- 1). Identify the tone of the sweet potato ocarina. Each one has a different arrangement of holes in its body for fingering-- for example, the soprano has 11 finger holes in three lines, and two thumb holes. The double has 15 fingers holes in four lines.
- 2). Turn the ocarina around so that the mouthpiece is facing you, and protruding upwards. It is easily recognized because it is the only protrusion from the rounded body.
- 3). Grip the body of the ocarina between the tips of your fingers. Position them lightly, since you will press your fingers over the holes to change the sound of the notes. If your ocarina has thumb holes, rest your thumbs on either side of them. These are situated below the mouthpiece, on either side of the ocarina.
- 4). Put the mouthpiece between your lips. Do not use you teeth to bite or suck it. Position it correctly by first humming, then -- while maintaining the same lip formation with your lips turned inwards slightly-- rest the mouthpiece between them.
- 5). Blow through the mouthpiece gently. Use soft steady breaths to produce the lower notes on your ocarina, but increase the force or pressure when playing the higher notes.
- 6). Practice blowing through the ocarina, covering each of the holes in turn. Listen and notice the different sound each hole makes. If the note you are meant to play sounds flat or sharp, change the force of your breathing.
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