This guide is under construction. Formatting/editing advice will be most appreciated :)
A lot of people enjoy the act of shopping for an ocarina. They read reviews, compare sound samples, look at photos, and contact current and previous owners, but some people don't like to do that and instead prefer to have their choices narrowed down a bit. This guide is written for those people. While many of the ocarinas listed here will be beginner friendly, all of the recommendations below are great ocarinas that could round out any collection.
Before I get into the specifics of which ocarinas I recommend, I think it is important to tell you a little about me. I am an ocarina performer, teacher, and designer. I have a very large collection of ocarinas and have extensive experience with all of the ocarinas you'll be reading about. It is also important for me to reveal facts that some may see as potential conflicts of interest :
- I am a contractor for STL Ocarina receive monetary compensation for videos, tutorials, and profits from sales of Aria ocarinas.
- I have received sponsorship from Noble Ocarina to perform the 2012 International Ocarina Festival
- I am on friendly terms with many of the makers/sellers I recommend.
- I have received no compensation for writing this guide and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Zelda Ocarinas Lots of people discover the ocarina via LoZ OoT. It's how I got my start and many other members here. If you're dead set on getting a Zelda ocarina, I recommend the STL Zelda Double. It is a great musical instrument that happens to be decorated like the OoT. Sound Samples
Plastic Ocarinas Plastic ocarinas make great first ocarinas as well as wonderful travel ocarinas. They require minimal investment, are durable, and continue to have use even after you get a ceramic or wooden ocarina. The main issue people have with plastic ocarinas is condensation. Condensation weakens the tone of plastic ocarinas, but is easily remedied by quickly clearing the windway. Alto/Tenor C
I recommend any of the following brands: STL/TNG, Songbird/Focalink, Noble, Night by Noble, Zin, and Condor. In my opinion, the absolute best plastic ocarina is the Night by Noble, but it is not widely available and is as expensive as some clay ocarinas. The most beginner friendly plastic ocarinas are Noble and Focalink plastic ocarinas. The Condor, Zin, and TNG plastic tenors are a little more dynamic and require a little better breath control. but are more dynamic instruments.
Soprano C
The Zin,TNG, and Focalink soprano plastic ocarinas are all great plastic ocarinas, but differ in characteristics. The Focalink is the quietest, the Zin is the most balanced, and the TNG is the loudest. Use these characteristics to help choose which one best suits what you're looking for in a soprano plastic ocarina.
Bass C
The only plastic bass C available is the Zin Tenor C, which is what would commonly be referred to as a bass C. It requires less breath than you would expect and is very quiet. If you're interested in getting a bass ocarina for less than $100, it is a great choice.
Multi-Chambered
Both the Solist Triple and the STL/TNG triples are very inexpensive entry level multi-chambered ocarinas. Between them I prefer the Solist, but either of them are a good choice if you want an durable multi-chambered ocarina. They make great practice ocarinas and are even suitable for short performances. That said, I would not use one as my primary multi-chambered ocarina.
12 Hole Ocarinas If you'd like a ceramic ocarina there are lots of options. What you choose may be influenced by price, aesthetics, or the kind of music you want play. If you are planning on spending less than $50, I recommend getting one of the plastic ocarinas I've discussed previously. They are the best value for your money. If you would prefer a ceramic ocarina, I suggest saving a little more money so that you can at least afford a $50 ocarina. There are two ocarinas that I highly recommend that cost $50, the STL DIY, and the Aria soprano/alto G. STL DIY
The DIY has easy to play subholes and high notes that take a little practice, but are reachable by beginners. It is a very beginner friendly ocarina that also gives you the choice on how you want to decorate it.
Aria Alto/Soprano G
The Aria soprano/alto G. The Aria SG is very easy to play and since it is tuned in G, it will continue to have use even after you purchase an Alto C ocarina. (I designed this ocarina and receive proceeds from every sale).
