Piccolo Woodwind


A place to share thoughts on playing piccolo, solo music I have found, and technique tips.

Ask me about piccolo

27th January 2011

A good reminder for us all!

http://fluteinpasadena.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/hello-world/

20th January 2011

great info on holding your flute

http://www.jennifercluff.com/lineup.htm

11th December 2010

Mozart touches modern life

http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/mozart-cuts-crime-in-new-zealand-city/story-e6frflri-1225949381691

12th October 2010

Sir James Galway: King of the flute

Just spent 6 very rewarding hours in the presence of Sir James Galway at the Colburn School in LA.
In a word: AWESOME!

3rd October 2010

Looking for a teacher in LA?

Special offer: 30 minutes flute study and 30 minutes music theory.

1st October 2010

Interesting comment on the piccolo.

Just found a great on-line tool! I love the big numbers that change with each metronome beat.
webmetronome.com

10th September 2010

Interesting comment on the piccolo.

I just ran across this comment in a forum about composing for piccolo, and found it very insightful.“We usually think of piccolo as really bright, even strident, but its lowest octave has a special sound that can be used in soft passages. It can even sound melancholy. Just remember that the piccolo does not have a foot joint, so its lowest note is D, not C.”

Hal
http://uoregon.edu/~hjowen

7th September 2010

For everyone who has ever struggled with embouchure

There are many mouth shapes that work! That is why it is so hard for a teacher to teach piccolo (or flute) embouchure. It is unique to each person! Take a look at this page and see all the many mouths that all create quality tone!
Here’s the site:

http://www.larrykrantz.com/embpic.htm

25th August 2010

Sir James Galway and the piccolo

I always think of Sir James Galway as a flutist. I’m listening right this minute to him playing Lowell Liebermann’s “Piccolo Concerto, Op 50.” Sir James was just speaking about his piccolo and this piece of music. He has a silver piccolo which is conical. It is better for the high notes. But he prefers a different piccolo for the lower notes. This particular concerto is written in such a way, that you can actually use two different piccolos and use one for the high notes, and another for the lower sections.

I think I am hearing two different piccolos. But it could be my imagination: here’s a youtube clip of the concerto.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7x37mBZ0XU

20th August 2010

Piccolo Techniques: Tip #1

“RELAX!” This is what Liisa Ruoho, consummate performer and brilliant teacher said over and over in a masterclass I took part in. She
 emphasized the importance of being relaxed in your body so that the instrument could sing. There are many ways to accomplish this. So next time you pick up your piccolo to practice, remember Liisa, and RELAX! and let your piccolo sing.

For more tips and ideas, or to share your own, please go to PiccoloWoodwind