a wind instrument before but I just ordered a 12 hole ocarina... it’s supposed to come with a song book too. I used to be able to read notes when I played violin but that was 4 years ago.... ok so what I’m trying to ask is any advice on how to start it off? My goal is to one day be able to play ballad of the goddess and other songs cause that’d be sick
I began with a 12 hole one. You helped me SO good. Then I ordered a 16 hole. But there are not that much tutorials about a 2 chamber ocarina. Still don't know how to hold it properly
I don't know if I did ever comment this on any video of yours, but what got me to begin training the ocarina all those years ago was your Dragon Roost Island music video with suba, and I really appreciate all the influence! Now I'm trying to start a group to train and improve at ocarina playing here in São Paulo and, who knows, maybe we could try participating at your ocarina collab this next time :)
My sister gifted me a 12 hole ocarina! I’m working on practicing some basic notes and using a tuning app. Having a bit of trouble consistently hitting the note correctly. Hoping your videos can help!
That poster?! Budrio?! Friday April 9th in Piazza Re Enzo?!I lived in Imola for 4 years!!!! Its like 20-30 mins away from Bologna!!! No way!!! I had no idea!!!
Ahhhhh~ I couldn't stop smiling during this video, hehe. ^~^ Ahh it's great, I've come a long way with my ocarina and I just need to learn more music. I've got most the tips down hehe, and it's all great. X3 I'm gonna ask my friends and family on Facebook and Google+ to give me songs to learn so I can actually be good at a lot of songs. Ahh, I wish one day I could show you what I'm capable of, you are definitely the most important person (besides the creators of our modern day ocarinas and the guys who made the originals) in the ocarina world to me because you're just so passionate about this and it's just great to have a guy like you. -It's too bad they don't have a melodica man :
#BeginnerTips I can definitely attest to the part about playing for others. I started playing about a year ago (only seriously/somewhat seriously for the past 5 months), but setting a goal to be able to play for and with others really helped me improve. Also, if you're playing for others, don't be too hard on yourself if you mess up. Playing with and for others at conventions is a lot of fun and most people there are a forgiving and fun audience. As far as challenging yourself, that's also a good tip. Having a difficult song (and then several songs to help you get there!) is also motivating. My current challenge project is Pachabel's Canon in D, but I've been working on other songs to be able to build up to a point where I can play it. As someone with no background in music and really no music training (I don't read sheet music well at all; instead, I learned which holes to cover based on where the note is on the musical staff), one of the most challenging things for me has been to play a song from the sheet music without hearing it first. Then, I listen to it and see how close I got with the rhythm and pacing. But learning ocarina (and having to learn how to transpose songs I want to play) has taught me a lot about basic music theory. Which leads me to another tip (especially for those who don't have a musical background), but learn some basics about music. Make a friend who knows more about music than you do and doesn't mind answering "stupid" questions. I've done that a lot, especially when trying to figure out how to transpose a song for the first time.
Great tips David ! ! My name is Rob and I'm a apprentice at the Ocarina. I'd like to learn some Asian flavored music perhaps to accompany a Japanese Shakuhachi or a Chinese erhu (Jia Peng Fang - Lovers Song). A beautiful haunting ballad. You can find it on You Tube. Thanks again, looking forward to hearing back from you.
:D you messaged me?! I got a 12 hole like you have in the sheet music videos. But mines green. I love your teaching method and how relatable you are. Love that your a fellow brother in Christ and I just hope you continue this TH-cam experience because you are my number 1 mentor/teacher :)
"try to find other music people"Most of my friends are amazing at making music, that's probably what got me here in the first place, haha. Though, your covers made me discover this instrument in particular :>
i just started playing, but tbh i think its awesome...ive always liked flute music, but the ocarina is so much more intense than a regular flute... plus it doesnt hurt that ive played the zelda games since the start :P
Hello David! First of all, I love your videos and the music you make, please keep it up. I've been looking to get into the ocarina for a while now (I have 0 musical background but the music you make on the ocarina is just beautiful and I'd love to learn to make music like that), but I've had a few starting issues. Mainly, is it normal/smart to start on a 12-hole ocarina? Or should I try one with fewer holes and work my way up? Also, where would you recommend I get an ocarina from? I'm sure one company will make them better than another company (because I assume just buying the top result on Amazon is a bad idea, no?) and different materials will produce different sounds (I'm assuming ceramic is sort of the default material, yes?). So, tl;dr, How many holes should my future ocarina have, what should it be made of, and what company should it be from? Sorry, for the wall of text. Thank you so much in advance and, again, keep up the great work please!
