The Basics
of Piccolo playing
Nicola Mazzanti
Former piccoloist of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Acquire the basic technique for playing the piccolo: learn how to avoid making the most common mistakes, improve your overall sound quality and explore the piccolo market in order to choose the most suitable instrument for you.
What you will learn in this course:
- The basics rules for playing the piccolo while standing and while seated
- The posture of the hands
- The Rockstro hold
- The piccolo embouchure: aperture, jawbone and lips
- What shall be avoided in the piccolo embouchure
- The jawbone opening
- On which part of the chin shall be placed the piccolo
- How to find the body of the piccolo sound
- 3 exercises to practice low notes
- 5 flexibility exercises
- 2 scales and arpeggios exercises
- Exercises and melodies to practice the sing and play technique
- A piccolo purchasing guideline
What you will learn in this course:
- The basics rules for playing the piccolo while standing and while seated
- The posture of the hands
- The Rockstro hold
- The piccolo embouchure: aperture, jawbone and lips
- What shall be avoided in the piccolo embouchure
- The jawbone opening
- On which part of the chin shall be placed the piccolo
- How to find the body of the piccolo sound
- 3 exercises to practice low notes
- 5 flexibility exercises
- 2 scales and arpeggios exercises
- Exercises and melodies to practice the sing and play technique
- A piccolo purchasing guideline
Lessons of this course:
1. Body awareness playing the piccolo
Not only will proper posture make you play for decades without damage or pain: it will actually make you sound better! In this first video there are a few, simple but fundamental instructions so that your relationship with the instrument is free, enjoyable and profitable!
What you will learn:
- The massive impact of the posture on the efficiency of the instrument
- The basics rules for playing while standing: foot, heels, knees, pelvis, head, torso, shoulders, neck, upper ribs, legs, elbows
- The posture of the hands: the left hand
- The posture of the hands: the right hand and the Rockstro hold
- The basics rules for playing while seated: chair, seatback, legs, clothes and shoes
2. Piccolo Embouchure
In this lesson Nicola talks about embouchure: "that rather mysterious thing that is about the position of the jawbone and the use of the facial muscles, paying specific attention to those around the mouth..."
What you will learn:
- The specific necessities of the piccolo embouchure: aperture, jawbone and lips
- How to have a flexible piccolo embouchure
- What shall be avoided
3. On which part of the chin shall I place the piccolo?
On which part of the chin shall I place the instrument? In the same place where the flute goes? A bit above? A bit on the side? In this video I shall try to answer this question.
What you will learn:
- The sensitivity of the lower side of the embouchure hole
- The jawbone opening
4. Low notes
Nicola Mazzanti in this lesson wants to explain why the study of low notes is fundamental for the piccoloist to have a deep and warm sound on the instrument. You will also learn all the correct positions for playing low notes, and you can practice with three exercises to train low notes.
What you will learn:
- Marcel Moyse and the Bernoulli Equation: why low notes are so important
- 3 low notes exercises
- The results of the work on the low notes
5. Flexibility
In this lesson, Nicola will explain you how to play piccolo without blocks and stiff positions and how to play the notes easily in the three octaves. You can also practice with two exercises to train flexibility.
What you will learn:
- 5 flexibility exercises
6. Scales and Arpeggios
In this lesson, Nicola Mazzanti will teach you what to pay attention when studying scales and why some flute students fail to play scales on the piccolo, with the solution of this problem. Finally, he offers you two exercises to start practicing on scales and on arpeggios.
What you will learn:
- The goals of the first phase of the practice
- Some flute students fail to play passages on the third octave of the piccolo: why?
- The piccolo scale routine
- 2 scales and arpeggios exercises
7. Sing and play
In this lesson you will learn all the benefits of sing and play practicing and an exercise to do it.
