Hello.

I play the piccolo. Recently I've begun to have problems with the keys. They tend to get stuck after playing a few pieces in a row.
The instrument simply gathers so much water inside that it forms a membrane or a kind of bubble inside covering the keyholes. This often causes my picc to play completely random notes, as you can imagine, so it's kind of a problem. I've managed to play normally by cleaning it after every second piece but it's getting really annoying.
Does anyone have any idea why would that problem suddenly appear? I always clean my instrument carefully after playing. This has nothing to do with loose screws, as well. I've been thinking it may be because of the cold weather, but I'm not sure why it would.

Can I do anything about it? I highly doubt it's normal because I haven't had this problem before last few weeks.

I'd be so grateful if anyone could help me to fix it...

Wood Piccolo? Or something else?

Joe B

Maybe it's the time for you to take it to a COA (Clean Oil Adjust). This must be done every year because, independently of the instrument playing all the time or not, the oil gets thick and becomes sticky inside de rods.

It's a Yamaha YPC32.

If the problem is fluid being drawn up by the key(s), temperature is likely the problem. With colder temperatures at this time of year, your breath will condense quickly in the instrument causing a larger than normal amount of fluid. I don't know if this is your first winter with the instrument or where you live, but if the instrument is getting colder than normal, try keeping it very warm somewhere (somehow) and see if the problem still occurs.