I have to learn how to play piccolo. Anyone have any tips that do not require me going and buying a piccolo book.

It really isn`t that difficult if you`re good at the flute I`m in 8th grade, I`m the 1st chair flute, and I play off and on between the flute and piccolo. I`ve had no real difficulty playing the piccolo. Be sure not to switch a lot between the two instruments, it WILL hurt your mouth an awful lot. Your mouth will become adjusted to the smaller scale of the hole so it will be strange going back to the flute. Otherwise, be sure that your fingers are already always in the right spot all the time on the flute so that once on the piccolo they won`t slip. If your renting or buying a piccolo, I highly recommend that you try it out first. I know a lot of people who go out and buy a piccolo on sale for 600 bucks and can`t make a sound out of it because it`s crap. I suggest a Gemeinhardt one. I just use my school`s piccolo, it`s a brand new Gemeinhardt and it plays like a dream. Best of luck!

You can use flute books to practice the piccolo. If you are going to practice both instruments in one sitting I highly recommend practicing the flute first. It is also a good idea to get a tuner and figure out how sharp and flat certain notes are, since tuning is a big issue. The piccolo is a little different than the flute, but you should be able to adjust in no time.

Thanks. Any other suggestions?

"I suggest a Gemeinhardt one."

I have rented a Gemenihardt one. My school`s wind ensemble director had one extra (we can rent instruments from the school) so that`s how I borrowed it.

Otherwise, I wouldn`t start picking it up because a new one costs so much money!!

Yamaha is very well made, reliable, and plays well.

You will find endless discussion on this topic in other threads. Nobody here particularly wants to go through all that again. We`ve done it many times. SOME people - I`ve actually only met them, in this forum - reckon Yamaha tuning is inferior. The important thing about piccolo tuning is that the player pretty well has HUGE control over the tuning, and mus be conscious of how they play notes to get the tuning right, every bit as much as a violin player does, and a flute player SHOULD, note by note. Partly because volume changes affect pitch, so compensations in embouchure & breath pressure need to be made to correct this.

Put a lid on it Ar@K! I have been being nice and trying my best to get along with you here. You didn`t need to add that in. Don`t blow it.

"Nobody here particularly wants to go through all that again."

Then why on earth did YOU even bring it up? This thread had nothing to do about what piccolo was good or not. Read the first post again. (Me shakes head!)

Thanks to everyone so far. My piccolo playing is getting slightly better.
Any other ideas?

just keep at it, it will help your flute tone immensely, and work on the Vivaldi Picc concerto, it`s a fun piece to play and a staple for auditions. Also, listen to and learn orchestral piccolo parts, especially from romantic and classical symphonies and 20th century orchestral pieces

I don`t think anything I wrote was anything but an undisputed fact. I was not having a go at anybody. I even included views other than my own. Have another look.

BTW I was responding to the reinforced recommendation of Gemeinhardt, as much as I was responding to the original post. That is the way discussions go... the content keeps changing slightly.

I seriously and honestly don`t think my post warranted such a snapping response. Were you just in a bad mood?

Sorry, no more games for me. I would rather not play with you anymore.

Likewise

"A Piccolo can be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands"

Yes, the Piccolo can be...

*laughs* I had to play a piece on the piccolo today with the rest of the band...it was ok.