I'm not experienced; I'm more say I'm intermediate. I've been playing the 12 hole Oc for 4 years, but mostly for fun and as a hobby. I recommend learning the scales on the Oc for the key your Oc was built in. (C has 0 flats or sharps, G has one sharp, D has two sharps, etc). I personally, even after 4 years, struggle with alternative fingerings and playing accidentals, along with "tounging" super fast melodies (similar to how flutes work when doing tremolos or arpeggios). I definatley need to make more time to practice or just fool around. I play the oc at least once or twice a week, and I should be playing it almost everyday. IDK, I also recommend learning how to read sheet music like David said. Oc tabs are very difficult for me to read, esp. in the books that come with Songbird Ocs (the tabs that David himself wrote), since each note does not designate the exact time you should hold out the note. Also, transposition. Go on TH-cam and learn how to transpose. There isn't alot of Oc sheet music out there; you may have to create your own, and Hell, you can even make money creating Oc Sheets and selling them.
Yes! Transposition is important. Even if a song is within range of the ocarina, there may be a transposed version that's much, much, much easier to play and sounds just as good. Case in point: Clocktown from Majora's Mask. Sheet music is written in D major, but that involves a lot of switching between chambers in the middle of a string of notes. Transposing it to C major not only removes the accidentals, but it works out that the chamber switching is done where there's a natural break in the music =)
Relatively new subscriber here. Your video's and music has inspired me and I bought myself an ocarina. I've gone through your "How to play the Ocarina" video's, they have been incredibly helpful! I'm keeping an eye out for everyone's tips!
hi! I'm a amateur ocarina player, but I still suggest this:play songs that you enjoy, like your favorite song, or your favorite movie theme, there is usually tabs for them somewhere in the wide web, plus it will make practicing fun, and you will be impressed
I have been doing that, thanks for the tip! I've been trying to use both the music staff and tabs, it's tough translating the music notes to the right holes, still.
am not really experienced at ocarina playing but some advice is to really not give up if you give up you will never get better and you dont learn it overnight so work hard and belive in yourself.
The only music I've been reading and playing is from your "How To Play The Ocarina" series and I've finished all of those pieces so I just play them over and over, do you know where I could find sheet music to make practice more challenging.
Same I was confused when he talked about it. Cause a Doctor told me I was breathing wrong and that breathing from my diaphragm is bad. Also she told me most people breathe like that
I'm an intermediate ocarina player and I am good (not the best) at all types of ocarinas but I favor the bass ocarinas I just got what I call the acorn bass ocarina and it is better than what I had before
I studied the violin for three years and now i play it but i don't study it, i'm studying piano and cello at school from 2 years now, I have good music theory preparation and i played the recorder for some time, so getting my hand on the ocarina was very easy. I play it by ear, as i did when i started any of the instruments i play, and i've got to a pretty good point without many efforts. What I'm actually wondering is what exercises should I practice to keep getting better? For example, I know the notes of the scales and I'm able to play them by ear, but is it useful to play them on the ocarina for practice? Or what tips can you give me? Anyway I just love your channel! You're the one that inspired me to start playing the ocarina and now i absolutely love it! I really appreciate all of your efforts to keep this channel alive and useful for anyone wandering about music and ocarinas, so keep on the good stuff! ;) (I should've commented on the other video about practice, but I found myself here and decided to comment anyway :) )
I just tried breathing upward like you said; I felt like I only filled half of my lungs, and I felt dizzy immediately after doing it. How do people breathe like that?
Raiu Plays Practice this technique, it is really important. I thought the same thing when i started playing, but as i practiced i got better and this has helped me out in the long run.
Hello 👋 god bless you Davide I just bought a ocarina it’s plastic and a ceramic one for my grandson it really got my attention when I come across you by searching and I really liked the sound of the ocarina even though I’m teaching myself how to play the ukulele I really want to play both now you really have a wonderful blessing on teaching so I subscribed you so can you be there for me as I go along learning how to play true I don’t know nothing about notes just where to put my fingers on what only thank you for teaching have a wonderful blessing day amen 🙏
#BegginerTips The biggest problem I am facing as a begginer is that I can't recognize pitches on music sheet fast enough, so I need to remember song i am trying to learn. I mean it's easy when notes are going like A-G-F-E, but it's getting really hard when notes are like C-G-A or something like that. Are there exercises that i can do to improve myself in reading pitches fast?
