I am new to this board. I've a MM in performance and am (finally!) shopping for a piccolo.
Currently, I run a flute and piano studio. I would like to start doing some local auditions for sub lists, etc. and have been looking for a piccolo. My ultimate goals include playing part-time in an orchestra somewhere, semi pro, and perhaps teaching on a more advanced level once we get settled (my H is in the military so right now we are moving around a lot when we get more settled, I would like to get more involved than I am now). I have also considered going for a DMA but honestly, if I can do the jobs I would like without it once we get in the groove somewhere, I would be good without it.
I was looking in the under 2K range. I have three piccolos right now I was looking at:
DiZhao grenadilla
Pearl Grenaditte (what is grenaditte? I know it is a composite but it sounds so close to the wood, I was shocked! Is there wood in that piccolo? I thought this one would be good with our moving around so much, as there could be considerable climate change with where we live, from where we are now (very hot and humid) to places such as alaska, etc. but I like the sound of DZ)
or Pearl Hybrid
Personally, I am drawn towards the DZ picc for the sound--just lovely and full, and sweet. Sounds like the Zentners to me, which I was not able to find. I also liked the Pearl but loved the depth of sound in the DZ. However, I just received them today and the mechanism is doing some funky things--there is a buzzing sound on certain notes, as if something is loose, and there is a small glitch when going between high d and high e--the key kind of "jumps" up and down and there is a slight delay/ding in the sound between the two notes. I was a bit surprised that I have only played on it a few hours and it seemed that the mechanism needs adjusted already. Does anyone have experience with these? I could not find a lot of reviews. Could that be from shipping? (However, the other two arrived in alignment with no issues thus far).
How competitive are the Grenadittes in audition situations? I really liked the stability of it, and found I can "round" the sound out by opening up a bit, though it is thinner and not as round as a grenadilla. I played them all for my H and he consistently liked the DZ first and the grenaditte/hybrid about equally, second, same as me. Does anyone play professionally/semi professionally with these?
I am looking for something I can play primarily in auditons and in semi-pro settings, flute teaching, etc.. I want something that will hold up and be competitive, but I can not at this point afford in the upper 5K type range. My flute was the first priority when investing. Does anyone have any experience with any of these, the DZ and grenaditte in particular?
Thanks!