Trumpet tip, Piccolo Trumpet Basics 

I'm going to be honest, i fell like I've been visually victimized by this video, from the 4 valve trumpet to the the b-flat notes... DAD

The first thing to do is try to relax as you play. I understand that this is a concept that is not so easy to put into performance mode. Piccolo is an instrument that demands a relaxed approach. It is possible that your equipment is not helping you. I would consider mouthpiece first. You will need to find a match between the horn and the mouthpiece that works for you.

Hey, I just met you last week in Utah. Nice video!

The Schilke sounds best.

Thank you for great explanation of the piccolo trumpet and especially for comparing the instruments that are available.

I always used to borrow pics because I couldn't afford one of the pics that you HAVE to have. Most notably, the Schilke, and the Schilke copies. I'm ok on a piccolo trumpet and range or endurance is not a problem. Finally, I wanted to buy my own. I like a Selmer very much, but it was out of my price range. I never really cared for the Schilke P5 and I tried a Getzen, (yuk) and others. Finally, at a north Jersey music store, they pulled out an Amati, 4 valve silver plated, with the warning that I probably wouldn't like it. At the time I think it was $650. Let me tell you, for a "cheap" horn, this thing is fantastic! I love my sound on it. It plays way better, for me, than horns costing 3 times as much. Just putting it out there, because it might also work for someone else and they'll save a ton of money. That said, this horn is very well made, with stainless steel valves. I would steer clear of all the really cheap 3rd world piccolo trumpets you see on ebay. Try the Amati in person and I think you'll be impressed.

Michael it is not easier, it is different. The piccolo takes a more compact approach than the Bb trumpet. It is more about sound than ease. If you tried to play a baroque piece on Bb trumpet in the upper register it would sound a bit strange. It would also sound strange to play a lead trumpet part on piccolo. Each instrument has its application in the upper register.

thanks, i got the piccolo trumpet today for Christmas an i didn't know how to play it

Hey jon! i recently came to the stomvi trumpet hang in vegas and i loved the stomvi trumpet i played and i was wondering if you could contact me and see if i can maybe get my hands on one!

I had particularly frustrating moments in December 2013, changing the Piccolo l was used to for a new one; horn + mouth-piece altogether. Midway into playing 'The Bright Seraphim', l couldn't produce sounds anymore.

Pinky rings as far as I'm concerned are only for people playing and conducting at the same time. I never used mine, and was never encouraged to use it either. I don't think they make this and its reasons (bad habits mostly) clear enough to beginners these days.

Niklas, The Bb piccolo with a 4th valve will go down to the C# below the staff for a standard Bb trumpet. So yes you can play with a Bb trumpet or the same pitches as a Bb. The extreme low register on the piccolo does not sound great so I would use a standard Bb. I have not played a Carol or Thomann so I do not know how they play. I recommend looking for a used name brand piccolo. I recommend finding the best horn you can and used is going to cost the least. look for a great deal on a used horn

Very cute Baby Trumpet

lots of unknowns (for me) about piccolo is told. Thank u ;)

There are 4 Valve Trumpets made by Stomvi and the 4th Valve lowers the pitch by a perfect fourth.

I like listening to what you have to say. I bought a cheap one because I wasn't sure what a piccolo trumpet was and wanted to learn / see if it's worth doing for real. next time lose the hat. it'll help me as an audience member connect better with you if I can see your face. Thanks!

tptman001, The pic is about getting the right sound on certain pieces written in the upper register. It is a different instrument and is played differently. It doesn't necessarily give you more range. Because it is a small instrument and you might be using a smaller mouthpiece than you typically use on your Bb you might feel it is easier to play in the upper register. In order to play well in the upper register on any trumpet you must develop and control your upper register. Hope this helps. Jon

Very direct and clear info about the use of the Piccolo trumpet. There are several issues to overcome training with this instrument, such as overblowing, shallow sound (toy sound) & projection. You really need to feel like you have "swallowed" a fotball. and to focus on a point in front of your instrument as a "target"

I just got a stomvi pic from Dillon and I started playing it and spit would come out the bell. Is that natural?

