As many of you know, this is the time of year when many students are involved in talented and competitive marching programs. Many flute players see this time of year as the perfect time to try the most popular flute auxiliary instrument: the piccolo! Now I know…piccolos often have a bad reputation as being out-of-tune, shrill, and just plain unpleasant to listen to. But guess what–there is hope!
As far as superior sound, there is historically no better instrument than a solid grenadilla wood piccolo. These instruments are made from the finest wood, allowing for a better scale (intonation from note to note) and a mellow sound that is much easier to play and adjust. These instruments are best for concert playing, and the ones in the flute shop range from $1,800-$3,000 (see the instrument list for more details). The downside of these instruments is that they are very susceptible to temperature and humidity changes, causing cracking and warping. Traditionally, instruments used in outdoor venues, therefore, have been metal or plastic.
Enter…the composite piccolo!! These insruments are a relatively new phenomenon in the flute world, and I absolutely love them. They are made of a patented synthetic material that, unlike plastic, is specifically formulated to emulate the precise pitch and mellow sound of a grenadilla wood piccolo. They allow for a wonderful ease of playing and are far less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. These instruments are also significantly less expensive–about $1,100. They are also available on Paige’s Music’s Rent-to-Own plan, so you can have that added piece of mind when taking the instrument on the marching field or travelling. Give Erin a call at the shop or shoot an email to see about trying these instruments out for yourself!
See the similarities in design and materials between a composite (lower) and a grenadilla wood piccolo (above).