As a French Horn player, I had to train my ear to be able to play the correct note. For those of you who don’t know why the French Horn is a challenging instrument, it’s because there’s no specific fingering to get any specific note. You can mess up the fingering all you want and still get the right note correctly. Any fingering can play any note, but there are some fingerings that make the note easier to get to. One of the most helpful things a French Horn player can do is to know exactly what each note is supposed to sound like, so you can tell whether you’ve got the right note and pitch. It takes a lot of practice and lots of time but after a while you’ll get it and you’ll be able to know exactly what you need to fix. An ocarina is just like a French Horn in that way, and I guess that’s why it was easier for me to play the ocarina. I’m not the best, not even close, but I can confirm that for many instruments having a trained ear makes your job a million times easier.
I think I bought the ocarina that don't have the right tone and those that are around the internet lately and I am going to have a panic attack, so I started to search for some other ocarina, and I wanted to know if there is another place to buy some ocarinas that you don't have to pay much money for it? It sound bad, but I mean. I don't have much money and I am a beginner (pd: great videos, you are awesome!)
![[Live] : ONE 168 วันนี้!! "โจนาธาน vs ซุปเปอร์เล็ก"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jIN65KgJsI/mqdefault.jpg)
I play in the middle of the woods. Sets a good atmosphere...
I'm determined to learn Saria's Song/Lost Woods and play it in the middle of the woods near this trail alot of people hike and bike on lol
@@crisp__ lucky... I wish there was a forest near were I live
The lost wooda
Kidnappers be like:
Ah, I see this spot is taken-
Same
I play the jar of mayonnaise, will any of those skills transfer over to the ocarina?
+Andrew Bailey Yes. And I think you'll sound a-mayo-zing.
+David Erick Ramos - Ocarina lol Holy cow, thanks for replying, David.
I've been following you since the original octalk videos from way back and just wanted to say you're a real inspiration and to keep on doing what you're doing :)
Andrew Bailey is mayonnaise an instrument
Blue skittles it can be used as an instrument, I learned that in music class
Sorry I don't have experience with percussion
"Don't practice at work."
I'm so guilty of that. I recently got a Songbird ocarina from ren faire and occasionally bring it into the back office at my job. It probably wouldn't be so bad if it was like a soft-breath tenor ocarina.
Unfortunately, I happened to pick up a soprano ocarina :P
Just don't get fired man, haha
I took my Dolce double ocarina to work one day and decided to play it on break. I amassed quite an audience in the break room
I know you commented this three years ago, but any tips for learning soprano ocarina?
@@rowanslifeiguess9512 i know you commented this three years ago but wear ear plugs save your hearing
My mom has been making an ocarina for her girlfriend in her pottery class, I'll have to point them to your channel. (I have been subbed for a few years now.)
That's so cute!
+Mylena Corazza I know. :3
how brilliant idea, i can make an ocarina to my girlfriend, maybe then i can get into ocarina's world (or art world, cause im actually painter and comicker bit live ocarina)
Girlfriend?
+Cabrin_23 Yeah. What's the big deal???
People kept telling me I needed to breath correctly but *never told me how!* thanks for showing how to breath right for wind instruments!
Funny enough I was told by a doctor that breathing from diaphragm is bad for you. And that most people breathe like that.
@@zennamok5428 Same, and it actualy shorten your breath (at least mine) and can even hurt. I always argued with my music teacher about that...
Hey,
Long time fan. You taught me how to play the ocarina from scratch, so thanks. Don't stop making the world a better place.
P.s. My music teacher told me it's not an instrument and banned ocarinas from the school music room :( but I ain't giving up! Thanks
Well if your music teacher thinks that an ocarina is not an instrument (which it is) there must be something going on His/Her brain. She must be euthanized immediately.
Thanks for the kind words and sorry to hear about the ban :( The best thing you can do is get really good at the ocarina to to help show the world that it is an awesome musical instrument and don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)
never stop playing the ocarina! I believe in you^^
I- im truly surprised someone could think that
@@jamesmoreland7569 Professional tubist and teacher here, I would never discourage a student from playing or learning an instrument that brings them joy, especially when there's no risk of damaging or undoing your low brass embouchure and skills. I can only consider it a positive (especially since it's another wind instrument)
#BegginerTips learn how hard or soft you need to blow for each note, I learned (from Doc) that lower notes on the scale need less force when played and that not higher notes need more.
Ah yes, that's a great tip!!
Yes! I had thought my first ocarina was out of tune for awhile before I found this out.
