I am getting a piccolo tomorrow, but I can't get a sound out very well. How

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Question:

I am going to the music store tomorrow with my dad to get a piccolo!. Well, the problem is is that I have played piccolo, but, I can't get that good of a sound out!. When I was playing a scale on my friends piccolo, I would get a note out occasionally!.
So, my problems lies here: How do I choose a piccolo then!?

Oh, and we don't like to rent instruments!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Hi Sarah!.

You are not alone in this situation!. It is difficult to get a great sound out of the piccolo!.!.!. even though it seems so similar to the flute!. Truth is!.!.!.!. it is very different in the way you blow!.

Think of it like this; the flute has a small blow hole!.!.!. but it is quite a bit larger than the blow hole of the piccolo!.!.!. meaning you are going to have to make your air stream even smaller than you do on the flute!. And all the while keeping the airstream going in the right area of the blow hole!. What I explain to my students is to point your lips just a fraction forward, if that makes sense!. Think of the word ''put''!. Notice the position your mouth and lips are in!. This is the correct embouchure for most people for the piccolo!. Now!.!.!.we are not finished!. With your lips in the ''put'' position, and the piccolo up to your mouth!.!.!.!. begin to blow!. Don't be shy!!! Blow HARD, as it takes twice as much air to blow the piccolo as it does the flute!.

To the second part of your question!. Don't get a real cheap instrument as piccolos are one of the most difficult instruments for a repairman to work on!.!.!. (don't believe me!?!?!?!? Ask one!.) A cheap piccolo is going to fall apart ten times as fast and 10x as much as a good name brand piccolo!.!.!.!. meaning that it is going to be spending alot of time (not to mention your parent's money) in the shop!.

One of the better piccolos that is still reasonably priced is the Gemeinhardt!. also look at the Armstrong / Emerson / Yamaha!. Any of those no name brand cheapy piccolos from china or other 3rd world countries is just going to make you crazy!.

Thanks for reading and I really hope I was able to give you some important advice!.Www@QuestionHome@Com