Is the Fortissimo Flute Stand a good choice for flute and piccolo players? If you’ve wondered this, you’re not alone. I had the same question, so I wanted to test out the stand to see if it works well.
As a flute and piccolo player, I’d love a stand that can hold both for quick instrument switches. Read on to learn if this model works for that or other uses.
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What Is the Fortissimo Flute Stand?
The Fortissimo Flute Stand is a small portable stand that works with concert flutes. When I saw pictures of the stand online, I thought it could also work for piccolo.
There’s a small section near the top of the stand. However, that section isn’t long enough to support the piccolo safely, but you can still use this stand as a piccolo player since many piccolo players also play the flute.
This stand is very small and features four legs that pop out when you set everything up. That means it’s small enough to fit in most flute cases and bags.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Affordable
- Easy to transport
- Good for your regular flute
Cons
- Hard to set up
- Not for piccolo specifically
Why Use the Fortissimo Flute Stand
If you want a good stand to use for your flute as a piccolo player, you might consider the Fortissimo stand. It’s a nice choice, but it helps to know some specific reasons to give it a try.
Then, you can make sure purchasing the stand is the best decision for you.
It’s Compact
I love how small it is, so you can fit it in your regular flute case cover, unless the cover is super tight. That means it’s a nice choice for when you already have a lot of stuff to carry.
Other stands, such as from Hercules, take up a lot of space. They might work great for practicing at home, but a smaller model is more convenient for when you have to go out for a rehearsal or performance.
A lot of times, you have to bring your flute and piccolo to the same ensemble rehearsal. Sure, you don’t have a super heavy load, but it’s nice to keep it as light as you can.
It’s Affordable
Compared to some other flute and piccolo stands, the Fortissimo flute stand is pretty affordable. That makes it a great choice for students, beginners, and casual players.
If you recently splurged on a new piccolo, you might not want to spend a ton of extra cash. But you might want a place to set your flute while you focus on practicing your piccolo.
Getting a relatively cheap flute stand might be the solution you need. And if it’s not perfect, you can always upgrade to something better later on.
It’s Easy to Store
Of course, since the flute stand is small, storing and transporting it is also pretty easy. The stand comes with a plastic case, so you don’t have to let the stand sit loose in your flute case or bag.
You just need to twist off the blue cap at the bottom to release the stand. Then, you’ll be able to set it up and use it for a rehearsal or performance.
When you’re done, you just collapse the stand and put it back in the case. Take the entire case and store it with the rest of your accessories for the next time.
Why Not Use the Fortissimo Flute Stand
Before you use the Fortissimo Flute Stand, consider if it’s the best choice for you. To help you do that, I want to share some of the drawbacks of choosing this stand over another.
Here are a few problems I’ve found with using this stand.
It Doesn’t Hold the Piccolo
I got the Fortissimo stand thinking it would work for both my flute and piccolo. That way, I’d only have to use one stand to switch between the instruments.
Unfortunately, the skinnier part at the top is too short to hold the piccolo safely. I tried it, and the piccolo would have fallen over if I didn’t catch it in time.
You’ll still need to use a different piccolo stand to keep your small flute safe. Keep that in mind when choosing what stands to use for your instruments.
It’s Low Quality
I’ve tried a few flute stands, and the Fortissimo stand is one of the worst in terms of the quality. Everything is very skinny, and it feels like it probably wouldn’t support my flute well for very long.
Because of how the legs collapse into the stand, the stand isn’t super durable. The closest alternative (the Hercules Travelite Stand) has thicker legs and a bigger top to help hold your flute in place.
Quality matters when you want to protect your instruments. Even with a student or intermediate flute, you still spend a lot on it, so you need gear that will keep it safe.
It’s Hard to Assemble
When you first get the Fortissimo stand, there’s a bit of a learning curve. Setting it up and collapsing it can be difficult, and it took me a few tries to figure out how to do it.
Sure, you might not have that problem long term. However, if you want a stand to set up quickly, this isn’t the stand for you, so you should look at other options.
Fortissimo Flute Stand Alternatives
When reviewing the Fortissimo Flute Stand, I wanted to share a few alternatives that I’ve used and love. That way, you can buy the stands that will work well for your instruments.
Here are a few of my favorite flute and piccolo stands.
Hercules Travelite Stand
If you want a better stand just for your flute, I’d recommend the Hercules Travelite Stand. You can fit it in the footjoint of your flute, but I keep mine in the flute bag I’m using.
All you have to do is pop the legs out from the bottom of the stand. Drop the legs down, and screw them into place so that you can rest your flute somewhere while you need to play your piccolo.
K&M Piccolo Stand
My favorite portable stand is the K&M Piccolo Stand. The legs fold down like on the Fortissimo stand, but all you have to do is remove a screw on cap near the base of the stand.
Let the legs fall out, and screw the cap back on to secure the legs. Follow those steps in reverse to collapse the stand when you’re done using it.
Hercules Flute and Piccolo Stand
If you want something more sturdy and that can hold both instruments, I’d suggest the Hercules Flute and Piccolo Stand. The stand comes with two pegs for a flute or clarinet and one peg for piccolo.
You can add all three pegs to the stand, and you pull the legs out to set up the base. Screw on the pegs, then add your flute and piccolo for your next practice session or rehearsal.
If you also have an alto flute, I’d recommend the Hercules Alto Flute Stand. You can use the pegs from the flute and piccolo stand to hold your piccolo and regular flute with the alto stand base.
Can You Put Your Piccolo on the Fortissimo Flute Stand?
Unfortunately, you can’t safely put your piccolo on the Fortissimo stand. The small part at the top is a bit too short to safely keep your piccolo from falling over.
Is the Fortissimo Flute Stand Good for Your Flute?
The Fortissimo Flute Stand is okay for regular flutes since it can hold them. However, I’ve found much better stands that are worth spending a bit extra money on.
Why Do You Need a Piccolo Stand?
You need a piccolo stand so that you have a safe place to rest your instrument. That way, you can stretch, get some water, or use the restroom without having to set your piccolo on a chair or your music stand.
Will You Try the Fortissimo Flute Stand?
The Fortissimo Flute Stand might not be the best out there, but it’s a good choice for some players. Be sure to give it a try if you think it might meet your needs.
Otherwise, head to the resources page to learn of other flute and piccolo stands!