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Why and when playing
with the intonation a little bit higher?

In this short video Gudrun Hinze, piccoloist of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, explains why is not always good to play perfectly in pitch according to equal temperation.

This video is an excerpt from the course “Intonation of the piccolo” by Gudrun Hinze, piccoloist of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Mastering intonation with the piccolo is a very important goal and requires a lot of practice: in this course, Gudrun explores the topic in a comprehensive way, showing and teaching how to use the main tools of the intonation control, explaining in detail the differences compared to the flute, and finally deepening the management of the intonation of the other instruments of the orchestra with which we are called to play.

Continue reading this page to learn what lessons you will find in Gudrun’s course.

Lessons of this course:

1. The toolbox
Gudrun talks about 5 tools very useful to improve our intonation on the piccolo: lips, constance and speed of air, fingerings, vowels and sound memory.


What you will learn:

  • Tool #1: lips
  • Tool #2: airstream
  • Tool #3: fingerings
  • Tool #4: vowels
  • Tool #5: sound memory
2. The piccolo scale
Discover the system of intonation of the piccolo flute focusing on the flute scale and the piccolo scale. Why is intonation more difficult when we switch from the flute to the piccolo?


What you will learn:

  • The basic difference between the flute scale and the piccolo scale
  • The body construction of the flute
  • The body construction of the piccolo and how it influences the intonation
  • A central point: the tuning note A2
  • The headjoint position
3. More than one system
Learn how to manager the different systems of intonation of the other instruments with wich you play.


What you will learn:

  • Intonation issues when we play with other instruments
  • Intonation playing together with the piano
  • Intonation playing together with the harp
  • Intonation playing together with the glockenspiel or celesta
  • Intonation playing together with the first violin section
  • Intonation playing together with the woodwind section
  • Exercise #1: switch places
  • Exercise #2: play facing with eye contact

Other courses:

80+ specialist piccolo lessons on 17 in-depht topics
New lessons added every month
Downloadable pdf exercises
English subtitles in all lessons
Orchestral & piano backing tracks
Write your specialist questions to Nicola Mazzanti
Watch on desktop, mobile, tablet

What our members say about us

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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 only 9.99 euros per month (billed annually), thus saving 4 months of subscription.
All prices shown are inclusive of taxes. You will not have surcharges.
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.
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.
As soon as you have completed the purchase, you will receive an email with a button to click to confirm your address and then complete the activation of your subscription. If you have not received the email, please check your spam. If it is not there either, write us at support@internationalpiccolofluteacademy.com.