Piccolo High Register

[GerryG]

I''d like some advice. When playing piccolo I
can play up to the highest A without much problem but continue to have a lot of
problems hitting B flat, B and C. The worst is B. Since I can hit the other
notes, I''m guessing it''s not my piccolo (only 1 yr old - Gemeinhardt
4PMH). Does it sound more like just practive and strengthening my embouchure. To
be honest I play as a hobby and probably average only an hour or two each week.
Thanks, Gerry G

[AmastaJ943]

Hmm, that happens on mine too, and it may not be
you. Some piccolos cannot play those notes. As Ms. Lillian Burkart says on her
site, maker of Burkart Flutes: Q: My current piccolo doesn't have a high B. Can
anything be done to fix that? A: "My most frequently asked question" says
Lillian Burkart. Some piccolos just don't and never will. It can be a
combination of the placement of the trill tone holes, the length of the body and
bore size. If your high B suddenly disappears when it was there before, swab the
instrument. Water in the headjoint and body can inhibit high B production. Also
high B's respond better with the headjoint pulled out a little bit; a good
reason to have an A-442 piccolo that can be comfortably pulled out. High Bbs in
my opinion can be worked on, but high B and C might not play, even though you
may practice 12 hrs a day [:p] Good luck, and have fun playing. ~AJ

[SaraBeth]

That used to happen to me too. For the solution
to this problem, I would roll the piccolo in more towards my face and blow a
little harder. It worked for me in marching band. I hope this helps.

[wkzh]

Whoah some administrator should look into that random account.

One reason, definitely, that these high notes don't come out is because of condensation (and saliva?) in the bore of the instrument. There was this while I was wondering why I could not scream out an altissimo D. (In Whitacre's "Gawd$illa Eats Las Vegas".) Turns out that it was the water. Another time was just a high G... stupid water. And that was Holst's "Mars" form The Planets. (If you know that piece, you'll know why not being able to play that note is so tragic.) So when you're performing, make sure you swab whenever you can.

Anyway, I suggest NOT turning the head inwards. I would turn outwards, actually. And make sure you use support. I don't suggest "smiling", or tightening the lips, although many experienced players would beg to differ. Keep the air intense, but not tight. That would require a strong embouchure, though. Don't count on it, I have an embouchure very different from your standard piccoloist.

[pied_piper]

Whoah some administrator should look into that random account.

Probably a little late for that since this thread was posted in 2004... I don't see those names posting anymore.

[wkzh]

Wow, how ignorant can anybody get! *looks around * hmmm, I wonder who...

[RedDragonGemini]

Its really just about knowing your specific piccolo, I own a gmeinhardt 4p and have learned that the exist way to play smoothly is not to use the right pinky key unless absolutely necessary, almost all notes on both flute and piccolo do not require the right pinky key

[pied_piper]

Well, yes. Anyone can play those notes with an incorrect fingering, but that doesn't make them right. Just check any flute or piccolo fingering chart. The right pinky is included on most notes for a reason. The notes SOUND CORRECT with the right pinky depressed.