Ocarina Building Workshop

Clay Instrument Design & Building

 

     We offer ocarina building workshops for a hands-on experience. For groups of 15-20 students (of any age), these workshops can be scheduled during the day, in the evenings, or on week-ends. A great activity for birthday parties, summer camps, festivals or special events, the ocarina buiding workshops help to develop self-esteem in people of all ages. The instructors show the students how to make a complicated-looking project easy. 

     A combination of music, art, sculpture, design and cross-cultural history, this program has something for everyone!  Since 1985, children & adults alike have been delighted with the instruments they design & build from clay, and then can play. Field tested with children & special children of all ages, this project works well in a variety of settings, including schools, summer programs, home schools, special needs classes, art museums, retirement centers and libraries. 

     The Ocarina Building program has received “excellent” ratings by teachers, early childhood educators, and school administrators. Parents & teachers are welcome to be a part of the creative process, & can participate by building an instrument.

     Located in south-central Pennsylvania, we travel to locations throughout PA, VA, WV, NJ, MD, NY, DE, and more. Contact us for more information.  We also produce the "From Earth to Song" MyOcarina buiding kit, a make-home ocarina kit.

Brief History of the Ocarina:  The ocarina, made out of clay, belongs to the ancient family of musical instruments called "vessel flutes" for their rounded appearance rather than long tubular shape.  Made in a variety of shapes and sizes, such round flutes were used for rituals, courtships, celebrations, and for communication over long distances. The ocarina first appeared in Mexico, Peru, and, later, Italy. It has been found in ancient Aztec archaeological digs.

Workshop Synopsis:

The standard program for this project is two (2) sessions, approx. 45 minutes to 1 hour each.  Additional sessions are available for composition.

Session I: "Design & Build"

  • After a short lecture/demonstration on the ocarina, it's history and sound, students learn how to build an ocarina. 
  • Using clay, students will design & build a playable wind instrument. 
  • Each student decides the shape as well as where to place the finger holes and mouthpiece.  
  • Students do not get to keep their instruments at this time, because the clay is wet & needs to be air dried & then kiln fired. 

Session II (2+ weeks later): “Play Ocarinas”  

  • After kiln firing, the students recieve their instruments.  They learn to play single notes & then four- to six-note songs on their ocarina.  
  • At this point, the ocarinas are stoneware and can be washed, played and decorated with paints (acrylic is best).    

Optional Additional Sessions: “Make Music”  

  • Students play more songs & compose original music for their ocarina.  They learn musical modes, melody and harmonic structure.  They can then perform this piece in an all-school performance, if desired. 
  • These sessions can be extended from one additional session to several weeks, allowing the students to learn about composition & performance. 

Short-Term Goals:   For the students to build self-esteem through designing & creating their own high-quality wind instrument from clay that will last forever.  For the students to learn to play songs & compose music on the instrument that they designed & built.   

Long-Term Goals:  To create educated listeners who are excited about music & ceramics. To inspire others in an appreciation of the arts, interest in ceramics & music, and the ability to teach their interest to others, especially their children & their community.

Curriculum Links:  Music, Music composition, Art, Sculpture, Design, Math, World Cultures, History

 

Grades:  2nd grade to adult

Audience Size:  15-20 students per session

Special Requirements:   Large table (if possible), buckets & access to sinks nearby

Available:  Year-round

Curriculum Guide -- Discussion & writing ideas, pre-performance activities, post-performance activities

  

                "These visits have immense value for children who are often not exposed to much in the way of the Arts." (3rd grade teacher, Woodward Elementary)

                 "May have prompted some [students] to do more with music than listen." (5th grade teacher, Goshen Elementary)

                 "The children in my class enjoyed this greatly.  They played the instruments at breaks and recess, and couldn't wait to go home and play for their parents." (3rd grade teacher, Goshen Elementary)

 

Partial List of Schools that have participated in the Ocarina Project:

  • Bald Eagle Nittany HS
  • Burrows Elementary
  • Camp Hill High School
  • Canon-McMillan School District  
  • Centerville Elementary (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • Chase Academy
  • Conestoga Valley Homeschool (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • Donegal Middle School
  • ER Martin Elementary (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • Goshen Elementary
  • Hamilton Elementary
  • La Academia (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • Middletown Area High School
  • Manheim Central (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  •  Nitrauer Elementary (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • North Hills Elementary
  • Oak Flat Elementary
  • Park Elementary
  • Penn-Grampian Elementary
  • Pequea Elementary (Four Corners International Festival, Millersville, PA)
  • Price Elementary
  • Renovo Elementary
  • Rohrstown Elementary
  • Steelton Highspire Elementary
  • Sugar Valley Rural Charter
  • Taylor Elementary
  • Third Ward School
  • West Branch Elementary
  • Woodward Elementary  
    •  

 

Partial List of Retirement Communities that have participated in the Ocarina Project:

  • Country Meadows (West Shore, Lancaster & Shiloh, PA locations)
  • Ecumenical Communities (Harrisburg, PA)
  • Oak Leaf Manor (Millersville, PA)

 

 Other Educational Programs available: