We three kings on Ocarina

Please do enjoy!

Easily one of my favorites from childhood.... but there really are days I hate you-tube for their tight monetizeation policies.... IT'S WE THREE-FREAKING-KINGS!!!! Common!!

One Piece Opening 5 Kokoro no Chizu on Ocarina

Please do enjoy! :)

I'll put some musings here later. Got barn chores to do. ;)

Sayonara no Natsu from Up on Poppy Hill on Ocarina

This SHOULD'VE been up yesterday but the internet was so darn crummy I couldn't get ANYTHING to load... >_>

All I know is trying to film with poppies is WAY hard because they're in peak bloom for so short a time. If you watch in the video, at one point the big poppy is gone.... and this was all done in ONE DAY!

and I though filming with Rocky was hard...

Later! A.M.

Hakuouki 1st Ending on Ocarina.

Please do enjoy and have a great OcAwareness month. :D

Hakuouki is really one of those underrated series that deserves more than a mere glance.... but only the first few games that had animes bases on them. After that Idea Factory.... *COUGHmanwhoreCOUGH* the series and that's a real shame. :(

Oh well, the first bit of it is good (not to mention a real tear-jerker) so it's definitely worth a look. Wonder how the movies will turn out.


Later! A.M.

Theme of the Celestials from Okami on Ocarina

Please do enjoy!

I think it's safe to say that recording 3 songs in one day is my personal new record.  :) That's clearly why lil-snooz-dawg over there is getting sleepy.

This is my last Okami song I have to play for a while. I may find more but for now I've got other tunes to fry. Including another performance with my sweet boy Rocky. ♥ ... (He's a horse) 

Later! A.M.

Kamiki's Sorrowful Tradition from Okami on Ocarina

Enjoy all! Even though I've done this before, I really felt (at the time) I could've done better. Now (I feel) I have done better!
As always I have my sweet little Amaterasu (Ammy) With me.
To think 7 years old and still happy and healthy as a clam!

BLOOPERS!!!
Never fails. I have Ammy in a video with me, there's ALWAYS gonna be a blooper of some kind or another. XD

Later! A.M.

Songbird Double Harmony Ocarina Review

 Allow me to present, the Songbird Double Harmony Ocarina that I recieved for my birthday!...... jee, talk about being late on the bit for a review...

I will admit, I've got it bad for 'new ocarinas'. It's always the same: the anticipation of something is always greater than the actual object itself. But Is that is the case with the Songbird Double Harmony Ocarina? Let's take a look. ;)


First off, I will say that if you've never had a "Harmony" ocarina before, I'd go so far as to say this one probably shouldn't be your first. Not to say that this is a bad ocarina: It's just DIFFERENT. (kinda like men and women: neither is better or worse, just different... ^^; tee hee...)


WEARABILITY: The SDH comes with a pleasant leather neck strap (and to my knowledge a custom carry case) You can opt for a fancier neck strap if you so choose but I wouldn't.

As far as the feel of it in your hands, this is NOT an ocarina for beginners or those with a sheepish grip! Being a "sprouted' style ocarina, the two chambers branch out from each other and are connected by about a one inch span of clay that attaches the mouth pieces together. So needless to say, proper and mindful caution should be taken until you get the feel of things.
There are rings for you to place you thumbs against which support the ocarina's weight while playing but you should be careful during long play sessions to protect against the rings digging into your thumbs..... at least that happens to me. ^^; Ouch!


FINGERING: (I know I usually don't mention this with my other reviews but with this particular Oc, this needs mentioning.)

The Songbird Double Harmony's fingering is.... well.... how do I say this..... It's like if an English Pendant and an Inline ocarina had a baby.





 
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Simply put, if you have any experience with English Pendant ocarinas, you're more than halfway to learning the fingering of a SDH. If not then..... I can't help you.


PLAYABILITY:

The tone of the alto chamber is reminiscent of Focalinks "Allegro" model ocarina as far as it's standard yet solid tone. The Soprano side likewise is bright and birdlike but not as shrill as one would think.

Unlike other harmony ocarinas on the market, the SDH's chambers are tuned 1 ocative apart. Meaning you have the Soprano 'C' chamber in your right hand, the Alto 'C' chamber in the left.

For some, this may seem clunky and inefficient but for others (like myself) this is actually a rather gentle and pleasant first step into the multi-chambered wading pool.

The tuning for both chambers tends to be a little iffy if you don't achieve proper breath control as you will hear a "wave" between the two sounds produced by the chambers but, as I said, with proper breath control you will be just fine.

Trying to get actual "Melody" and "harmony" playing (like what's in the songbook provided) however, takes a good bit of practice. I do recommend though, don't fall for the same pitfall I did being that the music in the book is not that good sounding when you're listening to yourself. Record yourself playing and you will hear a significant difference. This is because sounds sound different when they are resonating through your skull.... if that makes any sense..... Oh well, se la vi. So what is correct yet sounds kinds harsh on your ears should actually sound quite nice once recorded.

