The Details
1. Is the ocarina is a good instrument for ME to play?2. What type(s) of ocarina would suit ME?
3. Is a Mountain Ocarina a good choice for ME?
I capitalized "ME" of course because there is no right or best instrument for everyone. It all depends on what you like and what you want in a musical instrument.
1. Is the ocarina a good instrument for ME to play?
(if you're sure the answer is yes just skip go to the next section)
It takes time and effort to learn any musical instrument. Before you buy an ocarina and invest time in learning it, first consider if it's a good instrument for you.
I'll compare the ocarina to some other "sort of" similar instruments, other folk flutes. You can see some of the ocarina's plusses and minuses relative to other instruments. There may be an instrument that suits you better. It just depends on what is important to you.
Here are some other instruments to consider (I've added the piano to contrast with a completely different type of instrument):
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We'll look at the below 6 factors for 4 types of folk flutes (tin whistle, recorder, Native American flute, and ocarina): 1. Portability 2. Price (starting price for decent model) 3. Supporting Materials 4. Durability 5. Volume and Aggressiveness 6. Availability
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1. Portability
The tin whistle (aka penny whistle), recorder and Native American Flute are all portable relative to many other instruments (piano, cello, tuba, etc.). They can fit in a bag or backpack. They can be easily carried in hand. However, you wouldn't wear one around your neck or keep one in your pocket. It wouldn't fit. Because of this I classify these 3 instruments as Yellow.
Ocarinas - most ocarinas are small. Some (clay/ceramic) are fragile. Some are tough. Fragile ocarinas should be carried in a hard case with a foam insert. Because of the need for a case for fragile ocarinas I'm classifying these fragile ocarinas as Yellow. I'm classifying tough ocarinas as Green. Ocarinas are therefore collectively as G/Y (Green for ocarinas that don't need a case/Yellow for ocarinas that are fragile and do need a case). You will want to store and transport your clay ocarinas in a hard case with a foam insert. See the below video for a good discussion of properly storing clay ocarinas:
VIDEO: Storing And Transporting Clay Ocarinas Properly
2. Price
All instruments (except the piano can be had for a reasonably low price (for musical instruments). You can purchase a good: tin whistle or recorder for under $10 USD, wood Native American flute for under $50, ocarina for $25.
3. Supporting Materials and Community
How will I learn how to play? What will I do with my instrument once I buy it?
An instrument does not live in isolation. Each instrument has a certain tradition and lives in its own world. When you buy an instrument you want to know that there is a community that supports it. Ideally you want there to be plenty of sheet music, recordings, tabs, websites, CDs, great musicians to inspire you and performers you can imitate. You want to be able to play in a musical group. You want to find people who share the same passion for your chosen instrument and who will encourage and support you.
Some instruments are closely aligned to a musical tradition. They have a strong, built-in, supportive community. Others do not. For example, the bagpipes are a part of the Celtic music tradition, and it's difficult to even think of the pipes in other musical contexts. If you play, you will almost certainly be able to find a band and be able to march in parades with other pipers.
Is your main interest in one musical tradition?
If you are primarily interested in a certain musical tradition/genre, consider what instruments work well with that tradition. If you want to play Native American music, you would probably want to purchase the Native American flute. You could play all the same songs on an ocarina, since the ocarina has more tonal range. However, the ocarina doesn't fit the Native American tradition as well. Do you want to play Japanese folk music? The shakuhachi would be a good choice. Asian Indian music? You'll want to consider the bansuri. You get the picture.
If you are primarily interested in a certain musical tradition/genre, consider what instruments work well with that tradition. If you want to play Native American music, you would probably want to purchase the Native American flute. You could play all the same songs on an ocarina, since the ocarina has more tonal range. However, the ocarina doesn't fit the Native American tradition as well. Do you want to play Japanese folk music? The shakuhachi would be a good choice. Asian Indian music? You'll want to consider the bansuri. You get the picture.
The whistle, recorder and piano each have an enormous user base. And as such there is a vast amount of music, websites, and other resources available. The tin whistle has some very large and strong online communities where you can get help and share your passion with other enthusiasts. The whistle community is largely Celtic folk oriented, so if that is your primary interest, you are in luck. The whistle is a great instrument for you. The recorder is I believe the most sold instrument in the world. It is used in many primary/elementary schools as an introductory instrument. It is a great musical instrument. There is a vast amount of supporting materials available. There are many, many people who play. Unfortunately because of its use in many grade schools as a "learner's instrument" it carries that stigma among many people. A beginner's instrument. Not particularly "cool" to play. Of course it is not a "learner's only" instrument. But unfortunately it does carry that baggage.
