I love my YPC-32...some people don't like that model though. However, you should learn flute BEFORE pic. It's the equivalent to playing piccolo trumpet before a regular Bb trumpet or a soprano sax before an alto, even bass trombone before tenor. It isn't a good idea.

Andrew after reading a lot of your posts, I must say that you are very knowledgeable beyond your years. You give good advice and know your flute.

I agree with the others, you should play flute first, but don't have to. If you only want to play piccolo, and you are just playing for enjoyment, then I would say go for it.

I have never met anyone that playes in a band or other places that just plays the piccolo. Probably because there is not always a piccolo part in the score with everything.

Ahh.. your welcome!

Toni,
Don't get too discouraged. You're still young and will have plenty of oppotunities to learn more instruments. Now to answer your original question, I personally like the sound of the piccolo a little bit more than the sound of the flute and when given the choice of playing the flute or piccolo in a piece I always chose piccolo. I started flute before piccolo and I recommend learning flute before the piccolo. I think knowing how to play the flute will make learning the piccolo a lot easier.

On a side note, I looked at your profile. Is your birthday really on October 1st? If so, we have the same birth date, but I was born in 1979, so I'm a wee bit older.

I just played both once. I haven't picked up a piccolo since December, but I would love to learn how to play the piccolo more.

I am trying to persuade my mom to see if we can buy as a piccolo as well as a flute when I upgrade soon.