Piccolo question

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:22 pm

Hi~ Do any of you have any piccolo tips that would be
good for someone pretty new to playing piccolo? My daughter will be playing it
in a few band songs and is doing well but she is wondering if there any special
tips for controlling dynamics when playing ? Also are there any areas that prove
to be a problem area with playing piccolo? If there are any websites that you
can recommend I would love to hear about them. Kim

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:26 pm

Just wondering what kind of piccolo does your daughter
play? Metal, Plastic or Wood?

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:07 pm

Hi, She plays a Gemienhardt with a plastic body and
silver headjoint. Kim

PiNkShOeS7487 · Post by **PiNkShOeS7487** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 3:42 pm

That's the same kind of piccolo i play! I have a few
tips for playing piccolo: 1) Ombeture: this may sound silly, but you should try
to think of frowning when you are playing piccolo. Your mouth should not be
upwards in a smiling position, but angled more downwards. You should also think
about pressing your lips together more, making a thinner ombeture. (i'm sorry
if this doesn't make any sense...) 2) GET A TUNER!! Intonation is a HUGE
problem with piccolo (My band director always tells the joke: How do you tune
two piccolos? you shoot one...lol) tune to a A and udjust your headjoint, and
then play a bnch of notes and note which ones are sharp and which are flat.
3)Most of it is just getting used to playing the instrument and setting your
ombeture right. Practice makes perfect! Hope that helps...[:bigsmile:] COntact
me if you have any other questions: Purple74871111@yahoo.com

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 9:45 pm

Thanks for the tips. I had my daughter read your post
and she said it made lots of sense and it will help her alot. She has been
practicing everynight with it and is getting better but I need better earplugs
LOL Kim

GerryG · Post by **GerryG** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 2:41 pm

I've been teaching myself flute and piccolo for the
last year as a hobby (I'm 54 - played trumpet in school!). I found the
following article very helpful - it's not easy finding tips and information on
playing piccolo. http://www.piccoloflute.it/Contributi.htm I also bout the
Trevor Wye piccolo practive book which is very helpful. Good luck to your
daughter. Gerry G

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 7:52 pm

Gerry~ Thanks for the link. You are a right there
isn't a lot of information online to be found about the picollo. I am impressed
that you are teaching yourself both the flute and the picollo. I play the flute
again after not playing for it many years but when I tried my daughters pic I
told myself that maybe I would stick with the flute for now at least until I can
build some lung capacity again LOL Thanks again for the link

Kim

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:06 pm

I haven't played Picc since High School, myself, and
I'm a Junior in College. I finally got a re-pad for my Gemeinhardt 4P Picc, so
I'm incorporating it into my practice sessions for flute lessons. I try to play
all my flute solo music on picc as well as flute, so I have more support when I
play on my flute. The flute is capable of so much sound, but I tap into about
50% of it when I don't warm-up on picc first, and then when I do, I get about
85% on a regular basis.

krichards · Post by **krichards** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 3:15 pm

I've been playing the flute for years, and after
reading some of the posts here, I've just recently rented a piccolo and am
giving that a whirl for a change. Thanks Gerry, for the link to Piccolo 101. I
haven't read it all yet, just scanned it...but I think this will get me off to
a really good start. At first I laughed about all the references to providing
earplugs to those around you. Now I understand why! I've got my husband
outfitted with some, but what do I do about my dogs?[;)] For those of you who
play both flute and piccolo, how difficult do you find it transitioning between
the two? I'm sure my worries are unfounded, but I can't help but think that as
I alter my embouchure for the piccolo it will have an impact on my flute tone.
What has everyone else found

FluterJenn · Post by **FluterJenn** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 5:10 pm

At first it was very hard for me to switch from flute
to piccolo. Infact, after I played my piccolo for awhile for the first time i
went back to my flute and couldnt play a single thing. It just takes time
practicing with the different emboucures(sp?) It will be very hard playing flute
directly after piccolo (always). So during your practice time always play flute
first (for that reason, and many others). If you ever come across a song where
you have to switch from piccolo to flute rather quickly (be very afraid! lol)
practice your emboucure alot and practice the switch frequently. Right before
you are about to play the flute take a big yawn (to get your mouth untight and
ready to play flute), and remember to keep you mouth open because after coming
from piccolo, you'll want to have your lips too close together. i dont know if
this helped any, but its just some of the things I've picked up from a few
great piccolo players that ive came across. Enjoy the piccolo, Jenn