Both the ocarina and the Native American flute are relatively obscure instruments... certainly compared to the whistle and recorder. The number of websites devoted to either of these instruments is relatively few, certainly in relation to more mainstream instruments. There is limited "free" sheet music available online. So if that is important to you, you need to take that into consideration. The Native American flute, of course, is part of Native American music and tradition. It is an instrument that knows its place. The ocarina is not strongly associated with a single musical tradition. It is a very popular instrument in some cultures, and quite obscure in others. The ocarina is very popular in parts of Asia: Korea, Japan, etc. Also in Budrio, Italy.
4. Durability
All of the instruments are fairly durable with the exception of ocarinas. Ocarinas fall into 2 categories: A) very fragile and B) very durable.
A) Very fragile: most ocarinas are ceramic. Quite fragile. An accidental fall onto a hard surface will be the end of that ocarina. As mentioned in the "portability" section the fragility of clay ocarinas directly affects their portability. Therefore a red rating.
B) Very durable: wood, plastic, and metal ocarinas are quite durable. Some models are extremely tough. Therefore a green rating.
This video illustrates the difference between a fragile and durable ocarina much better than I ever could with any amount of words :)
VIDEO: Ocarina Crash Tests
5. Volume and aggressiveness
The Native American flute is a soft-blowing, mellow, quiet instrument. Its quietness is consistent across its tonal range (all the notes it plays). I classified it as yellow because it is not a dynamic or loud flute.
I also classified the recorder as yellow because in general it is not a loud flute. The lowest notes of a recorder must be blown softly... or else the instrument will squeak. If you've played the recorder you'll know exactly what I mean. Skilled recorder players can get a full 2 octaves (or more) out of the instrument. But its range comes with a tradeoff. Some of the notes can't be played with much volume or dynamics. And because of the lack of dynamics on some notes the recorder has a characteristic sound... the lowest notes will always be soft.
When you think of great musical performances or performers... do you picture them gently playing their instrument? Or do you picture someone like Louis Armstrong almost ready to collapse because he "leaned" on his horn to the point of exhaustion? That is aggressive playing to the extreme...
The ocarina is marked as green/yellow because some ocarinas allow dynamic and loud playing... depending on the design and quality of a particular ocarina. Some ocarinas vary considerably in their blowing/volume across their range. Ideally I would want an instrument where each note can be played loud to soft across the entire range of the instrument. The piano is superb in this respect. You can lightly tap any note on the keyboard to make the piano whisper. Likewise you can "pound" any key and make it shout. This was the benefit of the instrument that allowed the piano to overtake its predecessor, the harpsichord. The harpsichord plucks strings instead of tapping/hitting them so the player has little control over the volume of the instrument. For sure there is beautiful harpsichord music, but it does all "sound the same" to many due to its lack of dynamics/volume control.
Ocarinas vary significantly in their volume control/dynamics. Some ocarinas play quietly across their entire range and cannot play loud. Other ocarinas have soft-blowing low notes and very hard blowing high notes. In these flutes you don't have much ability to play the low notes loud or the high notes soft. Still other ocarinas have good dynamic control across the range of the entire instrument.
6. Availability
Recorders and whistles - Green. Recorders can be found in any music store in the country (at least in my country... the US). Tin whistles are stocked in many but not all music stores. They are not usually hard to find in a nearby music store. And even if you can't drive to a local music store to buy a recorder or whistle, almost certainly you can find an online music store in your country of residence that has an assortment of whistles and recorders.
Ocarinas and Native American flutes - Yellow. While you might find an ocarina in a local music store almost certainly you won't find much of a selection, and it's unlikely that you would find a high quality ocarina locally. Ocarinas are not mass produced and distributed in a scale comparable to recorders or tin whistles. Depending on the country you live in you very well may not have your ocarina of choice available, without ordering from the outside. If you need to order from a foreign country there are accompanying hassles. Expensive shipping. Customs fees and delays. Longer transit times. Ouch!
If at all possible it is much better to buy an instrument from a store within your own country.
