| Shofars have been part of Jewish religion and | | | | experience one gets in playing the shofarot. |
| culture since the ancient times. The horn of shofar is | | | | As differentiated from the other traditional |
| the most recognizable symbol of sacred rituals and | | | | instruments, the shofars uses a mouthpiece that |
| important events in Jewish life. Among all the types | | | | enhances the sound and notes that can be produced |
| of shofar, it is the ram shofar horn that is the most | | | | while playing. Developing your skill in blowing the |
| dominant type as it symbolizes the great sacrifice of | | | | shofarot requires that you are adept at using your |
| Abraham because of his unwavering faith in God. | | | | lips and tongue to alter the notes and tunes |
| Shofar blowing is used to make different types of | | | | produced when blowing the shofarot. It is better for |
| distinct shofar sounds which are commonly heard | | | | you to use two fingers to handle the shofars. The |
| during religious events like the Rosh Hashana and the | | | | tighter you are able to press your lips to the |
| Yom Kippur. For one to get the most appropriate | | | | mouthpiece, the higher the notes that you are able |
| sounds from the horn, it is essential that one uses | | | | to produce. Make sure that you don’t get your |
| the right piece with the requisite skill needed to | | | | saliva into the shofarot as this will create a broken |
| produce the right notes and sounds. | | | | and croaky sound. |
| Only a few can truly achieve the ultimate | | | | The best way to start playing with the shofarot is |
| performance of producing the perfect sounds and | | | | by moisturizing the lips at the right portion of the |
| notes from shofars, be it from the horn of a ram or | | | | farthest corner of the mouth while firmly holding the |
| any other horned animal. This one interesting | | | | shofarot before blowing. Before blowing the |
| footnote about the horn is even documented in the | | | | shofarot, make sure that your lips are firmly pressed |
| Talmud where the blowing of the shofarot is | | | | to the mouthpiece and when you think that you are |
| considered a skill and not just a result of hard work. | | | | set to play, blow air through the instrument. The |
| In order to perfect the use of the shofarot, one has | | | | sound produced must firm and powerful. For sound |
| to dedicate sufficient time and effort to practice and | | | | endurance, draw air straight from your chest and |
| hone the skills in playing with the shofarot. To | | | | release the air in a regulated manner. |
| become an accomplished ba’al tekiah, one has to | | | | Once you are able to comfortably produce varied |
| select the perfect shofarot that will produce best | | | | sounds and notes with your shofarot, then you are |
| results. One should not limit one’s choice based | | | | all set to learn all three sounds required in Rosh |
| on the appearance and size. Before one can even | | | | Hashanah. These sounds are the tekiah, shevarim and |
| make a short list of choice shofars, he should first | | | | the teruah. |
| learn how to play with the shofarot to ascertain the | | | | |