Key differences between flute and piccolo?

• Air speed increases with higher pitch; therefore, piccolo requires much faster air, but not a large volume of air.

 • The piccolo uses a faster vibrato than flutes.

 • In the band, the flutist’s main role is to blend with others; on the other hand, the piccolo is usually a solo voice.

 • Whilst mostly the same, some fingering does differ. If the flute is to be your main instrument you are best to be secure on all the flute fingering first.

Another thing to determine is where you plan to play the piccolo. If you will be playing in a marching band or another outside scenario, a wood piccolo can crack.

On the flip side, you may not want to play a metal piccolo in an orchestra. The material can be very shrill, so blending might not be as easy as it could be with a plastic or wood model.

If you want a piccolo that works well in various situations, you can’t go wrong with a plastic or composite instrument. Composite piccolos combine wood and plastic to provide a warm tone without the risk of the wood cracking.