Hi Guys,
I’m thinking of getting a regular and mountain ocarina. Does anyone here play the instrument? Do you enjoy it? Do you recommend it?
Do you have to hold your mouth in anyway similar to a side flute or just blow into the thing?
Thanks!
neoclown
WALDEN!
Where’s Walden?
Uh… Walden… apparently your friends are asking for you to answer my questions, lol.
Hi! I’m not Walden, but I can tell you what I know anyway! 
Ocarinas are blown straight through, like a whistle or recorder, not side-blown like a flute (although there are techniques where you blow across the mouthpiece, but that’s different).
They come in a variety of sizes and keys, as well as a range of constructions from the child’s Tonette to whimsical clay creations in animal shapes to high end wonders made of advanced polymers to tradtional ‘sweet potato’ versions as big as a football, with anywhere from four to ten holes. There even double ocarinas that play harmony to themselves.
The Mountain ocarinas are high-tech versions and play well in tune and have nice, clear voices.
They are a fun instrument, and no harder to learn than the whistle. As they are pretty inexpensive, don’t be surprised if you end up with a whole collection of them!
Thanks Denny… but I didn’t really find that site helpful, at least not yet.
Thanks though.
yeah…but it is Walden’s 
you could post a question there or just PM him Walden
Thanks. It will come in more handy once I have them in my hands and try them out. Thanks!
I’ve bought a few recently on E-Bay and the’re great fun…
I promised myself that I’d stop when I got to ten…and I have !!
Old clay ones are nice..There was a maker in Austria called H.Fiehn and his instruments,made around the turn of last century,are my favourites..
The come in different sizes/keys and are pretty inexpensive…mine cost on average about $15 to $25 …there are some pics of Fiehn Ocarinas on the web site… www.ocarina.de
Get one..or ten…great fun !!!
Theres one on Ebay now..only 3 hours to go though…
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SIGNED-H-FIEHN-OCARINA-FLUTE-MUSIC-INSTR-CLAY-POTTERY_W0QQitemZ270200156012QQihZ017QQcategoryZ10183QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Well, I hate to be self-promoting, but still… Have a look at my website.
I make them with 4 fingerholes to the octave, with another 2 thumbholes for 2 extra notes, but te top 4 will give you some semitones, cross-fingered, too. They are also tunable, that is the pitch is tunable, unlike most other makes.
Moderators, I apologise, it’s just too good an occasion to miss.
The Ocarina Land site seems to be down, except for the forum. I will put it online at a better server when I get time.
You are right, though there are sideblown instruments of the ocarina-type,
in east Asia. These were an ancient instrument, and look somewhat like an
egg, and have undergone a revival in modern times.
I believe you are thinking of a Xun.
Thanks guys… I have three on there way to me!
One Mountain ocarina, one normal (both made by Susato), and one H. Fiehn ocarina from the 19th century.
excited.
Congrats and have fun!!
Gee Walden, now I have to run out and get a Xun!!