Just to add to a couple of your comments...excellent horn Getzen Custom 3916, one of the bargains if you find it used - top quality, an update of the horn used by Fred Mills in the Canadian Brass. Highest notes...the Michael Haydn Concerto goes up to high concert F#, written A for A piccolo, in the first movement (brutal and beautiful piece) - the only note I ever heard Andre strain to play.

The Schilke sounds like the real deal!

I used a different mouthpiece on this horn due to the cornet pipe.

Rufftips trumpet stuff What a horn

Jethro, congratulations on getting a nice horn. I doubt there is any problem with the horn. If it plays well then I would say you are fine. I personally blow the spit through my pic by taking the mouthpiece off and blow directly into the lead pipe while working the valves as I blow. Everything pours right out the bell.This efficiently removes the spit throughout the horn. I find my pic gathers spit rather quickly. I tend to clear the horn as described above fairly often. If you feel you truly have a problem with the horn call Stomvi-USA and talk to them about your issue.

As someone who has played a standard Yamaha B flat Trumpet for 5 years and is decent at best, would you recommend I purchase a piccolo trumpet? And if I were to buy one, would the transition be easy at all?

Piccolo 's sound are so outstanding.

Thank you so much! This video was very helpful! :)

My husband used to have a Lafayette trumpet some sixty-five years ago. He was really very good on his piece of junk. Now he wants to buy a piccolo trumpet. Problem being is he now has COPD and has rotten wind. He is very stubborn. What do you think? Should he just stop the pipe dream and go out and play golf? He like organ and trumpet. Alison Balsom, of course.

I NEVER KNEW THIS EXISTED THIS IS SO COOL

Thanks for the kind words

Thanks

Thank you! I am learning to play standard Bb trumpet, and of course, got "hooked", even though I'm still in the beginning stages, so to speak, of regular trumpet, I got last year for Christmas, a rather beautiful MYW 4 valve piccolo trumpet, and since my main horn is an MYW/Oxford, Made in China, and is a terriffic horn in every way (Chris Botti has checked it out and likes it so much he asked where to find one, and he plays a Martin Committee!!! He autographed my main horn TWICE! Thanks, Chris! I Love you, man!), I decided to get the MYW piccolo and haven't regretted it. I was trying to play it in the same range as my standard horn, and couldn't figure out why nothing below middle C (on the standard horn) will play worth beans on the piccolo! Now I know! What I think is middle C on my piccolo is LOW C! YAY!!! Now I can start using the piccolo as well as my standard horn and my new flugelhorn! I even have a pocket trumpet, and it's cute and fun! I also learned what the 4th valve is now for! WOW you are such a cool guy! Last night, I was trying to get high C on my standard horn, and went to the piccolo---middle C on piccolo is high C on regular, and I hit it, then tried the regular horn and hit high C after starting on middle C! High B and C were elusive, and my piccolo helped me hit them! I have the Bb leadpipe in my piccolo--it has an A and a Bb, with cornet shank recievers, and now I will invest in a set of trumpet shank A and Bb pipes, too--so I can use my regular mouthpieces off my flugelhorn and trumpets! If I seem excited, I AM! Now I can do my practice on both types of horn, and I forsee that piccolo making my high register on standard trumpet much easier and better! YIPEE! I am also a drummer self-taught, and I knew the Phil Collins you mentioned was not the drummer I learned alot of my licks from LOL! However, I wouldn't put it past the drummer Phil Collins to be able to play a trumpet! Seems this bloke can play nearly any instrument, I heard! He's a wonderful lad from England, for sure! O--and the finger over the trumpet trick to operate the 4th valve is awesome--i was using my pinky, but want to try that trick! i use a wheelchair, so I have to play sitting down, which makes it a little harder because I can't quite draw in the air capacity that you can standing up, but is has seemed to really make no difference, and my lap is a nice safe place to rest my horn when I need to! Cheers!

