I know most people only go up to C4. but I have a piece in orchestra that the director would like me to put up an octave. It's all fine, apart from there's one D4 in it. I know the fingering, and I can sort of get it out, but not reliably enough. Does anyone have any recommendations for playing this high, or should I just swap to my piccolo for that section? I have a pretty nice Sankyo if make of flute is important.

Not a very conventional suggestion this one, but you could try twisting your mouthpiece towards you by 1mm or so. You'd want to move it back before going on to play anything lower though, as you'll find doing this can thin the lower notes and make them more prone to splitting.

Hopefully you're sense of pitch is good enough to counter the sharpening that'd happen...

On the more conventional route, make sure your flute and you are completely warmed up before going for it.

If you've got a picollo though, and the whole piece is being sent up 1 octave, then I don't see any reason not to play it on that.

I've sent you a PM re the knack of C4+ - let me know if it works!

If the Director wants you to read up the octave on the concert flute then do so as the piccolo has a totally different timbre even if the pitches are the same. Check with the Director which sound he/she is after.

Bag x