Question: Piccolo!.!.!.!.help!?
I just started playing the piccolo!. I have played the flute since 3rd grade and now I am in 6th grade (well ending this year and going to 7th)!. I advanced far above my class so this is why I am now playing both the piccolo and flute!.
I have a few inquiries:
1!. how much would this benefit me!?
2!. would this affect my flute skills at all!?
3!. with previous flute experiences, how long would it take to adjust to the piccolo!?
4!. is this the right time to get a piccolo!? I really don't care if you answer this question!.!.!.because most people tell me I cannot play the piccolo until high school because of my age!.!.but I do not follow that!. Age doesn't matter, it is the quality of the musician's music!.
However, when I play certain notes on the piccolo, it sounds shrill and some notes do not come out evenly!.!.!.this only happens occasionally!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Take pride in being ahead of your peers, you deserve it!
While it is common for directors to hold back on letting someone so young try the picc!., your director must see some greater potential in you!.
1!. It will benefit you a great deal in the long run, some flute players don't even start piccolo until college!
2!. the only affect it should have would be positive (after a period of adjustment)!.
3!. Your adjustment time is up to you,!.!.!.how hard are you willing to work at getting good!?
4!. you answered your own question, it is the quality of the musician's music!
tone quality (shrillness) and notes not speaking well is an issue of air support/air warmth/ air speed/ and embouchure!.
The longer you work at the picc!. the more focused your sound will become!. You have to make a great change in aperture (size/diameter of the hole in your lips/embouchure) because the picc is a much smaller instrument!. work at control and learn all the excercises and scales you already know on flute for picc until they sound as clear as you do playing flute!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
SAME HERE EXACTLY!!!
I am far above my calss and going in to 7th grade!! WOW!!!
so yeah they are pretty much the same bt the only thing is if you play to much piccolo then when you play flute you find your self blowing way too hard!. I can't believe it because I have been playing flute since 3rd grade too!!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Congrats on learning a new instrument!
Learning the piccolo will benefit your flute playing skills to a degree!. You won't become Jethro Tull overnight, but the high notes will definitely be a lot easier to hit on the flute once you master the piccolo!. You might have even noticed a bit of a difference already!. *Ok, so you're only 12 or 13!.!.!.probably didn't catch the Jethro Tull reference!.!.!.sorry!*
The piccolo does have an adjustment time, especially when you're used to the flute!. Speaking from experience of switching from flute to piccolo, anything above about a high C does take some time to master!. Yes, some notes will sound shrill from time to time!. Just remember to support the notes with your belly breathing the best you can!. If you've learned about verberating breathing, keep that concept in mind!. If not, the best advice I can give you is try not to "store" your air in your mouth, try to keep it in your lungs and tummy!.
And forget about people that tell you you can't play the piccolo until high school!. You're 100% right that age has nothing to do with it! It takes guts to move onto another instrument you're not familiar with!. Be proud of yourself for doing so!!!
Hope I helped!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well that depends on allot of things!
The natural progression from Flute is piccolo! If you are looking for a career in Flute playing then picc is necessary to learn!. BUT Age does matter you may not have the physical capacities in order to play!. You can hardly play quality if you don't have the physical capacities to play at all! Do not progress until you are ready! You may be advanced for you re class but that does mean that you are a good Flute player!
The only way to tell is go to a GOOD Flute teacher and ask! But be prepared for a 'no not yet type answer' If this is the case! Take lessons from that teacher until you can! Immerse yourself in the Flute world!. Watch videos of players like James Galway, Larry Krantz, Nina Perlove, Jen cluff, They are all on you tube!. There is A WHOLE lot to learn about the Flute that you haven't even dreamed of!. Read articles by Flute players, Start here www!.jennifercluff!.com And keep practising!Www@QuestionHome@Com