This charming instrument has been around, in various forms, for thousands of years. It was originally made from bone or wood. The tinplate variety was produced during the early part of the 19th century when, thanks to the industrial revolution, this material became readily available. One of the first manufacturers of the tin whistle was Robert Clarke, which has been in continuous production since 1845 to the present day.

It is primarily a folk instrument, used all over the world, but it is in Ireland that it found a natural home in the folk music of that country. The tin whistle has the advantage of simplicity, having just six holes and in it's basic form, relatively inexpensive. Making it suitable for children to play. By overblowing, the whistle will play an octave higher.

One major development of the whistle was the production of the low whistle due to the collaboration of the Irish piper Finbar Furey and a jazz musician and engineer Bernard Overton. Bernard passed away in June 2008, whistle maker, jazz musician, and a really decent human being.

Dave Shaw - Made from a nickel/tin alloy with a wooden fipple (the wooden plug in the mouthpiece of the whistle). These whistles are made all keys and both low and high models. Overton - These were top quality aluminium/alloy whistles, both low and high models were available in all keys.
Overton are still being made by Colin Goldie - follow this link to www.overton.de.

Tamlinn - Wooden whistles manufactured in Germany and have a baroque sound, which still sound like a whistle. Renee has just introduced a Low D in maple.

Tony Dixon - Manufactured in Bideford with bodies made from from ABS plastic, nickel, alloy or brass, all with a plastic mouthpiece. Made in all keys with low or high models. Recent developments are the Trad and the new aluminium-bodied range.

Brian Howard - Low D whistles, nickle, either coloured, black or silver. Brian has just revamped the headjoint, making the instrument more controllable and in tune throughout the range.

Clarkes - The 'original' tin whistle with a wooden fipple in C or D and the Sweetone range which has a plastic mouthpiece and coloured metal body, also in C or D.

Feadog - Made in Ireland from brass or nickel with a plastic mouthpiece in the keys of D or C. Also supplies whistle packs (whistle/book/CD.)

Waltons - Produces the 'Little Black Whistle', alloy with plastic mouthpiece and whistle packs (whistle /book/CD.) Waltons also make a wide bore instrument which is louder and more session-friendly than the quieter instruments.

This instrument has also been around for thousands of years in China and South America. Originally made of clay, with four to six holes. Plastic is also used to produce inexpensive educational instruments. This instrument is ideal as a first instrument for children, the basic form having just four holes, and its size makes it easy for small hands. Many children have started successful musical careers on the Ocarina or Poly-Oc.

Our ocarinas are made by John Langley, comprising:

Poly-Oc - An ABS plastic ocarina, ideal for schools, coloured blue or red.

Songstone - A small 4 hole ceramic ocarina with a primarily Celtic design on the top of the body.

Ceramic Folk Ocarina - Pure ceramic ocarina in various sizes, Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass and Great Bass. In the keys of G and D, both 4 and 6 hole

We also have a range of books for the Ocarinas, and David Liggins' Play Your Ocarina course is widely used in education throughout the UK.

The Original Schools Poly-Oc was developed by John Langley in 1985.

4 Hole Poly-Oc

• 4 finger holes on top of Poly-Oc
• Key D pitch same as whistle in D,  6 finger note of descant recorder
• Range 1 full Octave, notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, C# D plus G#, Bb, Cnat
• Excellent tuning throughout instrument 
• Material ABC plastic washable
• Colours Red or Blue
• Music course Play Your Ocarina books 1 - 4

6 Hole poly-Oc

• 4 holes on top and two thumb holes on the underside
• Key D pitch same as whistle in D or 6 finger note of descant recorder
• Range 1 full Octave and one note,  D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E  (plus Fnat, G#, Bb, Cnat)
• Excellent tuning throughout instrument, particularly top notes!
• Material ABC plastic washable
• Colours Red or Blue
• Music course - Play Your Ocarina books 1 - 4