When it comes to playing the Horagai conch, at the start it feels like the stars need to align for you to get a decent sound out. Over time you come to realise what those stars are; a tighter lip, a belly full of air, a concentrated flow of air.

But sometimes when you have your stars aligned, even after practicing for years, you still fail to get a decent sound. Practicing increases the chances that the stars will align, but it is no guarantee that they will.

So, why practice in the first place? Simple. That’s the only way you can have the best chance of the stars aligning. Day in, day out, put in the practice, and although your Horagai conch may not make the perfect sound, you gave it the best chance that it would.