Figuring out how to clean mold from a ney flute can be truly upsetting for any musician. This ancient instrument, made from a simple Arundo donax reed, feels alive in your hands. So, finding fuzzy spots or a musty smell…
Of all the parts of oboe reed making, finding the best oboe staples for low register clarity can feel like the biggest puzzle. We work so hard on our scrape and cane, but those stubborn low notes can still sound…
Answering how many holes does a traditional ocarina have isn’t as simple as giving one number. While the most popular ocarina today has twelve holes, you can find models with as few as four or as many as eighteen. The…
The big question of kaval vs ney flute often starts because they look alike. Both are simple tubes blown from the end. But for anyone wanting to play Balkan or Middle Eastern music, learning how they differ is key. These…
The kaval flute is an ancient wind instrument popular in the Balkans and Anatolia. But calling it just a flute is to miss the point entirely. So what is a kaval flute? It is a voice, an extension of human…
The benefits of playing ocarina go far beyond just making music. This small, beginner-friendly wind instrument can sharpen your focus, lower your stress, and even support emotional healing. You might think such a simple instrument couldn’t hold that much value,…
Answering the question, “What is an ocarina?” reveals one of humanity’s most ancient and evocative musical instruments, with a history stretching back over 12,000 years. Its haunting, pure tone has echoed from the ceremonial chambers of Mesoamerican civilizations to the…