If you're not sure if you're using the correct amount of air, use a tuner and play long notes to get familiar with what it's supposed to sound like!
There are also free tuner apps available for PC and smartphones.
Yes! And not every model of the ocarina is exactly the same with this.
I thought my Ocarina was out of tune too but it turns out I wasn't breathing correctly or applying enough force
Screw the neighbors and coworkers, ROCK OUT! {OCARINA SOLO}
123 LETS ROCK!ToOt!TooT!tooooOooOT
@Blake839 w o o o o s h
I am above the law.
Blake839 how boring....⚰️🗿
That was cute at like 7:00 when you suggested using playing for someone as a goal, I could see you were thinking of someone special. That was sweet :)
Great overall video too. Your patient gentle and intelligent and you did this all really well. Thanks! My boyfriend just surprised me with a toy Ocarina from Ocarina of Time and the packaging and Ocarina looked so on point. I had to learn to play a song for him even if it is just a crappy plastic one lol so thanks again have a good day!
#BeginnerTips After you finish one song, dont forget to congratulate yourself, and bask in how awesome you are! Do your best to Remember compliments, something even I have trouble with. And most importantly keep going. Dont stop at one song, learn more and keep learning!
"hey I'm practicing this instrument
So is there a specific time you are not home?"
Neighbor: -calls 911-
🤣🤣🤣
just came in from having a cig outside and my wife knows how much i love zelda games and pulled out a Box with the purple ocarnia i love it and really excited to learn to play it :-)
i hope you don't die
@@Zackapo everyone dies
Studio Ghibli, Doctor Who, legend of Zelda...ok I like this guy
I’m actually getting my Ocarina tomorrow, this was a huge help for finding my first Ocarina, this and other videos. I made sure to do all my research, and I’ve got a great spot to practice my Ocarina. I live in the middle of nowhere so my “neighbors” are almost a mile away!
Hey david, I love your videos man. What really helped me improve in my ocarina playing was playing around my family - I felt that if I couldn't play well around them i'd be embarrassed and want to motivate myself to improve. So far its just dandy and everyday I practice for at least 30-45 minutes. My favorite song to play is Lilium from the anime elfen lied. I think you would enjoy playing it too.
Yeah that's a good one for the range you have on a regular ocarina, and he has played that song in one of his videos and it was brilliant.
I have a 12 hole Ocarina now, came in today :³ Thank you for this!
Edit: I also got a 6 hole sweet potato :3 I got this for my free time because I play the trombone in a band but I also play the piano and the baritone (euphonium, depends)
This tips are actually good. Them works for all instruments(expt. breath). I think, I would love music much earlier if i hear this tips 9 years ago, when I started play the piano. Thank you!!!
Im getting my first ocarina on Tuesday and im trying to learn how to play and these videos have made me want to get one. So thank you David Erick Ramos- Ocarina.
My downstairs neighbors are a salon, so ironically I can only practice late at night when they're closed and I'm rocking out at midnight.
I’m getting mine this Friday! Can’t wait!
Thank you so much for your videos! I just got my (first) ocarina last week, and I'm so excited to learn how to play it. Your videos have helped me so much already, but I'm really looking forward to your video next week about practicing. Thank you again for this, and for always helping us, and I hope you're having a very good summer!
#beginnertips I'm also just having trouble synchronizing my hands with the notes. My first song I've chosen is Mary Had A Little Lamb, and I've decided I'm not going to move onto another song until I get comfortable playing this one. But it's so hard! There were some tips that touched on this problem in the video, but do you have any tips for beginners who are not only just starting out with the ocarina, but also struggling with their first instrument? It's all so new to me, so any tips breaking through and learning how to memorize music and get good at playing it on command would be much appreciated. Thank you again so much!
Great question Ella, and if you haven't seen it already, I HIGHLY recommend you check out my series "How To Play Ocarina", especially because I teach you how to play one note at a time, which will really help your fingers get used to playing on command! bit.ly/HtPO-playlist
+David Erick Ramos - Ocarina thanks! I did a few videos, but I'll go try to go through all of them. Thank you again so much!
@@DavidErickRamos I am struggling withy hands too, it's hard to move them quick enough and apart from that when I'm changing notes I often end up with these short weird sounds as my fingers are right above the holes... Also your playlist is deleted I think..
GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My ocarina is coming soon and I can’t wait this will really help
just found your channel and i love you videos keep it up
Awesome, welcome to the channel!
