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 play and learn, in fact, most ocarina players have taught themselves to play. Many ocarinas are portable, small, and rugged enough to go anywhere - on vacations, rock climing, in your kids backpack, in your purse or pocket, canoeing, or on camping trips. The ocarina is a great way to introduce a person of any age - kids or adults - to music as well as an instrument that can be played and enjoyed through all stages of life.
So now that you’ve decided that you are going to buy an ocarina the question is which one to choose. With so many choices, in different shapes and sizes, made of clay or wood or plastic, some with four holes and others with twelve… with so many possibilities choosing the right one can be difficult. Ask yourself the following ten questions. When you can answer them, you are ready to make your decision.
1. What kind of music do you want to play with your ocarina? If you want to play simple, slow melodies then most ocarinas will work. If you want to play fast and technically challenging music, most will not work. Make sure you hear sound samples of the ocarinas you are considering, and make sure they can play the kind of music you want to play.
2. How far (musically) do you want to go with your ocarina? Do you want something to entertain you for a few weeks? Or do you want a serious instrument that will let you progress to advanced levels of musicianship? If you want to go far musically and will put in the practice necessary to get good, get an ocarina that you won’t grow out of… that will let you progress to virtuosity.
3. Do you like the way this ocarina sounds? Have you heard this ocarina played live? If not, do you have nice recorded samples to listen to?
4. Do you like the way this ocarina looks? If you think your instrument is beautiful, you will probably carry it more, show it to friends and family more, play it more, progress faster and farther, and enjoy it more.
5. Where do you want to play your ocarina? Do you intend on playing for others? In public performances? Do you want to be able to play along with other musicians without microphone amplification? Most ocarinas are quiet and subdued. Some ocarinas have great playing volume and could readily be played in public without amplification.
6. Do you want a wood, clay, plastic, or metal ocarina? A few thoughts. Clay is like glass in that it can crack or shatter if dropped. Nice wood ocarinas are gorgeous. Metal ocarinas are rare, but some are stunning. There are tons of cheap plastic ocarinas… toys. However, some plastic ocarinas are top notch instruments that are made of high tech plastics like polycarbonate.
7. What style do I want, transverse or inline? Ocarinas come in two basic styles, transverse and inline. The transverse style (like the sweet potato) is played like a standard Boehm flute where the flute is held at a ninety degree angle to the head. The inline style is played like a clarinet or recorder where you blow into the length of the flute. I find that the inline style is more comfortable to play for extended periods of time.
8. Are you a big time fan of the video game Zelda The Ocarina of Time? If so, then maybe you want an ocarina just like the one Link plays.
9. Where will you take your ocarina? would it be nice if your ocarina could fit in your purse or pocket? Will you hang it around your neck? Will you want to take it rock climbing or caving? Will you be careful when carrying your ocarina? As far as portability, not every ocarina was created equal. Clay ocarinas can crack or break. You can’t put bulky ocarinas in your pocket. Without a neck cord, you can’t wear it around your neck.
10. How much supporting materials (learning materials, music books, inspirational music, etc.) are available for the ocarina you are thinking of buying? How much help will you want in learning to play? Remember that ocarinas have limited tonal range. Sheet music and music books must fit into the tonal range of the particular ocarina that you play. If you want options and variety in your music, choose an ocarina that has companion products to support your progress.
If you’re looking for an instrument that fits into your life (or your kids’), as opposed to the other way around, the ocarina very well may be the musical instrument that you’ve been looking for. For many of us, we’ve wanted to get our kids going with a musical instrument for a long time, but never got around to it. Maybe this is a good time to get started?
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