Instrument piccolo

Flute and piccolo are both part of the woodwind instruments, but they are not the same, and musicians who enjoy playing piccolos may play a different set of repertoire list from the flute repertoires. In terms of prices, the handcrafted and professional piccolos can easily cost more than $2000. That is why for budget considerations, buyers may also consider some used piccolos for sale here.

Which is easier to pick up, the piccolo or the flute?

Flutes being bigger are easier to control although they require more air to play. Piccolos, on the other hand, being much smaller, require more precision and power from the embouchure. Hence beginners may consider starting with flutes first.

Is a piccolo trumpet the same as a piccolo trombone?

While both the trumpet and trombone belong to the same brass family of instruments, both of them are completely different instruments. And in fact, they are also not related to the piccolo, which belongs to the woodwind family of instruments. Their names bear the word "piccolo" because it is the Italian term for "small" and also because a piccolo instrument is normally tuned higher than its regular version. By the same context, other instruments that start with the word ""piccolo"", such as the piccolo bass, piccolo french horn, piccolo clarinet as well as piccolo saxophone are in fact all belong to different families of instruments.

Should you choose a wooden piccolo or a metal one?

Piccolos made of wood generally produce less shrill sound compared to their metal counterparts and thereby easier to blend with other musical instruments, especially during an orchestral performance. That is why the professional piccolos are normally the wooden piccolos, rather than the metal ones. However, the metal piccolos are much cheaper and easier to maintain compared to those made with wood. Hence, it is normally recommended for beginners to start with metal piccolos.