Has anyone got any tips for playing the piccolo? I feel that I should practise it more often than the rare occasions that I do need it. But, don't really know where to start. We don't exactly have a loving relationship...

More generally, how do people integrate secondary instruments (e.g. piccolo, alto flute) into their practice? How often do they practise them in comparison to flute sessions?

Thanks.

Hi

Unless I was working for a specific exam/performance on the flute and didn't want to mess up my embouchure too much, I used to practice the piccolo most days. The "piccolo practice book" was quite good, if I remember, it was full of commonly occurring orchestral excerpts - useful practice material!!!!

Otherwise I just used the same technical material as for the flute, working especially on the embouchure at high and low pitches obviously.

Will be interested to see what pearls of wisdom other people have to share. My flute teacher didn't play the piccolo so I was on my own really!

Collyermum (about 17 years since I have played the piccolo much)

Hi Nicki Flute

Its been a while since I played picc seriously, but there was a time when I was a fairly serious flute & picc player.
When I started the to play picc, I was already a decent flautist, and only pracitised one or the other at first, though mainly picc. I used the piccolo practice book too, which is a really good tutor.
I found the only thing that restricted my practise was flatmates/neighbours!

When I felt comfortable playing picc, I then used to practise changing between the instruments, which again took a bit of getting use to.

Am playing flute a bit more these days (having been inspired by reading various threads! ), but happily for my neighbours I haven't played piccolo for a long time! Not sure my ears could take it as now more used to hearing mellow tones of bassoon or cello these days!

Hope this helps!

Good advice from both of you, thanks.

I think I need to get to grips with my picc - I don't feel I know it well, probably because I never play it.

I will look up the piccolo practice book.

Doing my LTCL next year, so am hoping that I might be able to get on with the flute's smaller sibling!

In the military band I don't get a choice, I play piccolo marching, and these days 2nd flute and piccolo in concert stuff unless 1st and pic are on the same part. After a year or so I still don't find it easy to swap between, but it's so much easier to play on the marches than flute due to the amount of air required.

The piccolo practice book sounds really interesting....

Best thing to tame a piccolo is surely a couple of bits of cork - one for the foot, and one for the blow hole bit? .

Slightly more seriously, earplugs must feature when practising if you don't want high-end hearing damage to kick in prematurely.

I already have ear plugs, never fear!

Is this it? http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/04914/details.html

Hi Nicki,

yes, that's the one - it has a different cover to mine, but then mine was bought about 20 years ago!
It really is worth the investment as has great exercises for the developing piccolo player and loads of orchestral exerts.

Sounds brilliant - thanks a lot!

Hi Nicky,

I can be called upon at pretty short notice for orchestra work, sometimes involving piccolo, so try to keep it going regularly. I find that the top octave is very hard work, along with changing from flute to piccolo, if I haven't played it for a week or so. 15-20 minutes at the end of flute practice usually suffices, unless I have particular solos coming up. Earplugs - definitely! The two 'Piccolo! Piccolo!' books by Danielle Eden are also very good (usually available on ebay) with lots of slow warm-ups so that you really get to grips with embouchure control etc.

Thanks a lot for that good advice

What an interesting idea! I wonder if that would work with a flute to tune the volume down. Thanks for that. Now I know what art/craft to experiment next with. A considerable quiter flute might even extend my flute practice in my apartment (neighbors). It really is worth a try.