+David Erick Ramos - Ocarina. thanks! i just got my first two ocarinas last week and i really enjoy playing
I learned how to play the alto ocarina in about 2 days because of your how to vids (sheet music too). helped so much. thanks for your help :)
p.s. still have a lot to learn thoughXp
#BegginerTips What is really helpful with any instrument, I would find a fingering chart for the notes, take the first four notes starting from the lowest and play up the scale, holding the note for four seconds before moving up to the next note. When you get to the fourth note you then work your way back down. This is to remember which fingerings and how hard to blow for each note. Once you get those first four notes down then you add two or three notes. Repeat until you get all the notes memorized.
I'm a trumpet player in band and i think my experience in band will definitely help with my ocarina training,
and thanks for the tips.
Thanks hope it helps when i actually get my ocarina 😂😂
Mr. PotatosGod 2 years later... you still playing?
I want an update!
@@juan-topic6664 lol same picture
You still playin ocarina? Its been 5 years now
We need to know... Answer them smh, or have you passed away
Just started with a 12 hole ocarina a few weeks ago. I have two (soon to be 3) kids, so I don't get as much practice as I'd like. Ocarina's my first ever instrament, so I'm currently using tabs to play songs... Though, at least for me, I've so far found that the tabs that have a mix of tabs, sheet and lyrics on it help me find the rhythm of the song better. I'm practicing songs I know (currently working on Toss a Coin to Your Witcher) but being brand new to music, the merging to tabs and lyrics helps to let me feel it out.
#BeginnerTips Dont stick to just Zelda Music, or Anime songs, You gotta expand your horizons and trust me, you wont regret it! There are so many kinds of Music that you don't even know about and Ocarina can introduce you to a whole new world, literally!
Don't stick to ocarina, either.
+Kysonscience that too, but this goes out to Ocarina players specifically
+Asling Music I meant ocarina music. There are songs that are great to play, but weren't written for the ocarina specifically
Can I play through the fire and flames by dragonforce??
I want to learn how to play Megalovania so the next time there's a fight at school I can play background music.
"What use are a man's talents if he keeps them to himself?"
-Guitar Hero, TVTropes YMMV page
Another tip for step 1: look up Mr Minute. It's an add-on you can attach to your ocarina to make it much quieter, with adjustable parts to change the volume, so you can practice anywhere without worrying about being loud.
I bought my first ocarina at AX 2014, it's a plastic light blue 12 hole one. Your videos have helped me get better and these tips are awesome! Recently I'm working on ear training and it's alot of fun. The only time I can practice is when no one is home lol.
this video is very informative for beginners and professionals, when i make my video on how to make an ocarina i will point people your way.
Awesome tips, thank you! For me, playing Ocarina is an awesome way to enjoy nature. I can go outside, and play whatever I want (almost) wherever I want. I also love playing to other people, although I do it kind of indirectly (for example, going to the shore and playing sea themed songs to ships that pass by). When the winter comes down, I still want to play outside, but switch to winter themed songs. Situational playing like this brings me a huge amount of motivation :)
I bid good luck to your ocarina adventures! keep a eye out for a short person with Manga hair that plays the ocarina, I might play out in public soon
totally right! When I saw the music sheet, ~ I can't play it, but when I heard you play it, then I could play it on my own. I love to play it by hearing not by seeing
Very very good tips all!
One I found for myself as well, is memorize songs you intend to play in public!
If you have a song memorized, you can speed it up, slow it down, or pick it back up again far easier then if your still a little unused to the song in question ^.^
(This could also be because I learned to play by ear, so may not apply to everyone!)
Thank you.. I just bought a practice Ocarina
I’m currently learning ocarina and that last tip hit pretty hard ngl lol
Very good advice I’ll keep this video in mind for the future
Thank you David, I just ordered my first Ocarina and I was very interested in playing the Ocarina. I really need your help so that I can play Ocarina well..
I just got your book of songs and an ocarina to start! Thanks man!
got it i will do every tip to conquer and master ocarina thank you
I've been playing music since 2nd grade. I started with the violin, then the standard recorder that you get in elementary school, then the clarinet. My fiancé actually got me a ceramic ocarina last year just because he thought it looked cool. I was able to play it just fine after figuring out the notes and hand positions. But because it was so heavy I put off actually learning the instrument until I could invest in a plastic model.
The one thing that really really sucks about learning to play this instrument isn't the instrument at all. It's the fact that 2/3 of the available sheet music you find for it (which there barely is any that I can find) is all tabs. I get that it is an easy way for beginners to read the music but it shouldn't replace the actual staves.
