Do you want to learn how to fix a crack in your piccolo? You should go to repair school or find an apprenticeship with an experienced flute or piccolo tech.
But if you’re more of a performer, you can learn how to prevent cracks and how to choose a good repair tech when you need one. Keep reading to learn more.
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How to Fix a Crack in Your Piccolo
The only thing you should do to fix a crack in your piccolo is call a professional repair technician. If you try to repair the crack yourself, you could do more harm than good unless you have proper training.
Paying a repair tech may be expensive, but it’s well worth it for the results. That way, you can get more life out of your wood piccolo, and you won’t risk making things worse.
What to Look for in a Piccolo Repair Technician
If you need to fix a crack in your piccolo, you need to take it to a professional technician. Consider the following factors to help choose the best person to work on your instrument.
Experience
Look for a technician who’s been working on instruments for a while. Ideally, you’d find someone with multiple years of experience repairing piccolos and flutes.
Sure, you can take your piccolo to a local music store, and they may have experienced techs. But those technicians often don’t have a ton of experience working with professional instruments.
Specialization
Another thing to think about is what the technician specializes in. At the very least, I’d look for someone who focuses on repairing woodwinds.
You can go even further and find a flute repair tech or even a piccolo repair tech. They’ll have the experience, training, and tools necessary to do a good job fixing your instrument.
Location
There are technicians who know how to fix a crack in your piccolo almost anywhere, but not everywhere. If you don’t want to ship your piccolo off, look for techs in and around your city or within driving distance.
I’ve been fortunate enough to not need to send my piccolo off through the mail. But if you’re careful, shipping your instrument can be safe, and it may be necessary if you live somewhere rural.
Availability
When it comes to fixing a crack in your piccolo, I wouldn’t let your piccolo sit for too long. If possible, consider finding a repair tech who can get to your instrument within a week or so.
That way, you won’t have to wait for someone to fix the crack. And you won’t have to worry about the crack getting worse while it goes unrepaired.
How to Avoid a Crack in Your Piccolo
Knowing how to fix a crack in your piccolo is great. But it’s even better to prevent the issue from happening in the first place.
Here’s what you can do to reduce the chances of your piccolo cracking.
Warm Up Your Piccolo With Your Hands
After my piccolo cracked, my repair tech said I should warm up the headjoint and body with my hands. Blowing into the instrument to warm it up works great for a metal or plastic instrument.
But if you do that to a wood piccolo, it can cause the instrument to crack, especially as the temperature changes faster. Your hands can slowly warm up the piccolo to keep cracks from happening.
Only Play It Inside
Another one of the best things you can do is not play your wood piccolo outside. The temperature and humidity can vary, and those changes lead to cracks in the wood.
If you ever need to play the piccolo outside or in some other area without climate control, use a backup piccolo. I keep a composite instrument on hand so that I don’t have to risk it with my primary model.
Store It in the Case
If you like to practice in short bursts throughout the day, it can be tempting to leave your piccolo out on a stand. However, it’s worth taking a minute or two to put your piccolo in the case when you take a break.
That way, it will be protected from changing temperatures and humidity levels in your home or practice space. It’s a small thing, but it can make a huge difference in maintaining your piccolo.
Take It for Annual COAs
You can also protect your piccolo from cracks by taking it to a repair tech each year for a COA. For one, this will help keep your piccolo in good shape overall.
But your technician may also check for initial signs of cracks. If they find anything, they can fix the crack before it gets too serious, so the repair may not take as much time or money.
Oil Your Piccolo Headjoint
While you shouldn’t try to maintain your piccolo on your own, you can occasionally oil the headjoint. You can use something like almond oil or avocado oil to keep the headjoint from drying out.
Consider oiling the headjoint during the drier parts of the year. Then, you can reduce the chances of cracks developing between now and your next COA.
Try a Composite Piccolo
If you don’t want to deal with all of the extra maintenance involved in owning a wood piccolo, a composite model may suit you better. These piccolos combine wood with plastic, so you can get a warm sound but without the risk of the instrument cracking.
I played on a Pearl 105 for a few years, and no one could tell it wasn’t a wood piccolo unless I told them. You can use a composite model as your primary piccolo or a strong backup.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking at a career in piccolo repair, it helps to know how to fix a crack in your piccolo. But as a player, the best thing you can do is take it to a repair professional.
That way, they can seal the crack and fix any other problems your instrument has. Be sure you look for a reputable, experienced repair tech who will take care of your instrument as they work on it.
And if you want to avoid cracks, consider the best composite piccolos.