If you want to spend a bit more and get instruments that may take a little more effort but have greater potential, I have two recommendations. Aria Alto/Tenor in Matte Black
Aria Alto/Tenor C in matte black
There are two color options for the Aria Tenor, but the matte black is slightly easier to play. This is one of those times where aesthetics may trump playability. You can opt for the striped/glazed model, but covering the subholes will be slightly more difficult. (I designed this ocarina and receive proceeds from every sale).
Rotter Konzertocarina 12-Loch C1 Lang Terrakotta aus Keramik
Rotter Konzertocarina 12-Loch C1 Lang Terrakotta aus Keramik
This is a fantastic soprano ocarina that may be the only soprano C you'll need. It's elongated design makes it suitable for more larger hand sizes and it has a very responsive tone.
In order to afford a deeper ocarina, you're going to need a larger budget. Tenor F/G and Bass ocarinas can get very expensive. I'll list the ones I recommend or that are the most cost effective. Also, keep in mind that ocarinas in these ranges tend to be larger and heavier than their higher pitched counterparts. Unfortunately, in the Tenor F and G range I don't have any inexpensive ocarinas I can wholeheartedly recommend. The Focalink S-Series and the TNG Blue and White Porcelain series are my favorites, but unless you know you'll use these ocarinas often, they may not provide a good value. Read the "Sets" section for more information. For a bass ocarina, there is an inexpensive choice. STL Passacalgia
For around $200, this is an affordable bass ocarina that has a nice earthy tone. It requires good breath support, so you'll want to consider that when purchasing it.
Double and Triples
If you want to skip single chambered ocarinas entirely, you're probably wanting to start out on a double or triple. You could begin on a plastic triple from TNG or Solist, but I think investing in a good ceramic ocarina is a better choice. While plastic ocarinas are great for practicing single chambered ocarinas, a level of familiarity is required for multi-chambered ocarinas and I think it is best to go straight to a ceramic double, specifically the Zelda double.
In that price range, it is my preferred double. Even if you don't care for the Zelda decoration, it is still a great musicial instrument.
If you'd rather avoid the Zelda decoration, then I recommend saving for a TNG Purple Clay double or a Takashi Double. These are the two best doubles I have tried. They are twice as expensive as the Zelda double, but if you have either of these, you probably won't need another double AC.
For triple ocarinas, you would do fine with a Focalink Forte Triple or a TNG Purple Clay Triple. Between the two I prefer the TNG Purple Clay triple.
Sets of ocarinas :
If you are shopping for a set of ocarinas, I recommend the TNG Blue and White Porcelain or the Straw Fired Focalink sets. Both of these lines of ocarinas are wonderful. For playability, I have to give the Focalink set a slight edge simply because the matte texture provides a little better ergonomics. That said, if you are sensitive to "smoke" smells or have other chemical sensitivities, the porcelain ocarinas are a better choice.
Vendors The following vendors have always provided me with exemplary service. Omission of a vendor does not mean they aren't reputable, only that I haven't ordered from them :
STL Ocarina
Focalink
SongBird
Rotter
Terry Riley
Hind
Ogawa
Takashi
Hamlett
10Holes.com
Noble
Spencer
Tenrai
Groth
Mountain
Pacchioni
Gosselink
I also have my own ocarina shop that stocks various ocarinas.
Caveats :
Be careful on ebay. I do not recommend purchasing Focalink or TNG ocarinas via ebay sellers. I have received sub-par instruments from ebay sellers. If you do order via an ebay ocarina seller, verify that the ocarina is not a factory second and that it does not have issues. Also make sure there is a return policy.
General Information
The recommendations I have offered are to help you purchase ocarinas that are versatile and do not require subsequent purchases in the same range. Lots of people like to collect ocarinas, but these recommendations are based upon the assumption that you don't want to have to "replace" or "upgrade" later.
When asking the community for help, it is best to provide us with information like : what kind of music do you want to play? Have you played any other instruments and if so, what instruments? What ocarinas are you currently looking at and what makes you like them over others.
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2:10 PM May 18