Learn The Ocarina 4: Fundamentals Part 2 | Left-Hand Technique and Note Control

by STL Ocarina September 14, 2022

Welcome to Part Two of the Ocarina Fundamentals series. In this lesson, we shift focus from the right hand to the left hand, continuing the process of building strong muscle memory, clean finger coordination, and confident note recognition.

Before starting this lesson, it’s essential that you complete the earlier videos in the correct order. This article assumes you already understand the basics of tone production, hand position, and right-hand coordination.

What to Watch Before This Lesson

To avoid frustration or confusion, make sure you are comfortable with these three lessons before beginning Fundamentals Part Two:

How to Make a Good Sound on the Ocarina
Learn the Ocarina (Beginner Basics)
Ocarina Fundamentals – Part One

Part One focuses primarily on right-hand technique. If that material does not feel natural yet, spend more time there before moving on. Strong fundamentals are cumulative.

What Fundamentals Part Two Focuses On

While Part One emphasized the right hand, Fundamentals Part Two concentrates on the left hand.

The goals of this lesson are to:

Develop left-hand muscle memory
Learn note names intuitively
Improve coordination between fingers
Eliminate accidental or “in-between” notes

These exercises may seem simple, but they are designed to make future music feel effortless.

The Ocarina Used in This Lesson

This lesson is demonstrated on the Dragon Ocarina, a tenor ocarina in the key of C from STL Ocarina.

Many players ask why their ocarina sounds squeaky or unstable compared to what they hear in tutorials. In many cases, the issue isn’t technique—it’s the instrument itself. Some ocarinas are made as toys or decorative items rather than tuned musical instruments.

Using a quality ocarina ensures that your practice time is spent improving technique, not fighting the instrument.

How to Practice This Lesson Effectively

Just like Part One, this lesson should be practiced five times a day.

Recommended approach:

Practice the entire lesson until it feels comfortable
Once confident, focus only on the second half
Repeat that section five times daily

Short, focused practice sessions are far more effective than long, unfocused ones.

Key Technique Reminder: Fingers Move Together

Before starting the exercises, remember one critical rule:

Whenever you lift or place two or more fingers, they must move at the same time.

If one finger moves before another, you may accidentally:

Trigger an unwanted note
Create a squeaky transition
Disrupt the smoothness of your playing

Clean movement equals clean sound.

Left-Hand Fundamentals: The Core Exercise

Fundamentals Part Two is structured very similarly to Part One—but this time, the left hand does the work.

Your right hand remains mostly inactive, with the thumb staying down for stability. The unused fingers should rest comfortably without covering any holes.

Starting on G

The exercise begins on G, then moves through left-hand note combinations:

G → A → G → B → G → C

This pattern trains the left hand to lift and place fingers with precision while maintaining steady airflow.

Each sequence is practiced at:

Slow speed
Medium speed
Fast speed

Expanding to Other Notes

Once comfortable starting on G, the same structure is repeated beginning on:

Each pattern reinforces finger independence and consistency, helping your hand learn where each note “lives” without conscious effort.

The Second Half: Memory and Confidence

In the second half of the lesson:

Tabs are removed
Note names are no longer spoken aloud

This section is where real progress happens. Without visual cues, your fingers and ears must work together, strengthening both memory and confidence.

If you feel challenged here, that’s a good sign—it means the exercise is working.

Practice this section five times a day once you’re ready.

Why Left-Hand Fundamentals Matter

Strong left-hand control allows you to:

Play smoothly across registers
Avoid accidental notes
Maintain balance as fingers lift
Prepare for faster passages and songs

These drills may not feel flashy, but they are the backbone of clean, expressive ocarina playing.

What’s Coming Next

More lessons will be added to the Learn the Ocarina series, including additional fundamentals and musical applications that combine both hands.

Each new lesson builds directly on the previous ones, so staying consistent with fundamentals will make every future song easier to learn.

Final Thoughts

Fundamentals Part Two completes the foundation started in Part One. By training both hands separately, you’re building the coordination and confidence needed to play real music comfortably and accurately.

Take your time, practice patiently, and trust the process.

Best of luck on your ocarina journey 🎶