Alex, glad you enjoyed the video.

I play a Bb trumpet

You are very welcome

Thanks Glenn good info.

This was very informative. Thank you!

Don't put your pinky in the rest; they're made to play with a mute. There's a reason bachs have them bent up.

I Im a Trumpet player that wants to learn the piccolo on the side. Im just wanting a very simple trumpet and was looking on ebay and found a Tristar. Would this trumpet give my something to learn on or am I wasting my money. Im in high school so I have only played about 4 years. Im really good thanks to all my great teachers. thank for your time my friend.

Great video. I look forward to watching your other trumpet videos.

I am trying to get a piccolo trumpet so that I can play it (and maybe have a solo) in my marching band. The problem is, they're soo expensive, do you have any recommendations for piccolo trumpets that are at least pretty decent that arent too expensive? I'd rather keep the price below $1500 preferably, thank you!

Hey Austin hope the Mouthpiece is working out.

I would buy a Piccolo made by one of the major manufacturers. There are several out there that play quite good. You might ask the folks on the Trumpet Herald website for opinions. www.trumpetherald.com/

Hi Jon, where does your range have to be up to on the BIG Bb trumpet before you can begin to play easy stuff on the picc? Also does your M/P need to be shallower and smaller or just shallower than your regular M/P?

Sorry to say, but my teacher has had one and some of his students had bought one, and general consensus is that they are junk, only one out the 7 even had all three correct valves the others never had a chance

Hi Jon. I know that the piccolo is an octave higher than the Bb trumpet, but with a 4 valve pic, is it right that you can play Bb trumpet notes together with Bb trumpet players in the same register as them? (I know that it cant be notes which goes further down than C sharp.) But would this sound better than on a normal Bb trumpet? I also consider to buy a Piccolo trumpet, but do you know if the Carol Brass CPC-7770-YLS or the Thomann TR - 901S is any good? (A 4500 $ Schilke is WAY too much)

Hi, the pic trumpet only helps to give you the range, the player's lips still need to have a good top range. can you correct me if I am wrong.

Logan Conn-Selmer = Bach

Thanks Jon. I will probably buy a new Carol Brass CPC - 7770 - YLS. I have seen HornTrader use it, and he was very pleased about it, and it is 5-6 times cheaper than your Schilke P5 - 4... (Great videos, Jon!)

I already play the b-flat trumpet and i would like to play piccolo trumpet. Which trumpet would you recommend?

The second valve on a trumpet lowers the tone by half a step, the first valve by a full step, the third by one and a half step, and the fourth by two and a half step, so you can alternate fingerings from 1st and 3rd to only the 4th valve for example :-)

Excelent!!!!

I appreciate that this is a time consuming task but may I ask you to state which and why is your preferred piccolo trumpet?

The fourth valve is basically the same as the fourth valve on a Euphonium or Tuba.

Does conn or a subdivision of Conn make one?

? If I use the cornet pipe ,it will sound mellow like? Or another variation or what like? Don't tell me to try in a big store I am in the island. T.Y.

Hi, I’ve played the trumpet for 3 years and I am fairly good I’d say, I was planning on getting a flugelhorn for my next horn (I’ve already had a brass one which I gave away cause it was crap, I’m currently using a silver king one and I have a pocket trumpet for fun) but I’ve since changed my mind and would rather get a piccolo trumpet, are there any less expensive ones that I could buy just to see if I like it? Thanks!

If I play bflat trumpet should I stick with bflat piccolo trumpet or? What would you recommend?

What mouthpieces work best! Your videos are awesome!

SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!!!!!!!!!

Thats awesome! Thanks for the nice tutorial! :-)

Always enjoy your videos.

Schilke has a lovely warm sound.

Where is the spit valve of the piccolo trumpet?

You should do an Eb trumpet video

Well done!

Not the Drummer Phil Collins?

There is a C in the Brandenburg

is it easier to hit higher notes with the piccolo than with the "normal" trumpet?

What song was that first excerpt from?