2. What type(s) of ocarina would suit ME?
If you're still reading... you've decided that ocarinas are a good fit for you. Let's look at which type of ocarina is right for you. I'll classify ocarinas into the following 4 categories:
A. Transverse - clay or wood
B. Inline - wood or high-tech materials
C. Pendant - clay or plastic
D. Peruvian Pendant - clay
Ocarina Types Comparison Chart
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| A. Transverse | R/G | $60+ | *1 | B. Inline | $25+ | *1 | C. Pendant | R/G | $15+ | *1 | D. Peruvian Pendant | $15+ | *1 |
*1 Guarantees aren't related to the type of ocarina, but are an important factor to consider, so I included a column in the table.
Ratings:
1. Durability
2. Makers
3. Suitability for advanced playing
4. Ease of learning
5. Cost for a good quality ocarina
6. Guarantees and return policy
1) Durability
The large majority of transverse ocarinas are clay. Because clay is fragile I classify it as red. There are plastic transverse ocarinas but to the best of my knowledge I don't know of any high-quality plastic transverse ocarinas. They are more novelty items than serious musical instruments. If you search youtube for plastic sweet potato (transverse) ocarina videos, I doubt you will find any high-quality plastics. At least I haven't found them.
There are a few ocarina makers that build high-quality, beautiful hardwood transverse ocarinas. The 2 that come to mind are Woodsound (Korea - see links at the end) and Hind (USA - see links at the end). These ocarinas are gorgeous hardwood instruments. Since these are hardwood they are much more durable than their ceramic relatives.
Natural hardwoods are "living" and must be cared for as such. They can be damaged by excessive or prolonged exposure to moisture. You will want to care for them by keeping them "oiled" or the equivalent. Each maker will give you the "proper care" instructions for their ocarinas.
Inline: The inline ocarinas currently available are the Mountain Ocarinas polycarbonate, aluminum, WarmStone and hardwood models, and the Hind Ocarina Walnut models. I have classified all of them as green. All of these materials are reasonably durable as far as musical instruments go. Polycarbonate is extremely durable... used for shatter-resistant applications like shatter-proof eyeglasses and bullet-proof glass.
Damage from moisture. Clay or plastic ocarinas don't have much concern with moisture. Wood instruments do have concerns. The Mountain Ocarinas are all extremely water resistant because of the materials they use. Polycarbonate, aluminum and WarmStone are non-porous materials. Waterproof! The hardwood mountains are made of Dymondwood®. This is a specially treated hardwood which is extremely moisture resistant compared to untreated hardwoods.
Specially treated "super-hardwoods"
"Because of moisture issues with natural hardwoods, Mountain Ocarinas makes its hardwood ocarinas out of a type of phenolic-impregnated hardwood called Dymondwood®. Through a process involving heat and vacuum pressure, the capillaries of the wood are filled in with phenolic resins. As a result, the wood is not only very beautiful but it is also stabilized, making it extremely resistant to changes in humidity, temperature, etc. For that reason, our ocarinas require no "break-in" period or oiling. Dymondwood® can be a bit difficult to work because it is so hard, but the end result is well worth the effort.
In other instruments, the woods may significantly affect the sound quality. For example, the woods used to make stringed instruments are very important because parts of the instrument (such as strings, soundboards, etc.) actually vibrate, contributing to the quality of sound. With ocarinas, however, it is primarily the air that vibrates rather than the instrument itself. I have prototyped using all types of woods and other suitable materials. My findings are that, after a certain minimum threshold of hardness, the type of wood has little impact on sound. Rather, the quality of design and the precision with which one adheres to the design are what impact sound quality. Other ocarina makers have come to similar conclusions." - Karl Ahrens
If you want to see the changes that this special treatment makes on wood, watch how "bouncy" the hardwood ocarina is in the ocarina crash tests video.
"Because of moisture issues with natural hardwoods, Mountain Ocarinas makes its hardwood ocarinas out of a type of phenolic-impregnated hardwood called Dymondwood®. Through a process involving heat and vacuum pressure, the capillaries of the wood are filled in with phenolic resins. As a result, the wood is not only very beautiful but it is also stabilized, making it extremely resistant to changes in humidity, temperature, etc. For that reason, our ocarinas require no "break-in" period or oiling. Dymondwood® can be a bit difficult to work because it is so hard, but the end result is well worth the effort.
In other instruments, the woods may significantly affect the sound quality. For example, the woods used to make stringed instruments are very important because parts of the instrument (such as strings, soundboards, etc.) actually vibrate, contributing to the quality of sound. With ocarinas, however, it is primarily the air that vibrates rather than the instrument itself. I have prototyped using all types of woods and other suitable materials. My findings are that, after a certain minimum threshold of hardness, the type of wood has little impact on sound. Rather, the quality of design and the precision with which one adheres to the design are what impact sound quality. Other ocarina makers have come to similar conclusions." - Karl Ahrens
If you want to see the changes that this special treatment makes on wood, watch how "bouncy" the hardwood ocarina is in the ocarina crash tests video.
