Ancient Mayan clay flutes re-created by Rey Ortega.
Performing in Akumal, Quintana Roo Mexico with flutes made using traditional building and firing techniques.
The sounds made are copied from nature, most of all birds.

Ethnomusicologist John Burkhalter demonstrates how the Maya would manipulate the pitch of the conch shell.

The turtle carapace was one of the main rhythm instruments of classic Mayan orchestras, and it may have been used frequently as part of the music accompanying the dance rituals of rain ceremonies.

The Mayan Figurines or ocarinas differ significantly in size as well as in design. Men, Women, animals- all were represented in a wide variety of styles.

There are three families of musical instruments that the Mayas used to create sound. The aerophones or wind instruments are the most common musical artifacts.  For example the flutes, wooden trumpets, cone flutes and conch shells. The membranophone are instruments that produce sound by the vibration of a tightly fixed membrane. The idiophone consists of rattles, turtle carapaces and drums with no membrane.

The sound of ancient Maya music is an attribute of this culture that carried a message. Analogous to language, carvings and artistic creations, the music of the ancient Maya served to communicate the meaning of the ritual or ceremony of which it was a part. Instruments are found at nearly every Maya site, which presents music as an element in the social fabric of the culture. Individuals possessed knowledge of instrument building, musical techniques and repertoire that made this art form a commodity. The Maya made use of numerous materials and developed knowledge to produce their music.

For the Mayan community music was a cultural activity that was performed by both child and adult, by

commoner and elite. However, music was explicitly divided between classes.

Music was essential to various facets of everyday life including religious events, agricultural and hunting ceremonies and elite communication. The language, carvings and artistic creations, the music of the ancient Maya served to communicate the meaning of the ritual or ceremony of which it was a part.