The Doublers BBoard

The Doublers BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: piccolo problems

Author: Elkwoman46
Date: 2007-02-08 13:47

Dear Johnny,
I recently came across an article online that totally opened my eyes. You see I once bought a piccolo from a pawn shop, and could not figure out why all the positions did not work, no matter how hard I tried. But just so you know, here is the excerpt from an article online that may be of use to you...........???

"Fingerings are basically the same as on the flute, although some variations have to be made due to the smaller size and because, until recently, the piccolo has been less acoustically developed than the flute. For example, the highest Bb on most piccolos will not "speak" if you leave the first finger of the left hand down, whereas on the flute it will "speak" quite easily. (Please note that this isn't the fingering of choice on the flute either, since high Bb usually is already flat to begin with and this lowers the pitch even more!). Most piccolos also need to have the second and third fingers of the right hand down in order to easily produce the highest Ab. This fingering is only used as an auxiliary fingering on the flute but is practically a must on the piccolo even though it can be VERY awkward at times. Also, unlike the flute, the piccolo has no low C# or C keys and can only play down to a D natural, so it is limited in its lower range. "

Yesterday, I received in the mail a used piccolo I bought off the internet. I was completely overwhelmed and delighted at how much more I got then I anticipated. It is a Prelude Conn-Selmer PC701. It gives me such joy just trying to figure it out at this point. You see, years ago, when I had the pawn shop one (and I am sure it was a decent one, just can't remember the brand name!!!!) I thought something was wrong with it, even though I had it worked on. So, we sold it right back again elsewhere. Sad grin. I had obviously what the article said above, an instrument that had an area where it did not speak. I absolutely thought there was something wrong with it, or me. And no one told me or knew about piccolos at that time to tell me what was what.

But now I am owning a piccolo that was said to be "out of alignment" and I am hardpressed to see anything out of alignment. It looks so almost perfect. In fact, I would venture to guess that most people looking at it and inspecting it would think it was brand new by appearance. As I am just starting from scratch learning how to play it after all these years and never really started on the other one!!! LOL I know now that based on what I read (above) that there are some blank notes, and of course some notes that I still have to figure out (well, a lot) since yesterday!!! Have already picked out a variety of notes while just tooting on it. This thing is so cute!!! Currently, via my ultra beginner level, it sounds like a soprano recorder...sort of.

But I have been hearing some of these piccolo excerpts online that are free for listening to and I am so amazed what can be done with these piccolos.
Almost like birds in the forest trees singing their songs.

I say all that to say, if you are having any of these kinds of problems, consider what this article stated, and don't give up.

If you have something wrong with it, I think an expert will have you fixed up in no time. Also, there are articles online (Zachary) or Zachery that has a couple of pages on how to handle the flute (or piccolo of course) with your hands when assembling it and disassembling it. This article alluded to the idea that many of these instruments are immediately taken out of alignment when grabbed by the buttons instead of just the tube area and basically twisted right out into a mess sometimes in the first few minutes of owning it if owner did not realize how fragile they are.

Now that I have thoroughly rambled!!!

God bless you.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics