Ocarina TV Blog

The ocarina is a small flute that both adults and kids - people of all ages - love to play and listen to. It is one of the easiest of the wind instruments to learn and play, in fact, most ocarina players are self taught. Many ocarinas are small, rugged, and portable enough to go anywhere - on vacations, canoeing, in your purse or pocket, in your kids backpack, rock climing, or on camping trips. The ocarina is a great way to introduce adults or kids to music as well as an instrument that can be played and enjoyed through all stages of life.

So now that you've decided to buy an ocarina, the question is which one to select. With hundreds of ocarinas to consider, in different shapes and sizes, made of plastic or clay or wood, some with four holes and others with twelve… With hundreds of ocarinas available picking the right one for yourself can be difficult. Ask the following ten questions. When you can answer them confidently, you are ready to choose your ocarina.

1. What genre of ocarina music will you want to play? If you want to play simple and slow melodies then just about any ocarina will work be good enough. If you will want to play technically difficult and fast music, most will not work for you. Make sure you see a demonstration or hear sound samples of the ocarinas you are considering. Make sure that the ocarina you are considering can play the type of music you want to play.

3. Do you like the way it sounds? Have you heard this ocarina in a live performance? Probably not… but do you at least have you recordings to give you an idea of their sound?

4. Where would you like to play your ocarina? Do you expect to play for others? Will you perform publicly? Do you wish to be able to play with other musicians without needing microphone amplification? The majority of ocarinas are quiet and subdued. A few ocarinas have good playing volume and could readily be played in public without needing amplification.

5. How do you like the way it looks? When you think your flute is beautiful, you will very likely carry it more, show it to your friends and family more, play it more, improve more rapidly, and enjoy it much, much more.

6. What style of ocarina do I want, transverse or inline? Ocarinas come in two basic styles, inline and transverse. Transverse ocarinas (like the sweet potato) are played like a Boehm flute where the flute is held at a perpendicular angle to the head. Inline ocarinas are played like a recorder or clarinet where you would blow into the length of the flute. I find that the inline style is more comfortable when playing for extended periods of time.

7. Do you want a wood, clay, plastic, or metal ocarina? Some thoughts. Clay is can crack or shatter if dropped. Nice wood ocarinas are beautiful. Metal ocarinas are uncommon, but some are noticeably stunning. There are many cheap plastic ocarinas… toys. Some plastic ocarinas, however, are top quality instruments made of high tech plastics like polycarbonate.

8. Are you a die hard fan of the video game Zelda The Ocarina of Time? If so, then you might want an ocarina like the one Link plays.

9. How much ancillary materials (self-study materials, inspirational music, music books, etc.) are there for the ocarina you are considering? How experienced are you musically? How much help will you need in learning to play? Keep in mind that the ocarina has limited tonal range (maxing out at an octave plus three). Sheet music and music books must fit into the tonal range of that particular ocarina. If you want to play seriously, make sure that there are companion products to support your progress for the ocarina you are considering.

10. Where do you want to take your ocarina? Do you want your ocarina to fit in your purse or pocket? Do you want to be able to hang it around your neck? Do you want to take it caving or rock climbing? Will you be careful when transporting your ocarina? As far as portability goes, not all ocarinas are created equal. Ceramic ocarinas can crack or shatter. Bulky ocarinas won't fit in your pocket. If there isn't a neck cord, you can't wear it around your neck.

If you're looking for a musical instrument that fits into your life, as opposed to the other way around, the ocarina very well may be the instrument that you've been looking for. For many of us, playing an instrument is something we have long wanted to do, but never got around to. Maybe this is a good time to get started?