To address the lack of availability of sheet music I look for music for the recorder, trumpet or clarinet because they have a similar note range as the ocarina I have. I'm learning to transpose music to the range of the ocarina too so yay new music skill.
Me and my friend are getting ocarina's so I can practice with her!!!!❤ thanks for the video big help
i will soon start to play the ocarina and i'm so exited!!
Great tips David. I remember that my mom and brother HATED my plastic soprano c that was my first ocarina. They don't mind the lower tones ones my dad got from Chile though.
Ok so, I’ve never even touched a wind instrument before but I just ordered a 12 hole ocarina... it’s supposed to come with a song book too. I used to be able to read notes when I played violin but that was 4 years ago.... ok so what I’m trying to ask is any advice on how to start it off? My goal is to one day be able to play ballad of the goddess and other songs cause that’d be sick
I began with a 12 hole one. You helped me SO good. Then I ordered a 16 hole. But there are not that much tutorials about a 2 chamber ocarina. Still don't know how to hold it properly
I don't know if I did ever comment this on any video of yours, but what got me to begin training the ocarina all those years ago was your Dragon Roost Island music video with suba, and I really appreciate all the influence! Now I'm trying to start a group to train and improve at ocarina playing here in São Paulo and, who knows, maybe we could try participating at your ocarina collab this next time :)
My sister gifted me a 12 hole ocarina! I’m working on practicing some basic notes and using a tuning app. Having a bit of trouble consistently hitting the note correctly. Hoping your videos can help!
That poster?! Budrio?! Friday April 9th in Piazza Re Enzo?!I lived in Imola for 4 years!!!! Its like 20-30 mins away from Bologna!!! No way!!! I had no idea!!!
Ahhhhh~ I couldn't stop smiling during this video, hehe. ^~^ Ahh it's great, I've come a long way with my ocarina and I just need to learn more music. I've got most the tips down hehe, and it's all great. X3 I'm gonna ask my friends and family on Facebook and Google+ to give me songs to learn so I can actually be good at a lot of songs. Ahh, I wish one day I could show you what I'm capable of, you are definitely the most important person (besides the creators of our modern day ocarinas and the guys who made the originals) in the ocarina world to me because you're just so passionate about this and it's just great to have a guy like you. -It's too bad they don't have a melodica man :
I’m hoping to get an ocarina soon, I’m only 13 so I’ll have to convince my mum. It’s better to play an instrument than to sit around all day 🤷♀️🙂
Thank you so much for your amazing videos ! Such a great role model 😍
mochacat i
#BeginnerTips I can definitely attest to the part about playing for others. I started playing about a year ago (only seriously/somewhat seriously for the past 5 months), but setting a goal to be able to play for and with others really helped me improve. Also, if you're playing for others, don't be too hard on yourself if you mess up. Playing with and for others at conventions is a lot of fun and most people there are a forgiving and fun audience.
As far as challenging yourself, that's also a good tip. Having a difficult song (and then several songs to help you get there!) is also motivating. My current challenge project is Pachabel's Canon in D, but I've been working on other songs to be able to build up to a point where I can play it.
As someone with no background in music and really no music training (I don't read sheet music well at all; instead, I learned which holes to cover based on where the note is on the musical staff), one of the most challenging things for me has been to play a song from the sheet music without hearing it first. Then, I listen to it and see how close I got with the rhythm and pacing. But learning ocarina (and having to learn how to transpose songs I want to play) has taught me a lot about basic music theory.
Which leads me to another tip (especially for those who don't have a musical background), but learn some basics about music. Make a friend who knows more about music than you do and doesn't mind answering "stupid" questions. I've done that a lot, especially when trying to figure out how to transpose a song for the first time.
Great input and appreciate you sharing your experiences!
Great tips David ! ! My name is Rob and I'm a apprentice at the Ocarina. I'd like to learn some Asian flavored music perhaps to accompany a Japanese Shakuhachi or a Chinese erhu (Jia Peng Fang - Lovers Song). A beautiful haunting ballad. You can find it on You Tube. Thanks again, looking forward to hearing back from you.
can't wait for that next vid. i respect you David for all your doing.
Thanks so much Tyler!
