Skip to main content

How to Hold a Piccolo Trumpet

The piccolo trumpet comes with its own set of issues for posture and playability. Holding a piccolo trumpet is similar to holding a regular trumpet, but the hand position is much more compact, and the pinky of the right hand has to be placed in a specific location. Learning how to hold the piccolo trumpet is the first step toward learning how to play this difficult instrument. The benefit of playing the piccolo trumpet in addition to the B-flat trumpet is that you will have more performance opportunities that will help you find paying performances.

Step 1

Sit with proper posture. Your back should be straight, your shoulders relaxed and your head and neck should be loose and free of tension.

Step 2

With your right hand, wrap the thumb underneath the lead-pipe to help support the instrument. Place your index finger on the first valve, the middle finger on the second valve and the ring finger on the third valve. The pinky will rest on the side of the tubing that connects with the third valve.

Step 3

Curve your left thumb around the first valve casing beneath the right thumb. Place the remaining fingers along the side of the valves on the left-hand side and underneath the top of the piccolo trumpet tubing and above the tuning slides.

References


Dallas Music: Guide to Piccolo Trumpet [http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/Piccolo%20Trumpet%20Guide.html]

Virginia Tech University: Piccolo Trumpet [http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/textp/piccolotrumpet.html]

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Stories: The Power of Audiation in Music Composition

Happy Sunday! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of audiation in music composition and share an inspiring story about a composer who mastered this skill. Audiation, the ability to hear and understand music in your mind, is a crucial tool for composers, enabling them to bring their musical ideas to life with greater detail and precision. What is Audiation? Audiation is the process of hearing and comprehending music in your mind without any external sound. It is similar to thinking in a language, where you can understand and manipulate words and sentences internally.  For composers, audiation is an essential skill that allows them to imagine, develop, and refine their musical ideas before they are played or written down 1 . The Benefits of Audiation for Composers 1. Enhanced Musical Understanding Audiation helps composers develop a deeper understanding of music. By hearing and analyzing music internally, they can grasp the relationships between different musical elements, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploring Minimalism in Music Composition

Minimalism is a fascinating and influential movement in music that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by simplicity, repetition, and gradual change, creating a hypnotic and meditative effect. This blog post will delve into the principles of minimalism in music composition and how you can incorporate these techniques into your own work. What is Minimalism in Music? Minimalism in music is a style that focuses on reducing elements to their simplest forms. It often involves repetitive patterns, steady pulses, and a limited harmonic palette. The goal is to create a sense of stasis and gradual transformation, allowing listeners to experience the subtle changes over time. Key Characteristics of Minimalist Music Repetition : Minimalist music often features repeated motifs or phrases. These repetitions can create a trance-like state and highlight small variations. Steady Pulse : A consistent, steady beat is a hallmark of minimalist music, providing a rhythmic foundation that s...
Post a Comment
Read more