Care of your wooden ocarina
Moisture and extremes of temperature are your ocarina's worst enemies.
Because wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature,
please store your ocarina in a place that is not too hot or too cold. The only
moisture that should ever enter the mouthpiece is condensation caused by the
warm air you breathe into the instrument. Therefore, always swallow before you
play!
It is also important that you frequently clear the condensation out of the
windway. If you don't clear it out, the highest notes will begin to sound weak
or may not play at all. This is true of ocarinas made of other materials as
well. The best way to clear the windway is to give the
mouthpiece a quick but powerful suck after every tune you play. If you do this,
the condensation will never accumulate or run down inside the instrument. Even
though the inside of the ocarina is completely sealed to protect it from
moisture, it is a good idea to keep it as dry as possible.
If you really want to "go the extra mile" in caring for your ocarina, dry the
inside of the windway thoroughly when you are finished playing. To do this, cut
a strip of newspaper about two inches long, and then fold it in half lengthwise
twice so it is four layers thick and slightly less than the width of the
windway. Each end can then be slid into the windway to absorb moisture.
The outside of the ocarina should be kept dry. Wipe off the mouthpiece regularly while
playing and remove any smudges with a soft cloth. If the finish becomes dull it
can be refurbished with any good wood finishing oil. Paste wax can also be used
to bring back its luster.
