Beginner's Lesson 2 for 12 Hole Ocarina

by STL Ocarina September 16, 2022

Welcome back to your ocarina journey! If you’ve already learned how to hold the 12-hole ocarina, use proper articulation, and play your first few notes, you’re ready to take the next step. In this lesson, we’ll build on those fundamentals and expand your skills with:

A full C major scale
Better breathing and posture
How to adjust airflow for higher notes
Your first complete song (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Basic ocarina care and maintenance

These fundamentals will help you develop better tone, control, and confidence as you continue learning.

Expanding Your Range: The C Major Scale on Ocarina

In your first lessons, you learned the notes C through G. These are the first five notes of the C major scale. Now, we’ll extend that scale to include:

A
B
High C

The Linear Fingering Pattern

The ocarina uses a linear fingering pattern, meaning you lift one finger at a time as you go up the scale. The only exception is the left-hand pinky, which stays down until the very end.

The full C major scale on the 12-hole ocarina looks like this:

C → D → E → F → G → A → B → High C

Practice slowly, saying the note names out loud as you finger along. This helps reinforce muscle memory and note recognition.

Using Proper Air for Low vs. High Notes

As you move higher on the ocarina, you’ll notice that notes require more air to stay in tune. Lower notes use less air, while higher notes need slightly stronger airflow.

A helpful way to think about this:

Low notes: blow gently, like cooling hot soup
High notes: gradually increase airflow as you move up

If a note sounds airy or unstable, adjust your air pressure until the tone becomes clear and centered. Listening carefully is one of the most important skills you can develop as a musician.

Breathing & Posture for Ocarina Players

Good posture and breathing make a huge difference in your tone and endurance.

Proper Breathing Technique

Breathe from your stomach, not your chest
Keep your posture upright when sitting or standing
Take deep, relaxed breaths

A great breath-control exercise is playing the C major scale and seeing how many notes you can play in one breath. Each time you practice, try to add just one more note before breathing again.

Learning Your First Song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

This classic melody is perfect for beginners and helps reinforce the fingering pattern that skips the left-hand pinky.

The song uses notes from C through A, making it ideal for practicing the full scale you just learned.

Break the song into phrases:

First phrase: starts on C
Second phrase: focuses on notes around G
Final phrase: repeats the opening

Practice slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed as your fingers become more comfortable.

Caring for Your Ocarina

Ocarinas are relatively easy to maintain, but a little care goes a long way:

Wipe the mouthpiece after playing
Rinse your mouth before playing to prevent moisture buildup
If the windway becomes clogged, gently clear it with a toothpick or blow air through the sound hole
Store ceramic or clay ocarinas in a protective case to prevent chipping or cracking

Proper care helps keep your ocarina sounding clear and playing well for years.

Daily Practice Tip

A short, consistent routine is more effective than long, infrequent sessions. Even 5–10 minutes a day practicing:

Scales
Simple melodies
Breath control

will build strong fundamentals quickly.

Final Thoughts

Learning the ocarina is a rewarding and approachable musical journey. By mastering scales, airflow, posture, and simple songs early on, you’ll set yourself up for smoother progress as you move into higher notes, subholes, and more advanced techniques.