Piccolo

Piccolo is a musical instrument that is related to the flute. The instrument is called as ’flauto piccolo’ in Italian which literally translates into ’small flute’. The octave of the piccolo is higher than that of flute. The music for this instrument is composed in one octave lower than the one in the concert pitch. It is pitched in the C key, which results in a bright and loud or shrill tone. Generally, piccolo is not used as a solo instrument due to its tone. It is used as supporting instrument in concerts or orchestras to provide extra sound effects. However, many composers like Vivaldi, Persichetti and Todd Goodman have written solo piccolo pieces. Most of the musicians begin by learning to play flute and then move on to piccolo.

Many variants of piccolo instruments are available. Piccolo is made with a variety of materials like plastic, wood or metal. A few of the piccolos are also made with a combination of all three materials. Metal piccolos are perfect for beginners as they are durable in nature. They can withstand cold environments, along with rough and tough use. However, the tone produced by such piccolo flutes is shrill. Professional piccolo players prefer using wooden piccolos as they provide a smooth and soft tone. A few of the wooden piccolos are equipped with metallic mouthpiece. Piccolo trumpets are the smallest members of the trumpet family. These piccolo trumpets can be played in B-flat and A.