How to Make a Mountain Ocarina

Antique sheet music helped immortalize the mountain ocarina.

The mountain ocarina is a small wind instrument that creates clear, bold and beautiful tones. Traditionally, ocarinas have been played in natural settings such as forests and mountains. They have a rich history among Asian and Mesoamerican civilizations that dates back 12,000 years. The striking, rich tones of this instrument find the best acoustics in wide-open spaces. The pitch of a well-built ocarina can be heard from miles away.

The ocarina's size makes it highly portable. It can be worn as a necklace or stored in a pocket but it lasts the longest in a small, padded case. Unlike most instruments, however, the ocarina does not require excessive care. It is extremely durable. Mountain ocarinas that have been passed down over many generations can retain their sweet, steady pitch.

Things You'll Need

• Soft alluvial clay
• String
• Clay palette knife
• Boxwood Spatula
• Protractor
• String measure
• 7mm punch
• Razor blade
• Clay dust
• Water
• 4mm punch
• Kiln with a 4 cone setting

Instructions

1. 

   Gradually mold the clay into a sphere.

   Mold soft alluvial clay into a ball the size of an onion. Modern ocarinas can be made from ceramic, glass any other materials. The traditional mountain ocarinas of the Mayans and Aztecs were made from clay.

2. 

   Clay was a common medium for the Mayans, who used it to make ocarinas.

   Squeeze the top of the clay ball to form a nipple. Use your forefinger and thumb to gradually pull a mass of clay upward from the ball. The nipple should be 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Use a string measure for this and all future measurements. Make sure the nipple does not taper toward the top. The diameter should remain identical from top to bottom. Mold the clay to meet the nipple at a rounded angle around 45 degrees.

3. Cut the bottom third of the clay bulb with a string. Cut evenly across the diameter in a straight line and remove the bottom third.

4. Dig a hole into the lower and upper portions of the clay bulb with a clay palette knife. This will be your acoustic chamber. Hollow out the clay until it forms a bowl with a rim that is 1/6 the ratio of the hole's diameter. Carve the chamber to a depth that leaves an equally thick base and rim.

5. 

   The precise airway of the wooden flute should be reflected in the ocarina.

   Cut the ocarina's airway by driving a boxwood spatula through the center of the nipple. Cut downwards at a 30 degree angle. Measure angles with a protractor and keep them precise. Penetrate the clay until the spatula is about 1/8 inch from the acoustic chamber. Be very precise. Cut in a straight line to the exact size of the spatula. Avoid stroking or pressing the spatula. Perform this cut with in a firm, even stabbing motion. A deviated airway can result in poor volume or distorted pitch.

6. Cut a sound hole into the acoustic chamber with a 7 mm punch. Make the incision through the outside of the top 2/3 of clay, exactly half way between the nipple and the rim of the acoustic chamber. Punch a 7 mm hole that directly connects to the airway. If the sound hole does not connect to the airway, glide the boxwood spatula through the airway until it connects both passages. Do not cut any further.

7. 

   Perfect circles will give your ocarina perfect pitch.

   Cut two holes into the top half of the clay with a boxwood spatula. Each hole should be 1/2 inch from the lower rim of the clay. The holes should be cut so they line up with the sound hole at a 60 degree angle. Penetrate the clay until the spatula protrudes into the acoustic chamber. Twist the spatula while it is in the newly formed hole. Twist it 360 degrees to form a tone hole with an even diameter. If you cannot create a full circle in one rotation, twist the spatula as many times as needed.

8. Connect the lower and upper acoustic chambers. Score the rims of the upper and lower clay pieces with a razor blade. Cut an incision about 1/8 inch deep, every inch along the rim's circumference. Apply an even mix of clay dust and water along both rims. Allow the mix to permeate the slits you have cut. Immediately join the top and bottom half of the ocarina. Apply pressure to the connection, but avoid too much pressure. This can distort the clay's shape. Use your fingers to smooth out any inconsistencies at the connection. The clay dust and water will act as an adhesive and prevent air bubbles from forming when the clay is baked.

9. Cut two more tone holes into the bottom of the ocarina using a 4 mm punch. These holes should be cut in a direct, straight line 1 1/12 inches below the upper tone holes. Ensure that you punch the holes in a straight, solid motion to form perfect circles.

10. 

    Ancient kilns like this were used to finalize ocarinas.

    Fire the clay in a kiln at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the size and material of the ocarina, you should leave it in the kiln for 12 hours. This should be the perfect time. You do not want to overheat the clay. If you are not satisfied with the results, return your ocarina to the kiln at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit for another 6 hours. This should not be necessary, though.

11. Remove your mountain ocarina from the kiln using all safety protocol. Let it cool for a day. You may choose to paint or decorate the instrument to your liking.

References

• "Ocarina: Paint Play Your Own Aztec Ocarina"; Christa Liggins and David Liggins; 2003
• Mountain Ocarinas: The Go Anywhere Instrument that Fits into Your Life
• "Making Simple Musical Instruments"; Bart Hopkin; 1996
• The Free Dictionary By Farlex: Clay
• Fla-Oca.com: Making of an Ocarina