Ocarinas

Ocarinas are small, simple wind instruments with a clear, sweet tone, and they’re one of the friendliest ways to start making music. This collection also covers panpipes and panflutes, including bamboo panpipes made in Austria by Schwarz and maple panflutes from Gibonus. Beginner ocarinas are usually pitched in the key of C, which keeps the fingering straightforward. Plastic ocarinas from Maxtone and CPK are light and hard-wearing, so they suit children and travel well in a bag. When choosing, think about who will be playing and whether an ocarina or a panpipe suits the music they want to make. Not sure which suits you? Call our team on 03 4151 5751 or visit us in Footscray.

Common questions

What key should a beginner ocarina be in?

C is the usual starting point, and it’s the key most beginner ocarinas are made in. Once you’re comfortable, an ocarina in another key mainly changes the pitch rather than the difficulty.

Are plastic ocarinas good for beginners?

Yes. Plastic ocarinas are light, hard-wearing and easy to clean, which suits children and anyone learning. Ceramic ocarinas are heavier and more fragile, and many players like their tone, so choose based on who will play it and where.

Do ocarinas and panpipes play the same way?

No. An ocarina is played by covering holes in its body while you blow into the mouthpiece, whereas a panpipe or panflute is played by blowing across the open tops of a row of tubes. Each needs its own technique, and both reward steady breath control.

Is an ocarina hard to learn?

Simple tunes come quickly, because each note has a set fingering and there’s no reed to manage. Gentle, steady breath matters most: blowing harder makes an ocarina go sharp, so a relaxed airflow keeps it in tune.