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Masterclass

How to increase
the speed of the airstream

In this short video Karin Bonelli, piccoloist of the Wiener Philharmoniker, explains us three different ways to increase the speed of the airstream on the piccolo, in order to reach the higher register.

This video is an excerpt from the course “From flute to piccolo” by Karin Bonelli, piccoloist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

In this course you will learn in depth how to switch from flute to piccolo as correctly as possible, consciously knowing which aspects of your playing to change and which aspects not to change, preventing common mistakes and getting your best sound on the piccolo.

Keep reading this page to find out what lessons you will find in Karin’s course.

Lessons of this course:

1. Embouchure
First part of the series "From flute to piccolo”: in this lesson, Karin Bonelli focuses on the small and very subtle changes we have to do concerning the embouchure.


What you will learn:

  • The change from flute to piccolo flute: why is it so important?
  • Embouchure modification #1: your perfect position
  • Embouchure modification #2: the aperture of the mouth hole
  • Embouchure modification #3: the position throughout the different registers
  • Summary of the three modifications
  • Practical example: The Magic Flute
2. Support and air control
In the second episode of the series dedicated to the switch between flute and piccolo, Karin talks to us about support and air control: you will learn how to support more using less air, the difference between high support and deep support, and how to control the quantity of the air you need to play the piccolo.


What you will learn:

  • The support on the piccolo
  • Two kinds of support
  • The deep support
  • The high support
  • Air quantity and support control on the piccolo
  • Application
3. Articulation, vibrato and other game changers
In this third and final episode of the series dedicated to the switch between flute and piccolo, Karin discusses articulation, vibrato, and “a change that is actually no change”. In the end, she gives us an overview of the things we don't want to change.


What you will learn:

  • Articulation
  • Vibrato
  • A change which is no a change
  • Final thoughts on the switch from flute to piccolo
  • Playing without bad tensions: the body scan
  • Playing with musical expressions

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.