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Why choose the ocarina when there are so many other great musical instruments? In addition to its beautiful haunting tones, the ocarina is a lifetime instrument, one that comfortably survives the transition from childhood to adult life. No matter how full your schedule may be, the ocarina's compact size always lets it fit in somewhere. Because the ocarina is truly pocket-sized and requires no assembly before playing, you can stow it in a purse, pocket, or sheath and take it out whenever you have a free moment. Personally, I rarely find time nowadays for extended practice sessions, and the band instrument that I played as a kid has long since fallen by the wayside. Still, I have no trouble playing the ocarina every day in satisfying five or ten-minute snatches: watching the sun set on a hike in the mountains, waiting in a parked car, caring for my children, taking a quick break from work, getting together with friends, singing and making music with my family after dinner... You see, while I would never have considered hauling along my saxophone on a hike (though I'm a sax fan and played it all through school from 5th grade on), I have enjoyed many meditative moments out in the beauty of the woods or under the stars playing songs of praise on the ocarina to the Creator of it all.