Piccolo tips from the Pros

Piccolo tips from the Pros

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I asked these highly accomplished musicians if they could spare a moment to give me some tips that I could write about and pass along to anyone else attempting to master the piccolo.  Some of these players may have taken up the picc later in a doubling career, like myself.  Others are flute and piccolo specialist, whom occupy positions in major orchestras in the US. 

Here are their responses, in no particular order.  I told them to feel free to be brief, as I know they are all busy professionals.

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Skip To My Lou - Frank Macchia

 

Piccolo solos, trading, and it finishes with a piccolo soli!

Featuring Sal Lozano, Bob Sheppard, Frank Macchia, Jay Mason on Piccolos
from the CD "Folk Songs for Jazzers, available at frankmacchia.net

Frank puts together some incredible big bands for his arrangements.  I only wish they were more accessible to your average reading big band.  There's just too many doubles.

New Piccolo!

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As a multi-instrumentalist, one of the upsides (and downsides) is that we get to own many instruments.  Which means we get to own many, but also need to purchase and maintain many, more instruments than the average joe.  It's been a bit since my last instrument purchase; I think I purchased my bassoon in 2009.  Life has gotten in the way of acquiring more horns, but I'm happy the priorities have been able to shift back to obtaining gear.

I actually purchased the Di Zhao piccolo (DZP-201) in January.  However, I had to return it after about a month.  It didn't feel right, and my gut was correct.  Steve Schoene took it apart and found several manufacturing issues.  I even contacted Di Zhao, and they confirmed there were some quality control issues at a partner factory, and have since moved all piccolo production to their own factory.  Di himself confirmed that piccolo suffered from these issues, once Steve sent it back to him.  Unfortunately, Di had none to send back for exchange, so I had to wait several months, but I am pretty sure this one was hand picked by Mr. Di Zhao.  I will give a full review later, but overall I am very happy with this instrument.