What you will learn:
- The importance of the new techniques
- The benefits of practicing sing and play
- 1 sing and play exercise
- A common mistake in beginners
- Examples of melodies with the sing and play technique
8. The Piccolo: a purchasing guideline
When it is time to buy a new piccolo, there are many questions to ask: to avoid making mistakes, it is good to know very well the difference between buying in-store, online and from an artisan, which two elements to consider before purchasing and the three piccolo market segments.
What you will learn:
- The purchase in store, online and from an artisan
- The purchase during conventions or flute festivals
- The use of the instrument and the budget
- The entry level, the intermediate level and the highest level models
- The three qualities a good piccolo should have
Other courses:
You will find new lessons every month
All the lessons are subtitled in English
30 days money back guarantee
What our members say about us
Elena
Winner of
Gazzelloni Competition Cat. Piccolo
“Hello, I’m Elena and I have been subscribed to the IPFA right from the beginning.
The Academy is an amazing project conceived by Nicola Mazzanti and supported by amazing teachers and musicians; in a world where technology permeates and sustains learning, the Academy gives young students and also professionals the chance to deepen the instrument’s pratice following the precious advices of the world-wide most renowned piccolists, reducing the often remarkable distance’s barriers.
I personally thank Nicola and all the professors involved in the Academy and I highly recommend the subscription to whoever wants to increase skills and awareness about the piccolo.”
The Academy is an amazing project conceived by Nicola Mazzanti and supported by amazing teachers and musicians; in a world where technology permeates and sustains learning, the Academy gives young students and also professionals the chance to deepen the instrument’s pratice following the precious advices of the world-wide most renowned piccolists, reducing the often remarkable distance’s barriers.
I personally thank Nicola and all the professors involved in the Academy and I highly recommend the subscription to whoever wants to increase skills and awareness about the piccolo.”
Zuzana
Piccoloist of the
State Theatre orchestra
in Košice, Slovakia
“Hello, my name is Zuzana, and I have been a subscriber to IPFA since its beginning. The incredible lessons we are given are full with information, useful tips and tricks to play at our best level. I am eternally grateful for the inspiration all of the artists give us, and I highly recommend this platform to anyone who wants to attain deeper knowledge and proficiency on their instrument.”
Ksenia
A piccolo player
of the Saint-Petersburg
Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra
“Hello, my name is Ksenia Kuelyar, and I want to thank Nicola Mazzanti for the wonderful Piccolo Academy he inspired the creation of, this is a great opportunity for me and my students to improve our playing and skills, to learn a lot of new things.
Thanks to the academy’s professors for your experience and knowledge!”
Thanks to the academy’s professors for your experience and knowledge!”
Lucas
Master’s Degree Student
in Music Performance
Zurich University of Arts
“I have been subscribed to the IPFA for the past 3 months and it has been extremely enriching! Learning from the most prominent piccolo teachers from today is a great deal for students like me who also pursue a piccolo job position.
The content of the Academy is 100% rewarding!”
The content of the Academy is 100% rewarding!”
Ugné
Piccoloist at the
State Musical Theatre orchestra
in Klaipėda, Lithuania
“Having completed my academic studies and begun my professional career, I find IPFA to be an unparalleled tool for learning and delving into piccolo speciality.
The online courses combine a wide variety of topics: from playing technique to human and instrument anatomy. Prominent piccolo artists give inspiration with their individual approaches to improving one’s performance. IPFA gives me the feeling of a creative community that helps each member grow, flourish, and contribute in their own way to the today and tomorrow of piccolo music.”
The online courses combine a wide variety of topics: from playing technique to human and instrument anatomy. Prominent piccolo artists give inspiration with their individual approaches to improving one’s performance. IPFA gives me the feeling of a creative community that helps each member grow, flourish, and contribute in their own way to the today and tomorrow of piccolo music.”
Zuzana
Piccoloist of the
State Theatre orchestra
in Košice, Slovakia
“Hello, my name is Zuzana, and I have been a subscriber to IPFA since its beginning. The incredible lessons we are given are full with information, useful tips and tricks to play at our best level. I am eternally grateful for the inspiration all of the artists give us, and I highly recommend this platform to anyone who wants to attain deeper knowledge and proficiency on their instrument.”
