help for piccolo! (and trombone)

[mooseluvr1392]

I tried to play the piccolo a couple years ago, but when i went back and forth between the flute and piccolo, my tone on the flute got worse! i want to try to play the piccolo again but am afraid that it will mess up my flute again.

also i hav the same type of question about the trombone...a few months ago i decided to start playing the trombone, but from playing the flute, i cant get the muscles on the corners of my mouth to relax to hit the low notes...help...

[boglarka]

Hi,

well, the muscles used in flute playing differ a LOT from the muscles used in trombone playing. Most "doublers" (people who play flute and other woodwinds or even brass) cannot develop as good a tone on each instrument as a person who only focuses on one. (Of course, I know a person who is an amazing trumpet AND saxophone player and his tone is great...but he is a rare exception).

If you want to play both flute and trombone, be prepared that your muscles will have to adjust differently to each instrument. It is very rare to be switching between woodwind and brass, so it might take you a while to perhaps find a mentor who can guide you in this process. As I do not play trombone, I cannot help you much here, but be aware of the fundamental difference in producing a tone on flute vs. trombone: on the flute, your upper lip is not pushed against anything. On the trombone it is and you have to create a "buzz" with your lips. As far as muscle use goes, this is a huge difference.

Picc and flute: even there, the muscles are somewhat different. The picc's aperture is much smaller than the flute's, so that will take some adjusting. In general, the picc requires a tighter embouchure than the flute. Moreover, piccs tend to crack in the 2nd octave around D-E-F if you are not experienced. Those notes play differently on the picc than the flute.

For further info, check out Trevor Wye's Piccolo Practice Book. He has very good comments about picc playing in it.

[MeLizzard]

One summer, a nutty band director persuaded me to try trombone for marching band (this lasted about four weeks--piccolo's much more fun, and I knew I could read better than my trombone playing could demonstrate!). I discovered that a completely different group of muscles was used to play the two instruments, and that the trombone experiment was NOT antagonistic. There was only the adjustment in terms of HOW I used the muscles--buzzing versus, well, not buzzing. Saxophone, however, was problematic, as my upper lip seemed to go numb from all the vibration, then it couldn't properly control my airstream! In college brass class, I didn't have much luck with trumpet, but horn seemed pretty easy and compatible with flute.

[amhso]

always start your practice on the flute first. Do long tones! They will improve your tone, or atleast keep the tone well. try not to play piccolo more than the flute.