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A shofar is the horn of an animal, used as a musical instrument for Jewish religious ceremonies. It's mostly used during the Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, although it used to be used more often during biblical times. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the "High Holidays" or the "High Holy Days". Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, and Yom Kippur is "The Day of Atonement."
A shofar can be made from the horn of any animal other than a bull, the most common animals are the Ram and the Kudu Antelope.
The difference between a ram's horn and an antelope's horn lies in the size and shape. A ram's horn is short, about a foot long and contains a single bend. Kudu horns can be almost four feet long and spiral. I personally prefer the deeper sound of a kudu, but also have found ram's horns to be easier to use.
Fun Fact: It's a mitzvah to hear the shofar blown, but not to blow it.
(A mitzvah is a commandment - so to follow a commandment is to perform a mitzvah. There are 613 mitzvahs in the Torah.)
A shofar can be made from the horn of any animal other than a bull, the most common animals are the Ram and the Kudu Antelope.
The difference between a ram's horn and an antelope's horn lies in the size and shape. A ram's horn is short, about a foot long and contains a single bend. Kudu horns can be almost four feet long and spiral. I personally prefer the deeper sound of a kudu, but also have found ram's horns to be easier to use.
Fun Fact: It's a mitzvah to hear the shofar blown, but not to blow it.
(A mitzvah is a commandment - so to follow a commandment is to perform a mitzvah. There are 613 mitzvahs in the Torah.)
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Shofars are blown much like trumpets..anyone who plays a similar instrument has a starting advantage. A short shofar is also easier to sound than a long one and uses less air.
You'll want a tight upper lip, and looser lower lip, then when you blow out, your lips will vibrate. Put the mouthpiece against your lips (not inside your mouth) and try to force air through as small a hole in your lips as possible. I put the shofar in the corner of my mouth, others use the center..it's up to you. I also use my fingers and wear ChapStick to help create a good seal.
The goal isn't to force as much air out as possible, so don't tire yourself trying to make a sound. It just takes practice.
You'll want a tight upper lip, and looser lower lip, then when you blow out, your lips will vibrate. Put the mouthpiece against your lips (not inside your mouth) and try to force air through as small a hole in your lips as possible. I put the shofar in the corner of my mouth, others use the center..it's up to you. I also use my fingers and wear ChapStick to help create a good seal.
The goal isn't to force as much air out as possible, so don't tire yourself trying to make a sound. It just takes practice.
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i've been there this summer, its in the old city near the damascus gate isn't it =D
To a brass player, that's an embrasure (which means "small opening").
According to Roger-X, who occasionally plays the trombone.
embouchure - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embouchure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrYb9qtO8OQ
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Rosh_Hashanah/In_the_Community/Shofar/How_to_Make_a_Shofar.shtml
For some examples of kosher horns.
One Rosh Hashanah when I was working as a Reform temple organist, the religious school had a "shofar choir." Envision, if you will, forty youngsters of various ages, with forty different types of shofars, with forty different embouchures and skill levels, playing the calls at the same time. The resulting yet orderly cacophony was one of the most wonderful sounds I have heard until then, or since.
Thanks for the instructable, and for bringing that great memory flooding back.