Ksenia
A piccolo player
of the Saint-Petersburg
Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra
“Hello, my name is Ksenia Kuelyar, and I want to thank Nicola Mazzanti for the wonderful Piccolo Academy he inspired the creation of, this is a great opportunity for me and my students to improve our playing and skills, to learn a lot of new things.
Thanks to the academy’s professors for your experience and knowledge!”
Lucas
Master’s Degree Student
in Music Performance
Zurich University of Arts
“I have been subscribed to the IPFA for the past 3 months and it has been extremely enriching! Learning from the most prominent piccolo teachers from today is a great deal for students like me who also pursue a piccolo job position.
The content of the Academy is 100% rewarding!”
Ugné
Piccoloist at the
State Musical Theatre orchestra
in Klaipėda, Lithuania
“Having completed my academic studies and begun my professional career, I find IPFA to be an unparalleled tool for learning and delving into piccolo speciality.
The online courses combine a wide variety of topics: from playing technique to human and instrument anatomy. Prominent piccolo artists give inspiration with their individual approaches to improving one’s performance. IPFA gives me the feeling of a creative community that helps each member grow, flourish, and contribute in their own way to the today and tomorrow of piccolo music.”
Elena
Winner of
Gazzelloni Competition Cat. Piccolo
“Hello, I’m Elena and I have been subscribed to the IPFA right from the beginning.
The Academy is an amazing project conceived by Nicola Mazzanti and supported by amazing teachers and musicians; in a world where technology permeates and sustains learning, the Academy gives young students and also professionals the chance to deepen the instrument’s pratice following the precious advices of the world-wide most renowned piccolists, reducing the often remarkable distance’s barriers.
I personally thank Nicola and all the professors involved in the Academy and I highly recommend the subscription to whoever wants to increase skills and awareness about the piccolo.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IPFA?
The International Piccolo Flute Academy is a streaming platform that allows you to access video lessons created by internationally renowned piccoloists, as well as further added services such as piccolo backing tracks and the possibility to ask specialist questions to Nicola Mazzanti.
What is the IPFA mission?
We want everyone to have the opportunity to learn the piccolo with the best teachers in the world.
The International Piccolo Flute Academy is a team project, where piccolo professionals have decided to join forces is to give the best materials to every flutist who wants to engage in this wonderful world.
What is included in the subscription?
VIDEO COURSES
The subscription allows access to the entire catalog of video lessons and any other educational material available to users, divided into these topics: fundamentals, embouchure, sound, intonation, high register, flexibility, scales and arpeggios, warm-up, posture and handling, body awareness, orchestral excerpts, legato, staccato and piccolo choice.
BACKING TRACKS
You will find also backing tracks for piano or orchestra designed specifically for those who play the piccolo, using virtual instrument technology. You can slow it down, speed it up, or choose the bpm that best suits your practice.
NICOLA ANSWERS
Every month Nicola Mazzanti selects some of the questions that users have written in the appropriate form, answering them in the episodes on the “Nicola answers” section, available to all subscribers.
Where and when can I see it?
You can take advantage of all materials at any time and anywhere, by logging into the website with your credentials after signing up for the subscription plan.
How much does IPFA cost?
The subscription costs 14.99 euros and has a duration of 1 month, renewable from month to month. You can also choose to purchase the annual plan, which has a duration of 12 months and costs a total of 149.90 euros, thus saving 2 months of subscription.
Will I be charged for taxes?
All prices shown are inclusive of taxes. You will not have surcharges.
How does the "satisfied or refunded" work?
Our purpose is to help you in your training, so if you are not satisfied with our materials or our service you can request the cancellation of your account and get a full refund of your payment within the first 30 days of your first subscription activation.
How can I unsubscribe?
You can cancel your subscription by accessing your account settings or by sending an email here.
You will still be granted access to all subscription materials and services until the date of the next renewal.