:D you messaged me?! I got a 12 hole like you have in the sheet music videos. But mines green. I love your teaching method and how relatable you are. Love that your a fellow brother in Christ and I just hope you continue this TH-cam experience because you are my number 1 mentor/teacher :)
"try to find other music people"Most of my friends are amazing at making music, that's probably what got me here in the first place, haha. Though, your covers made me discover this instrument in particular :>
i just started playing, but tbh i think its awesome...ive always liked flute music, but the ocarina is so much more intense than a regular flute... plus it doesnt hurt that ive played the zelda games since the start :P
Hello David! First of all, I love your videos and the music you make, please keep it up. I've been looking to get into the ocarina for a while now (I have 0 musical background but the music you make on the ocarina is just beautiful and I'd love to learn to make music like that), but I've had a few starting issues.
Mainly, is it normal/smart to start on a 12-hole ocarina? Or should I try one with fewer holes and work my way up? Also, where would you recommend I get an ocarina from? I'm sure one company will make them better than another company (because I assume just buying the top result on Amazon is a bad idea, no?) and different materials will produce different sounds (I'm assuming ceramic is sort of the default material, yes?).
So, tl;dr, How many holes should my future ocarina have, what should it be made of, and what company should it be from? Sorry, for the wall of text. Thank you so much in advance and, again, keep up the great work please!
I'm not experienced; I'm more say I'm intermediate. I've been playing the 12 hole Oc for 4 years, but mostly for fun and as a hobby. I recommend learning the scales on the Oc for the key your Oc was built in. (C has 0 flats or sharps, G has one sharp, D has two sharps, etc). I personally, even after 4 years, struggle with alternative fingerings and playing accidentals, along with "tounging" super fast melodies (similar to how flutes work when doing tremolos or arpeggios). I definatley need to make more time to practice or just fool around. I play the oc at least once or twice a week, and I should be playing it almost everyday. IDK, I also recommend learning how to read sheet music like David said. Oc tabs are very difficult for me to read, esp. in the books that come with Songbird Ocs (the tabs that David himself wrote), since each note does not designate the exact time you should hold out the note. Also, transposition. Go on TH-cam and learn how to transpose. There isn't alot of Oc sheet music out there; you may have to create your own, and Hell, you can even make money creating Oc Sheets and selling them.
Yes! Transposition is important. Even if a song is within range of the ocarina, there may be a transposed version that's much, much, much easier to play and sounds just as good. Case in point: Clocktown from Majora's Mask. Sheet music is written in D major, but that involves a lot of switching between chambers in the middle of a string of notes. Transposing it to C major not only removes the accidentals, but it works out that the chamber switching is done where there's a natural break in the music =)
For any beginners, this 100x.
Please do 10 tips for Beginner Ocarina of Time players
I love your videos! Having so much fun with your tutorials. Gonna get a real ocarina, mine is plastic and the high notes sound nasty hahha!
I thought I've been breathing the wrong way for the longest time and trying to fix by breathing with my chest. Thank god I watched this
#Beginnertips Go out and perform! There's no learning experience then being in front of an audience. Of course have a few songs prepared.
Plus you make money! In most cases lol
I'm more referring to open mic nights and really impromptu events. I would not recommend paid events or gigs as your first :P
+Bryan whoops, that works too!
Relatively new subscriber here. Your video's and music has inspired me and I bought myself an ocarina. I've gone through your "How to play the Ocarina" video's, they have been incredibly helpful! I'm keeping an eye out for everyone's tips!
hi! I'm a amateur ocarina player, but I still suggest this:play songs that you enjoy, like your favorite song, or your favorite movie theme, there is usually tabs for them somewhere in the wide web, plus it will make practicing fun, and you will be impressed
+Shaguru Gt using tabs of course, just when your starting off
I have been doing that, thanks for the tip! I've been trying to use both the music staff and tabs, it's tough translating the music notes to the right holes, still.
nice tardis in the background
am not really experienced at ocarina playing but some advice is to really not give up if you give up you will never get better and you dont learn it overnight so work hard and belive in yourself.
When I master the ocarina I wanna play at work, I’m a barber and I wanna play amazing songs outside the shop and hopefully draw some people 🥺
The only music I've been reading and playing is from your "How To Play The Ocarina" series and I've finished all of those pieces so I just play them over and over, do you know where I could find sheet music to make practice more challenging.
Ive always breathed from my diaphram.......my whole life
Me too
Same
I was confused when he talked about it. Cause a Doctor told me I was breathing wrong and that breathing from my diaphragm is bad. Also she told me most people breathe like that
I'm an intermediate ocarina player and I am good (not the best) at all types of ocarinas but I favor the bass ocarinas I just got what I call the acorn bass ocarina and it is better than what I had before
Thank you!
