Hi,
One of my band director friends informed me last night that they are using 2 wood picc's to march with...because they have nothing else. The school is a mix of very well off people and people who just make ends meet. I heard of another school in the area that purchased picc's off ebay in their school colors. Apparently, the band directors wife is a flute player and said that were pretty decent...for marching picc's. My band director friend jumped at the idea of a picc (only for marching) that ran between $50-100.
So, all that being said...I know everyone on this board hates these cheep instruments...and personally I do too...but for marching band???!?!?!?! They will get destroyed quickly anyway...as all marching instruments do.
Thoughts?

Thanks!!!
Sara

All marching instruments do not get destroyed quickly if they're taken proper care of. I once marched a Yamaha 674HHV flute for a season and it came away none the worse for the wear.

Now, your friend's opinion may vary, but to me, a marching band should strive to be a concert band on the field. That means the same quality of musicianship is necessary, and these cheap piccolos are not going to allow that. I would be surprised if most of them could even be made to play in tune with the rest of the band. If he's looking for cheap piccolos, have him look at the Prelude line from Conn-Selmer. They're about as cheap as a piccolo gets without being a junker.