If you're interested in a natural hardwood, do consider the effects of moisture. Untreated woods are like a nice piece of furniture. If you place an ice-cold glass of water on a nice wooden coffee table, you usually put a coaster underneath the glass. Water condensation can run down the glass, onto the table... and damage the finish. What would happen to a beautiful coffee table if you let it soak in a swimming pool for a few hours?
2) Availability/# of sellers
How easy is it to buy an ocarina? How available is it? Can I buy it from a vendor within my country of residence?
As mentioned in a previous section, ocarinas are relatively obscure instruments. To find a good ocarina you will most likely need to order one off of the internet. Most local music stores would have a very limited selection of ocarinas... if they even carry any. So assuming that you will have to order your ocarina off the internet or from a catalog, the biggest consideration is whether you can get the ocarina you want from a seller in your own country.
We ship ocarinas all over the world. And from experience we know that it quite expensive to ship a package outside of the U.S. It pains me every time I look at the postage fees for orders placed outside of our country. Aside from the extra costs... there are the delays that can happen in the receiving country's customs department. We have to fill out extra forms on our end. There are duty fees that the customer may have to pay on receipt of the package (this varies according to the receiving country's policies). Some countries postal systems are not very reliable. Some countries are much more problematic than others. We have almost no delivery problems for orders delivered within our own country. Excuse my little rant... but if there is any way you can order your instrument from within your own country... do it!
Transverse ocarinas: This is the most popular type of ocarina. This is a plus because there are more people who make and sell this type of ocarina than any other. There is a good chance of finding a seller in your own country. Because of higher availability I classify this as green.
Inline: This is yellow. If your want an inline, your choices practically speaking are the Mountain Ocarinas and the Hind walnut ocarinas. Both makers are in the U.S. If you live in the U.S. you're in luck. If you live outside the U.S. it is unlikely that you will be able to buy an inline ocarina in your own country. You will have to have it shipped in.
Pendant: Green. These are made by a number of companies. You can most likely get one of these in your own country.
Peruvian pendant: Green. You should be able to find this type of ocarina in your country. They are generally inexpensive and widely distributed. You can often find these in souvenir shops or at craft fairs. They more souvenirs than serious musical instruments.
3) Suitability for advanced playing
Suitability for advanced playing has to do with how easy an ocarina is to finger, its range, how dynamically it can be played. Another factor to consider is the tonal range of an ocarina. The limited range of ocarinas is one of its downsides relative to other instruments. More range is better. But more range comes with tradeoffs... like how good the tonal quality is of that range, or the dynamic control you have over that range.
When thinking about how the range of ocarinas is limiting, this might be helpful... there is an enormous amount of music that will fit in the range of ocarinas. Some of this music will require transposing keys to make it fit. This amount of music is more than anyone could ever play in multiple lifetimes. That being said, there is also a large amount of music that doesn't quite fit in the range of an ocarina.
Transverse: Green. They have intuitive, basically linear fingering. Many have good range for ocarinas. One of the common fingering systems used on transverse ocarinas is the 12-hole. The 12 hole offers a tone or 2 more of range than the "lesser holed" fingering systems. Having that extra tone means that there are some songs which would not work on the ocarina if it weren't for that extra tone.
There are special multi-chambered (double and triple) models that are basically 2 or 3 ocarinas joined together into one. In effect, they are like playing 3 separate ocarinas and rapidly switching between them. These multi-chambered ocarinas are quite a bit more difficult to play than their single-chambered cousins. They are quite expensive. But they do give you extra range which is not possible in single chambered ocarinas, and by and large they won't limit you in the amount of music you can play with an ocarina. The below performance is one of the most popular YouTube triple ocarina videos. Willy is very skilled. There are 3 different holes to blow through. There are also 3 sets of holes to cover for each ocarina chamber. To play one of these ocarinas you must coordinate each "blow hole" to each set of finger holes. Watch how rapidly (and effortlessly) he does this. Do not underestimate the difficulty to play like this.
VIDEO: Playing Triple Ocarina
Inlines: Green. Most inlines have linear fingering patterns. The 9 and 10 hole inlines have the most straightforward fingering patterns. Mountain Ocarinas play loud and are well suited to aggressive playing. Hind ocarinas are soft blowing and quite quiet relative to Mountains. There are times when you might want a loud ocarina, and there are times when you might prefer a quiet ocarina.