Where this ocarinas playing truly shines however, is simply having the two chambers playing simultaneously.


I'll explain with the video.

 

Playing simply is where you're sure to find some of the earliest enjoyment in this ocarina. Further down the line, you may become ambitious enough (like me) and start to delve into some creativity of your own. :) Who knows...

Overall score: 3.5 out of 5.
 
:It's a solid built ocarina but by no means the easiest to play. 
:Sounds good but not the easiest to learn.
:Opens a MASSIVE door of creativity.... provided said door doesn't scare the Hebe-jibes out of ya.

I do hope this was helpful to whom ever may have been reading this.

Later! A.M.

100 Year Celebration from Okami on Ocarina

Please do enjoy. :)

I LOVE THAT DOG!!!

O Canada! On Ocarina

Have fun this Canada day but remember to be careful! Safe fun is the best fun!

I think filming with Ammy is the best. I've always got extra goodies to share. Here's a blooper for you all!

Later! A.M.

Happy World Ocarina day!

Here's my annual contribution to World Ocarina Day! :3 I call it "Ammy's Jig." .... I can't believe I missed WOD last year *facepalm*

To think, I was just messing around with my new Christmas gift, a Straw-fired Alto D gemstone pendant and in less than 2 days I composed another new tune! ♥

Later! A.M.

Dear You from Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni on Ocarina

Please do enjoy! :)

Once again, A case of something I enjoy listening to but have never watched the show..... nor do I intend to.... o_O

I'd write something else clever and witty but I've got a heap of work ahead of me. :/

Later A.M.

One piece Opening 14 "We Fight Together" on Ocarina

This was just plain fun to do. Am I crazy for feeling like I could be right there with the Straw Hats while I play this epic song?

Either way, I hope you guys enjoy. 

Later! A.M.

Caramelldansen on Ocarina

Happy Mothers Day! :) Sorry that this isn't something Mothers day related but to my mom, music from one of her kids is the best gift..... even if it's cheesy meme and anime music... haha..

Doing a April fool prank is great but getting two performances done in one day, that's AWESOME. However, by the look of my completed tunes folder, I'd better get to work on some new stuff!

Later! A.M.

Contest Entry: Forest Rhapsody on Ocarina.

Please do enjoy! This is my entry for a contest being held on TON (sorry that it's so late) Hosted by Mr. Rotter of OcarinaMusic in Austria! :)

2 quick notes about this performance: 
1: I will be remaking this as an Anything on Ocarina video once I actually HAVE some forest to perform in (not just my half thawed back yard)  
2: I pray to the sweet heavens above that we don't have a biblical plague of mosquitoes to deal with by that time...

Later! A.M. 

Bleach opening 3 Ichirin no hana on Ocarina.

Do enjoy! Just like the 2nd Bleach opening, this is another one of those nostalgic anime songs I've been able to play for some time yet couldn't do a fitting cover.  
So here you go.... though I will admit my sis is kinda right: "This song is hard to cover because the original song has so little soul put into it".... no pun intended. XD

Later! A.M.

Let it Go from Frozen (April Fools) on Ocarina

Please do enjoy. :) Thanks for everyone being nice about my little April Fools prank. Truth is, I can't stand thats song and how over-hyped it's become. Besides that... Disney is evil... XD  And if you haven't guessed, I'm really loving that new Crackle Focalink Ocarina I won in last year's TON's 'o Fun Contest. :D Thanks again Suki! :)

Later! A.M.

P.S. There IS a full version of the 2nd half of this performance completed..... but you'll half to wait. *Evil laugh*

Bleach Opening 2 on Ocarina

Enjoy! ☺

To be honest, I think my playing could've been better. I was kinda stressed and tired that day so my breathing and fingering were a little wonky but my sister says this is good so, Okie dokie!

Yoshi's Island Main Theme on Ocarina

Enjoy some more of the Dancing Yoshi! This time for the main title theme of Yoshi's island! ♥

Yoshi's Island Lullaby on Ocarina

Yes, I know, I remade this for like.... the 3rd time but I guess like all artists, I'm only satisfied with the best I can do.
As far as the dancing Yoshi goes, that comes courtesy of my little brother.

So you know, I decided to play this piece on my lovely Z-Fan Ocairna. Why? Well, it has the triforce which is related to Nintendo.... and Yoshi's Island is from Nintendo.... they're related... right?... XD

Later! A.M.

Focalink Ocarina Review.

Ever wonder what the difference is between all those different kinds of Focalink Alto 'C' Ocarinas on the market? Well wonder no more! 'Cause here I am to help explain at least half that question!

Today I'm reviewing/Comparing the Focalink ocarina models named "Allegro" and "Sonoro".

Did I mention that these 2 models can be purchased at my favorite Ocarina purveyor, Songbird Ocarinas!?

One Piece Ending 1 Memories on Ocarina

Here's to all the One Piece fans out there! :) Myself included. XD