Very motivative thanks you!
I studied the violin for three years and now i play it but i don't study it, i'm studying piano and cello at school from 2 years now, I have good music theory preparation and i played the recorder for some time, so getting my hand on the ocarina was very easy. I play it by ear, as i did when i started any of the instruments i play, and i've got to a pretty good point without many efforts. What I'm actually wondering is what exercises should I practice to keep getting better? For example, I know the notes of the scales and I'm able to play them by ear, but is it useful to play them on the ocarina for practice? Or what tips can you give me?
Anyway I just love your channel! You're the one that inspired me to start playing the ocarina and now i absolutely love it! I really appreciate all of your efforts to keep this channel alive and useful for anyone wandering about music and ocarinas, so keep on the good stuff! ;)
(I should've commented on the other video about practice, but I found myself here and decided to comment anyway :) )
your tutorials are great!
great video, it really has helped me. thanks a lot.
Thank you David!
my first ocarina is coming in the mail in afew days cant wait #octalk
Man i love you! Thanks!
ty for the tips :)
oh yeah, in the movie Peabody and Sherman, there is a ocarina in the movie, (around the didgeridoo part) see if you can find it!
Thank you
I cant wait to play
Go for it!
New subscriber I bought a 12 hole Ocarina I think at ComicCon 2019 Los Angeles it’s awesome
Yay new vid!
YAY! :D
+David Erick Ramos - Ocarina YAAAAAAAAAAYYYY
I just tried breathing upward like you said; I felt like I only filled half of my lungs, and I felt dizzy immediately after doing it. How do people breathe like that?
Practice as ridiculous as it sounds
Raiu Plays Practice this technique, it is really important. I thought the same thing when i started playing, but as i practiced i got better and this has helped me out in the long run.
Oboe lungs boiii
Awesome video as always! :)
Thank you!! :D
Hello 👋 god bless you Davide I just bought a ocarina it’s plastic and a ceramic one for my grandson it really got my attention when I come across you by searching and I really liked the sound of the ocarina even though I’m teaching myself how to play the ukulele I really want to play both now you really have a wonderful blessing on teaching so I subscribed you so can you be there for me as I go along learning how to play true I don’t know nothing about notes just where to put my fingers on what only thank you for teaching have a wonderful blessing day amen 🙏
THANK
*------*
YOU
I didn't know there was a wrong way to breathe, thankfully I've been breathing the right way my whole life.
I'm so glad I live pretty much alone my dad is either at work or asleep same with my mom and my sister is in college
can you do a video on the top 2 worst ocarina
YES, I really want to do a video on the best and worst ocarinas for beginners. Thanks for the suggestion!
My cat dislikes my tambourine or piano practice but she enjoys my Ocarina playing. She even falls asleep to it.
thats sweet.
#BegginerTips The biggest problem I am facing as a begginer is that I can't recognize pitches on music sheet fast enough, so I need to remember song i am trying to learn. I mean it's easy when notes are going like A-G-F-E, but it's getting really hard when notes are like C-G-A or something like that. Are there exercises that i can do to improve myself in reading pitches fast?
Do you have any tips for people who have experience with other woodwind instruments, for example Clarinet, learning how to play Ocarina?
As a French Horn player, I had to train my ear to be able to play the correct note. For those of you who don’t know why the French Horn is a challenging instrument, it’s because there’s no specific fingering to get any specific note. You can mess up the fingering all you want and still get the right note correctly. Any fingering can play any note, but there are some fingerings that make the note easier to get to. One of the most helpful things a French Horn player can do is to know exactly what each note is supposed to sound like, so you can tell whether you’ve got the right note and pitch. It takes a lot of practice and lots of time but after a while you’ll get it and you’ll be able to know exactly what you need to fix. An ocarina is just like a French Horn in that way, and I guess that’s why it was easier for me to play the ocarina. I’m not the best, not even close, but I can confirm that for many instruments having a trained ear makes your job a million times easier.
I play music that the instrument itself is based on (Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Time).
I think I bought the ocarina that don't have the right tone and those that are around the internet lately and I am going to have a panic attack, so I started to search for some other ocarina, and I wanted to know if there is another place to buy some ocarinas that you don't have to pay much money for it? It sound bad, but I mean. I don't have much money and I am a beginner
(pd: great videos, you are awesome!)
I bought mine on a whime thiught its a pouch no idea how this thing works
Check out my series, “How to play ocarina” for some easy tutorials!