Piccolo

[Rebecca.]

I play in an orchestra, and we are playing the Nutcracker overture. We don't have a piccolo player,so they wanted someone to learn it. They picked me because I am the principle flute. Anyway,I have never tried a piccolo ever,is it much different then the flute? will it take a long time to learn or can it it be learned in a few months before our first concert of the season? Thanks in advance.

[flute.and.picc.are.love]

Piccolo requires a smaller aperture so you can move the air faster to get the higher notes. It's like how to get into the upper register on flute, you need a smaller aperture and faster air. Since picc is an octave higher than flute, you always need this smaller aperture and faster air to get the higher notes out. It's not too different from flute, and you could definitely learn it in a few months. I picked it up in about a week, but actually got good at it over a month or so. I would also suggest finding someone who plays piccolo to help you. Good luck!

[flutepicc06]

I play in an orchestra, and we are playing the Nutcracker overture. We don't have a piccolo player,so they wanted someone to learn it. They picked me because I am the principle flute. Anyway,I have never tried a piccolo ever,is it much different then the flute? will it take a long time to learn or can it it be learned in a few months before our first concert of the season? Thanks in advance.

To play piccolo well will require plenty of practice on it, and a decent instrument. It is a completely different beast from the flute, with it's own intonation tendencies, a slightly different embouchure, some useful alternate fingerings that should be learned, and is just generally much more difficult to control. You may be able to get a good enough handle on it to perfrom the Nutcracker, but don't expect it to be easy, and don't expect a pretty sound at first. Chances are all you'll be able to do is blast out of tune for a little while until you adjust to where the pitches are, and what it takes to play musically. The most important thing you can do is remember to listen to those around you, and play confidently. You'll feel like you're sticking out, but unless the director tells you you are, that's probably about where you should be playing. You can't be shy and be a good piccoloist.

[mikeh]

GOOD LUCK loloLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOOLOLOLLOLLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOL