🎵 Key Takeaway
Are you practicing every day but not getting better? You might be guilty of the "Death Grip," "Chin Lifting," or "Overblowing." Here are the 5 most common bad habits I see in beginners and how to fix them instantly.
I have taught hundreds of students. I see the same mistakes over and over again.
These habits are invisible walls. They stop you from playing fast and sounding good. Let's break them down.
Mistake 1: The "Death Grip"
The Symptom: Your fingers hurt. You can't play fast. Your hands cramp.
The Fix: Relax. You are holding a flute, not a hammer. You only need enough pressure to seal the hole. Imagine you are holding a baby bird.
Fix Your Grip
Sometimes, the "Death Grip" happens because your ocarina feels unbalanced or heavy. The Eidolove Premium 12-Hole is designed with professional ergonomics. It sits perfectly in your hands, allowing your fingers to relax naturally.
Shop Premium Ergonomic Ocarina →
Mistake 2: Lifting Fingers Too High
The Symptom: Your fingers look like they are exploding when you play. You miss holes when coming back down.
The Fix: Keep your fingers close to the body. Hover just 1cm above the holes. This is the secret to speed.
Mistake 3: The "Chin Lift" on High Notes
The Symptom: High notes sound airy, weak, or screechy.
The Fix: Instinct tells you to look up when playing high. Don't. You must tuck your chin DOWN (Acute Bend) to compress the air.
Better High Notes
Technique is important, but so is the instrument. The Gradient Green Ocarina is engineered for "Masterful Sound." Its voicing is tuned to make high notes clearer and easier to hit without screeching.
View Gradient Green Ocarina →
Mistake 4: Tongue Laziness
The Symptom: Your music sounds like a blurry mess.
The Fix: You are probably just blowing "Hoo Hoo Hoo." You must use your tongue ("Tu Tu Tu") to separate the notes. Treat your tongue like a drumstick hitting a drum.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the Pinky Anchor
The Symptom: The ocarina feels unstable when you play high notes.
The Fix: Your Right Pinky should almost always be resting on the tail of the ocarina, even when it's not covering a hole. It acts as a kickstand to keep the instrument steady.
Summary
Check yourself in a mirror. If you look relaxed, you will sound relaxed.
