These woodwind instruments are typically made from clay but can also be made from ceramic, plastic, wood, glass, metal or bone. They were invented in 1853 by 17-year-old Giuseppe Donati in Bologna, Italy. The woodwind instrument now comes in many shapes with varying designs but all of our ocarinas are handmade and hand painted. To play the different notes you place your fingers over the holes and blow air into the mouth piece similar to playing a flute.