Ocarina

Ocarina is a flute app modeled on the ancient flute of the same name.

Interface

The instrument is played by fingering blue circles on the screen and blowing into the microphone on your device. The different fingerings produce different notes much in the same way a recorder or flute would. The tone that comes out sounds somewhat like a synth rather than like a true flute.

Settings

The app is set to a default of C major. However, different tonic notes and modes are available. If you choose to do so, you can share the melodies you produce with other Ocarina users around the world.

Applications for Music Education

The Ocarina app could serve as an introduction to wind instruments and the idea of different fingerings. It could fill the gap between pitched percussion Orff instruments and typical band wind instruments like the flute or clarinet. The relatively complex fingerings require a certain level of sophistication from the user. The instrument should be treated in such a way.