Pendants: Yellow. Pendant ocarinas usually have 4 or 6 holes. They are small and are easy to carry. you can wear them around your neck as their name suggests. Because they have fewer holes, you must use cross fingering patterns to play the different notes. I'm not personally a fan of 4 or 6 hole fingering systems. They do not lend themselves well to playing difficult, challenging music. 4 or 6 holed ocarinas are well suited to relatively simple music using tab or playing by ear. But faster, more challenging, ornamented music becomes more difficult. Look at Docjazz play a pendant in the below video. He can play it well. Very well. But doesn't it look difficult to finger the notes at that speed?
VIDEO: English Pendant Ocarina
Pendant ocarinas can be "cute," or "cool." They are compact and portable. You can wear them around your neck as a pendant (as their name suggests). 6 holed pendants have suitable range to play many songs. But pendants are not a good choice for your main ocarina (if you plan on owning multiple ocarinas). Nor would it be a good choice for your only ocarina (if you plan on owning just one).
http://www.ocarinaboard.com/bb/index.php?topic=558.0 Peruvian pendant: Red. These ocarinas are usually more decorative than they are intended to be real music instruments. They are not made with high quality clay. They are often not tuned decently. They are not suited for advanced playing.
VIDEO: Typical Peruvian Ocarina Tuning
4) Ease of learning:
Ease of learning is closely related to suitability for advanced playing (item 3 above). 2 things determine the ease of learning: A) the ease that the fingering system is learned and B) how easy it is to make nice sounding notes (how much skill it takes to blow a note).
A) As discussed in the previous section, the fingering system/pattern for the 9+ holed transverse and inline ocarinas are generally linear, intuitive and easy to learn. The pendant and Peruvians are more difficult.
B) Some ocarinas are easier to blow into to make a nice sound. Other ocarinas take more "getting used to" before sounding good. They improve over time. Some ocarinas never sound good (low quality ocarinas). Some ocarinas which are easy to start out on are outgrown when the musician's skills increase and more challenging music is played.
5. Cost for a quality ocarina
Transverse clay - $60+
Transverse wood - $300+ (not counting A5+ sopranos)
Inline - $25+
Pendant - $15+ (not suitable for advanced playing)
Peruvian pendant - $15+ (not serious musical instrument)
6. Guarantees and Return Policy
It is difficult to know for sure whether you will be happy with an ocarina until you spend time with it. Any instrument will take time to become familiar with. So it is important to understand a seller's return policy and guarantees. As much as you "think" you know that you will like an ocarina, you won't actually "know" it until you've had experience with it.
Most ocarina makers offer at least a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Some sellers have a "no-returns at all" policy. When comparing ocarina sellers make sure you clearly understand their return policies.
Since this information can change over time (and any comparisons I make now can become outdated) you should check the policies on each seller's website. Since I maintain Mountain Ocarinas' website (and it won't change without me knowing it :) ) I do know that they offer a 365-days, complete-satisfaction guarantee... and a lifetime guarantee against accidental breakage.
From being the webmaster for Mountain Ocarinas I know that not everyone is happy with their purchase from Mountain Ocarinas. So from the buyer's point of view, the return policy is important to avoid being stuck with an ocarina you're not happy with.
3. Are Mountain Ocarinas A Good Choice For ME?
Good reasons to NOT choose Mountain Ocarinas:
1. You want a Zelda replica. Mountain Ocarinas are not similar to Zelda style ocarinas in any way, shape or form. You can certainly play Zelda songs, but a Mountain Ocarina will never look like Link's.
2. You want a transverse style ocarina. Mountain Ocarinas currently only makes inline style ocarinas.
3. You want a clay ocarina. Some people want a clay ocarina due to personal preferences. They may like the idea of clay. They might like its "earthy" feel. Everyone has different preferences. There are no right or wrong preferences. Mountain Ocarinas only uses "high-tech" materials like polycarbonate, WarmStone, aluminum, and resin-impregnated hardwoods (Dymondwood®). They don't make any clay ocarinas.
4. You don't like the sound of Mountain Ocarinas. Because of the way Mountain Ocarinas are designed, they sound different than many ocarinas. If you've listened to their sound samples and watched their videos and just don't like or prefer their sound, you will not be happy with one.
