Do you want to start playing the piccolo? You may want to take some piccolo lessons for beginners to nail down the basics.
The right piccolo teacher can help you. Even if you don’t take lessons every week, consistency is key.
Soon enough, you may be able to play a major concerto.
Find a Specialist
An excellent way to get started with piccolo lessons is to study with a piccolo specialist. You can take lessons with a flute teacher who also teaches the piccolo.
However, a specialist will have spent more time on the smaller instrument. They may know of more materials to use to help beginners with their playing.
A specialist might also offer a few different techniques to help you get a good foundation on the piccolo. The flute and piccolo are similar, but the differences can affect how you learn each of them.
Take Lessons Regularly
Another essential aspect of piccolo lessons for beginners is to have lessons on a regular basis. You can take lessons weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on your schedule and budget.
No matter the frequency, consistency is the most important thing. You will be able to learn a lot better and a lot more efficiently with ongoing, regular lessons.
If you take flute lessons already, you can incorporate piccolo. As long as your flute teacher is good at playing the piccolo this is a great place to start. You can always switch piccolo teachers later.
Make a Practice Schedule
Piccolo lessons can only be so effective if you don’t practice on your own. If you want to take advantage of your studies, you need to set aside time each week or each day to play the piccolo.
You don’t need to practice for hours every day. Especially as a beginner, you may find your lips get tired quickly. So take 10 or 20 minutes a day to practice.
Over time, you’ll be able to build endurance to play for longer. Then, you can practice as much as you want. Doing that can help you improve even more quickly.
Buy Good Materials
Once you start taking lessons, your teacher can suggest specific books. However, you may want to buy some piccolo books and exercises to help get started.
You can use a lot of the same exercises as you’d use for the flute. I like having piccolo-specific materials as well. The piccolo books account for the different range and timbre.
Some books to consider include The Mazzanti Method, The Piccolo Study Book, and the Trevor Wye Practice Book for the Piccolo. Each book has something different to offer.
Start Learning Repertoire
After you’ve had a few piccolo lessons for beginners, you may want to start learning some pieces for the instrument. You can start with flute pieces, especially from the Baroque era.
However, you can also learn music written for the piccolo. The Vivaldi Concertos are great but can be difficult. Unfortunately, a lot of piccolo music is still under copyright.
That means you can’t download most of these pieces for free. But you can find pieces that are affordable. As a beginner, you don’t need to learn a lot at once, so you can spread out the cost.
Buy the Best Piccolo
Once you find a teacher, they can help you buy the right piccolo. But if you want to get an instrument now, you can figure out the best model for you.
As a beginner, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars. However, you may want to consider a few brands and models. That way, you can get a good quality instrument to help you start playing.
Be sure to try a few piccolos before you buy one. Stick to reputable brands, and consider your budget. Soon enough, you’ll be able to choose an instrument that works for you.
Prepare for the Lessons
Before your next piccolo lesson, be sure to practice what your teacher asked you to. That way, you can make the most of your time in your lesson.
It may seem like you have to practice boring stuff. But your teacher most likely has a reason for assigning something. The exercises may help your tone or technique, for example.
You can make most exercises fun by switching up the rhythms or articulations. That way, practicing will be more interesting. You’ll be able to go into piccolo lessons more prepared.
Apply for Masterclasses
Some of the best piccolo lessons for beginners and advanced students occur outside of your weekly studies. Once you master the fundamentals, you can apply for piccolo masterclasses.
A masterclass is where you get to play for and learn from someone who isn’t your primary teacher. You can apply for masterclasses at flute events or for piccolo-specific classes.
If you get a performance spot, you’ll get to play for the guest artist and the audience. Then, you can get more feedback on your playing, and you can apply what you learn in your regular lessons.
Play With Others
After a few piccolo lessons for beginners, you may be ready to play the instrument in an ensemble. You can play the piccolo in an orchestra, band, flute choir, or chamber groups.
In almost all of those cases, the piccolo will be exposed. You play a lot higher than other instruments. But if you can play the piccolo well, you can make the part sound great.
Playing with others forces you to learn how to tune and blend your sound into other instruments. You can use those skills when playing alone or even when playing the flute.
Are Piccolo Lessons for Beginners Necessary?
Piccolo lessons for beginners can be an excellent tool to learn the instrument efficiently. You can learn it on your own, but a teacher will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Consider finding a specialist teacher, buy a good instrument, and practice consistently. Then, you’ll be able to play the piccolo well in no time.