The 5 Ocarina Skill Levels

The ocarina is a fascinating instrument: it has a very accessible and quick initial learning curve, but make no mistake—it’s easy to pick up, but very difficult to master! And as with any skill you wish to develop, there are different levels of proficiency.

The other day I came across a video by Andy Cormier (watch the full video on YouTube), in which he proposes a level system to help you identify and gauge where you currently stand. I found the idea interesting and wanted to bring it here to analyze his proposal in greater detail.

Level 0 (Honorable Mention): “It’s Not You, It’s the Ocarina”

I thought it was cool that he started with Level 0, warning that maybe the problem is the instrument and not you. So, before evaluating your technique, you need to eliminate the primary beginner trap: poor-quality instruments. Keep an eye out for signs of a bad instrument:

• Extreme difficulty playing in tune, lack of response across the full range of notes, or an airy/airy-broken sound even with good breath support.
• Cheap decorative ceramic ocarinas (very common on online marketplaces as low-priced The Legend of Zelda replicas).
• How to solve it: Replace it with a reliable, well-calibrated entry-level instrument. There are good, affordable plastic options available. He recommends the Night by Noble, though for us in Brazil that suggestion can end up being a bit pricey. Consult experienced ocarinists and ask for recommendations—that's what I advise.

Level 1: Your First Quality Ocarina

This is the true starting line, focused on ergonomic adaptation and basic breath control.

Signs You Are at Level 1

• You have just acquired a functional instrument.
• You still need to consciously think about finger placement to cover the holes completely.
• Your breath pressure control is still unstable.

How to Advance to Level 2

• Hole Sealing: Practice covering the tone holes without air leaks. Focus on the 10 main tone holes (C4 to F6).
• Sustained Notes: Practice holding long tones while keeping the intonation stable to build breath muscle memory. Here I recommend using a tuner and holding each note for 5 seconds.
• Basic Scales: Learn the primary major scale of your instrument. In the case of an Alto C Ocarina, you'll practice the C4 to C5 scale.
• Using Tablature (Tabs): Use ocarina tabs to start playing simple, familiar melodies. Here at L.May Ocarina Library we have plenty of material like that.

Level 2: Basic Proficiency

At Level 2, basic finger mechanics cease to be a conscious hurdle for simple repertoire.

Signs You Have Reached Level 2

• Fluid finger movement on simple songs without pausing to recall fingerings.
• Comfortable reading of tablatures.
• The rapid initial progress slows down, requiring more formal study. I found this point from Andy very apt, because at first it really feels like everything comes quickly, but as you progress, you need to dive deeper, develop more muscle memory, etc.—this takes time and discipline, so slowing down is natural.

How to Advance to Level 3

• Transitioning to Sheet Music: Start learning to read standard notation so you aren't limited to tablature. I'd say this is unfortunately where many people give up.
• Pitched Reference Practice: Practice along with a piano (virtual or physical) or a reference pitch to adjust your breath pressure. In fact, in my opinion, practicing with a tuner should happen right from the beginning.
• Guided Study: Invest in method books. He mentions David Ramos's method. I'd say the main point here is: have guided exercises to execute, because you don't grow by just playing songs alone. Method lessons are more important for technical development than repertoire.
• Upgrading Your Instrument: Consider moving from plastic to a good ceramic ocarina (he references brands like Focalink/Songbird). But honestly, the idea that a ceramic ocarina is superior to a plastic one isn't necessarily true. Contrary to what many think, the material the ocarina is made of isn't the most important factor for tone or musical quality—the design of the instrument itself is. But that's a topic for another time. So, I wouldn't encourage you to swap instruments just to level up, unless your current instrument is musically poor!

Level 3: Getting Serious

Andy’s perspective is that Level 3 is where the transition occurs from merely “playing right notes” to developing real musicianship.

Signs You Have Reached Level 3

• Functional sight-reading of sheet music.
• Building an ocarina collection across different keys and formats.
• Greater expressiveness and tonal control in breath output.
• Estimated time: Around 100 to 300 hours of deliberate practice (roughly 1 year of casual training or months of intensive study).

I don’t entirely agree with these indicators. Knowing how to read sheet music bears no direct relation to proficiency on a specific instrument. You might already be an excellent musician with solid music theory training and high-level sight-reading skills, yet know nothing about the ocarina. In other words, you master sheet music, but that doesn’t put you anywhere near Level 3.

Likewise, starting an ocarina collection in different keys and shapes says nothing about your technique. I’ve been playing the ocarina for over 10 years myself, and my interest lies solely in Alto C ocarinas. The Japanese ocarinist Milt, whom Andy himself mentions a few times, is also seen playing almost exclusively Alto C, to name just one of many possible examples. Furthermore, someone who doesn’t even know how to play might want a large collection, which doesn’t mean they are heading toward Level 3.

As for greater expressiveness and tone control in breath control, however, I agree 100%.

How to Advance to Level 4

• Technical Fundamentals: Practice scales and arpeggios daily to automate fingerings and adjust for each note's native breath curve. This is where you begin to see the importance of following a method.
• Repertoire Challenges: Work on pieces that are above your current skill level and require technical effort to master. I completely agree with this... like with any instrument, you need to challenge yourself constantly.
• Multichamber Ocarinas: Andy suggests introducing double or triple ocarinas to extend the instrument's range beyond an octave and a fifth. I don't feel this is relevant for improving your overall skill. If you wish to play double or triple ocarinas, go for it, but playing an instrument with a wider range won't inherently make you a better musician.

Level 4: Performance Ready

According to Andy, a Level 4 musician has the technical capability to perform in public, record studio work, or join musical ensembles.

Signs of Level 4

• Full mastery of sight-reading and execution of complex pieces.
• Ability to perform in ensembles.
• Estimated time: He states this level is typically reached after 4 to 5 years of daily, consistent practice. Personally, I think that's an overstatement. 4 or 5 years of daily, consistent practice is more than enough to bring someone to a very high level of expertise on the instrument. If you practice daily, correctly, and consistently, you can play in ensembles long before that time frame.

How to Advance to Level 5

• Sight-Reading: Develop the ability to read and perform unfamiliar sheet music on the spot with high accuracy.
• Advanced Dynamics: Master volume variation techniques using overblowing and underblowing combined with alternate fingerings to maintain pitch intonation.
• High-Register Extension (Pitch Bend / Muto Technique): Apply techniques (such as those popularized by Japanese ocarinists) to sound notes above the traditional high F.
• Ensemble Play and Arranging: Create your own arrangements and practice with chamber groups or bands.

Level 5: Master / Professional

Level 5 represents the pinnacle of technical and artistic mastery of the instrument.

Signs of Level 5

• Unique Sound Identity: Instantly recognizable tone and style. Here I'd like to make a comment: usually, you can't instantly identify who is playing just by listening, no matter how high their level is, unless you're already familiar with their repertoire (in which case you'd be identifying them by the piece, not skill alone) or if they use an extremely unusual and distinct technique—which doesn't happen often (though there are cases, like the Japanese ocarinist Milt).
• Fluid sight-reading and flawless execution under any condition.
• International reference points (e.g., members of the Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese, David Ramos, Milt, among others).
• Estimated time: He claims it requires over 10,000 hours of focused, dedicated practice. I think he pulled this from the general idea that one becomes an authority on any subject after 10,000 hours of dedication. However, I wouldn't consider that metric accurate or definitive—it feels more like a myth than a rule.

Conclusion

Andy Cormier’s proposed classification is very interesting and can be used for self-assessment or even as a roadmap for growth, but I wouldn’t take his guidelines as absolute truth.

So, which level are you currently at?