It is a religious duty to blow the shofar during the Jewish New Year.The musical technique and individual blasts of the shofar are the same all over the world.Anyone can learn how to blow a shofar.
Step 1: There is a shofar that sits between your lips.
It is important to find a Shofar that suits you.The only way to control the sound of the shofar is to hold it between your lips.The comfort of the mouthguard is more important than looks or size.
Step 2: Pull back and tighten your lips.
Make your lips taut by holding this position.Your shofar will produce a higher pitched note if your lips are tighter.It's a good idea to loosen your lips while blowing because some services call for notes of variable pitches.
Step 3: Press the shofar to make a loud noise.
Press the shofar to your lips.Make sure your lips have room to vibrate by pressing it gently.Make sure the instrument has a small hole between it and your mouth.To hold the shofar in place, use two fingers.The shofar should be placed at the right side of the mouth according to Jewish tradition.
Step 4: Blow a small amount of air.
The shofar does not require a lot of lung power to blow.To make sure you don't overexert yourself on any one blow, blow a small amount of dry air into the shofar.The power of your breaths should come from the diaphragm, so don't pucker your cheeks.
Step 5: Make sure your lips are nice.
Your lips produce the sound of a shofar.To give the instrument something to enhance and project, make sure your breaths are fast.If you can make a buzzing sound with your lips, you will be able to practice.
Step 6: Make sure to practice the tekiah.
A tekiah is a blow that lasts between two and four seconds.It is a sound of joy that can represent anything from peace and stability to the exaltation of G-d.At the beginning and end of each line of notes, tekiahs are placed.
Step 7: You can practice the shevarim.
A shevarim is made of three separate blows.Each blow should last less than a second because it sounds like a fractured tekiah.The shevarim represents howls and moans so each note should be sad.
Step 8: The teruah is a good place to practice it.
A teruah is made of 9 short blows.Each note should be played in rapid succession.The teruah can represent an alarm, a call to action, or a wail of sorrow.
Step 9: The tkaiah gedolah is to practice.
The normal tekiah is an extended version.The progressive sects hold it for as long as the shofar player is able.Some people can sustain this note for over a minute.Many sects play a single tekiah gedolah at the end of the holiday.