The purpose of a warm-up is to prepare the body and mind for optimum readiness for the larger task at hand. The major muscle groups are stretched and primed for readiness although the specifics of the warm-up might change depending on the sport, as tennis players use muscles differently than weight lifters or dancers. Musicians...Read More

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was one of the most influential modern composers. He overturned the Romantic era concepts of form, harmony and color and created a body of music characterized by innovation and an individuality of style. Debussy began to compose La Mer (the Sea) in France in 1903. The work was completed in 1905 on the coast...Read More

Play piccolo and love it! One of the first things many new piccolo players do is try to hide the sound.  The pitch range of the piccolo is higher, therefore perceived by our ears as louder, than the flute. It is a mistake to ‘hold back’ because this causes fundamental problems with support and air speed....Read More

Flutists who decide that they want to specialize on the piccolo will need to learn a slightly different skill set for their piccolo embouchure. Flexibility and strength are two attributes that seem as if they might be polar opposites, however, together they describe a wholeness which defines an embouchure that is fully functional, balanced, and...Read More

My orchestra conductor Carl St. Clair said in a rehearsal, “Think about the most important things that have ever been said to you, they have been said softly.” This quote has really stuck with me because there is a so much truth to the statement. Playing softly on the piccolo can be a challenge for...Read More

Every one of us knows that practice is an integral part of life for a professional musician. For college students who are pursuing a performance degree it should be the most important focus of their life. However, at one time or another it can be difficult to summon up the motivation to head on into...Read More

During marching season piccolo players should keep a few things in mind. Whether you will march in your school’s band or teach a piccolo player the following tips will help produce the best results in this demanding environment. MemorizationAll musicians memorize their parade marches, but it is quite helpful to also memorize field show music....Read More

I am a great believer in etude study. The methodical approach to technical challenges in a sequential manner seems to almost guarantee improvement as long as careful and patient practice methods are employed. The term etude literally means to study or research, so approach an etude as a laboratory for studying a particular musical challenge. ...Read More

We have all been there – everything is going fine, and then suddenly the piccolo does not sound quite right; the orchestra seems to be in two different places; or the conductor is momentarily lost (yes, it does happen.). What is a player to do? First of all, do not panic. Here are a few...Read More

Musicians experience significant exposure to loud sounds on a daily basis, yet our sense of hearing is the faculty we use the most to perceive our craft. It is practically a given that musicians will experience some degree of instrument related hearing loss over the course of a professional career because of the prolonged periods...Read More