Piccolo high register

[Gigihr]

Could be my little silver piccolo has about had it, but I'm willing to bet the problem is more about me being very "rusty" after more than a decade and a half of not playing! I've been actively playing again for a little over a year now (in my high school years I was quite accomplished on flute and piccolo), and I'm finding that I'm having a great deal of difficulty sounding anything higher than a third octave F on the piccolo.

Would anyone have any refresher-excercise recommendations for an "old-timer"... especially on the highest register of the piccolo? No difficulties on the flute, just the picc for some reason.

Thanks in advance!

[MonikaFL]

First, make sure your headjoint isn't too far in. Piccolos can be very finicky that way, and a lot of times you can lose some of the high register notes if you don't play with the headjoint out.

Have you ever done the Moyse tone exercises (also found in Trevor Wye's Tone book)? Just like you would on flute, I would recommend practicing these on your picc. As you get higher, be sure not to pinch! Keep the air fast, and don't be shy. Since you aren't getting any sound in that register, go ahead and don't be afraid to let yourself get a loud, shrill sound, even if it's ugly! You can tame it from there.

[Pink Gypsy]

I would make sure your pic is in good adjustment. Maybe there are some leaks. Once you have determined that the instrument is fine, you just have to keep practicing. I had a hard time in the upper register too after a few years of not playing the piccolo.

Pink Gypsy

Could be my little silver piccolo has about had it, but I'm willing to bet the problem is more about me being very "rusty" after more than a decade and a half of not playing! I've been actively playing again for a little over a year now (in my high school years I was quite accomplished on flute and piccolo), and I'm finding that I'm having a great deal of difficulty sounding anything higher than a third octave F on the piccolo.

Would anyone have any refresher-excercise recommendations for an "old-timer"... especially on the highest register of the piccolo? No difficulties on the flute, just the picc for some reason.

Thanks in advance!