5. You need a quiet ocarina. If you live in close quarters and need an ocarina that sounds good when played very soft and subdued, Mountain Ocarinas would be a bad choice. If you live in a dormitory-type, close-quarters setting where you usually don't want to be heard by anyone but yourself... MOs would not be the best choice. You can use a MO "silencer" (plastic drinking straw) to practice silently or quietly, but that sound won't be for enjoyment. Only practice.
6. You live outside the USA. Because of shipping costs, duty taxes, time spent in customs, it is less desirable to order from outside of the USA. We don't have any distributors outside of the USA. That being said, we do ship many, many international orders... to a long list of countries, and they do ultimately reach their destination. It is just not ideal.
7. You want a multi-chambered ocarina. Mountain Ocarinas currently doesn't sell multi-chambered ocarinas (double or triple ocarinas).
Good reasons TO choose Mountain Ocarinas:
1. You want to be able to play loud and aggressively. You want to play outside without being drowned out by outdoor noise. You want to play with other musicians without needing microphone amplification.
2. The fragility of clay ocarinas scares you.
3. You want a palm-sized musical instrument that will fit into your busy lifestyle... instead of the other way around. You want an ocarina that you can take anywhere because you won't ever have to worry about breaking it. And if you do accidentally break your ocarina, it will be replaced. For life.
4. You want to eventually play fast, challenging, and technically difficult music.
5. You want the support from a warm, active community of ocarina enthusiasts. A community ranging from complete newbies to music to professional musicians... and everything in between.
6. You think you want a Mountain Ocarina... but aren't sure. The fact that you can try Mountain Ocarinas for 365 days, with minimal risk... is appealing.
7. You are new to music and want to learn on your own. The Mountain Ocarinas self-learning curriculum is a complete "music-teacher-in-a-box." If you will walk through the step-by-step lessons, you will learn the basics of music (reading music and rhythm) while learning to play the ocarina.
8. You are an experienced musician and you want an ocarina that you can "lean" on and push aggressively... as you would expect from a sax, trumpet, Boehm flute, or most mainstream instruments.
9. They are fun.
Mountain Ocarinas Have A Learning Curve
Mountain Ocarinas *can* sound beautiful. However, keep in mind that this is something that grows with time. If you watch the MO videos above and listen to some MO recordings, there is little doubt that the instruments are capable of playing at a very high level. Some people do assume that the sound they get out of their MO in their first day... or week of playing is just the way it sounds. Here is an email we received from a customer the day he first tried his ocarina:
Here is an excerpt from a follow up email that we send to all our clients:
> ...you will probably NOT achieve
> your optimal sound during the first few days of,
> playing. Rather, your tone will improve DRAMATICALLY
> over time as you gradually grow accustomed to the
> proper airspeed and other nuances of the instrument. In
> fact, Mountain Ocarinas are specifically designed for
> you to grow into them, rather than grow out of them, as
> your skills improve.
If you want an ocarina that will sound spectacular in the first week or even few months, MOs are probably not your best choice. There are other ocarina designs that will sound better straight away. If you are an ocarina collector, and/or are already quite experienced with clay ocarinas, you *may* be disappointed with Mountain Ocarinas at first. Some folks who now play Mountain Ocarinas very well were quite disappointed with their MO at first. Kissing88 bought a polycarbonate G ocarina and soon gave it away to a friend because it wasn't what he was looking for. Click the below link for details.
Read Kissing88's journey
Kissing88's Introduction
If you are still considering Mountain Ocarinas, you should take a look at...
- 5-part "getting started" video lessons
- Videos of customers at all skill levels... having fun
- Some customers who were not happy with their Mountain Ocarinas purchase
- Ocarina enthusiasts of all skill levels having fun and supporting each other in an online community
- Some interesting ocarina experiences players have had... because they had their ocarinas with them
More Ocarina Information
If you want to "lose yourself" in ocarina research, here are some great places to get started...YouTube Channels
Ocarina Forums
Ocarina Makers To Investigate
In your investigation of ocarinas, you will want to examine the following ocarina makers:
http://www.mountainsocarina.com inline ocarinas made from high-tech materials, guaranteed for life against accidental breakage
http://www.maparam.kr/index.html?modea=eng - quality transverse clay and natural wood ocarinas (Korea)
http://www.focalink.com.tw - quality transverse clay ocarinas, nice pendants (Taiwan)
http://songbirdocarina.com - popular Zelda style ocarinas (USA)
http://clayz.com/buyit.html - nice clay ocarinas (USA)
http://hindocarina.com - beautiful natural wood ocarinas (USA)
http://whistleworks.com - animal shaped ocarinas (USA)
