Warren

I play only the trumpet and the cornet at the moment...Not really a fan of the cornet, so I'm going to sell it. I do however have my mind set on eventually playing a picc trumpet as I mostly play in orchestras, hardly ever jazz.

My question is: Is the picc a instrument I need to have achieved a certain level of playing first before attempting it or can I just jump into it even if I'm not an amazing trumpeter and grow into the picc?

In the orchestras I play in we seldom, if ever go above a high C (C above the stave). I want to build my range up to G above that and be confident on that with the picc. I know the picc won't necessarily increase my range overnight.

Also, I can't quite afford the Schilke P5-4...Which is what I would really want. The bach's any good?

rowuk

Warren,
you do not need to be Maurice André to start playing the piccolo trumpet.

You do need to keep in mind that the picc regardless of brand will require another mouthpiece. The intonation seems to be all over the place with the standard Bb mouthpieces. It seems to have more to do with the backbore and throat than the rim or cup though.

I have never played a Bach picc that I would pay money for (even the horns that Bach brought to the international music fair in Frankfurt, Germany last year were not easy to play or even close to in tune - even with the supplied Bach or my own Monette mouthpiece). I have played fine Kanstul, Getzen, Selmer, Yamaha, Scherzer, Stomvi piccs (as well as Schilke).

The biggest challenge when starting is to find a horn/mouthpiece combination that is in tune. Do NOT compromise with alternate fingerings here. Find a combo that works!

When you first start playing it just stay relaxed. Play the low register until you are comfortable then work your way up. Clarke is very good for this!

ewetho

I have heard good thing about the new VBS196 from some I trust for their opinion but admit I do not play picc myself. It even comes with a Reeves alignment stock!

Warren

Anyone ever heard of Schiller?
eBay South Africa : SCHILLER PICCOLO TRUMPET MODEL IV (item 230208994268 end time Jan-12-08 17:52:37 )

tatakata

no

JustinSmith

Robert Getchall studies are great for just starting on piccolo trumpet. You can easily transpose them into different keys and registers.

Another thing is to not try to approach it like a big trumpet. You want a different sound. You don't play a high G, the same way on a Bb piccolo trumpet as you would playing lead in a big band on a big trumpet.

Vulgano Brother

It took me about five years to get real, real comfortable on the piccolo. What helps, is (surprise!) long tones and lip slurs--it plays like a trumpet but not like the trumpet we grew up on. Some teachers prefer starting students on the Bb piccolo because of the pitch, some on the A piccolo because of the added resistance and slightly lower pitch.

Everything on the piccolo seems either doubled or halved. Things that seem to get doubled are bad intonation, among others; things halved include endurance.

I prefer the smaller bored piccolos (Scherzer), some players prefer the large bored ones (Kanstul). Schilke is the benchmark in intonation and playability, Selmer in sound. Good instruments fall in between and some (unfortunately) outside these benchmarks.

Have fun searching!

Warren

So basically the piccolo trumpet is a nasty little critter to play, but one of the most beautiful things in this world. Just watching this video is enough to make me spend sleepless nights practicing the picc (which I don't exactly have).

YouTube - Trumpet Badinerie

Which reminds me...Anyone have a spare picc they wanna throw away?

Warren

Exactly how good is Paul Mayes (playing Bach's Badinerie on the above-mentioned YouTube clip).

I mean I know he sounds good. But in terms of the piccolo trumpet just how good is good? Who should I listen to if I really want to know what the piccolo can really sound like?

bigdog

hi warren,
i have a yamaha custom picc., #1202, 4 valves, plays really well, still working on the fingering part tho, paid 800 on ,of all places, E-bay / i use a jet-tone 10S mouthpiece / it may not be for a picc. but the results i have using it is fine for now / intonation is good, sound is, well........... "wow" / you must know the "Penny Lane" picc part in the song by the beatles, the sound is similar to that / maurice andre' is fine if you need to listen to HOW the picc should sound like /
make sure you spend equal time on both horns tho / record yourself, the sound is different from horn to horn, in a cool way..........
hope this helps,
aloha,