Band Piccolo Free Important Hint

by brass on May 10, 2010

fine-woodwinds Band Piccolo Free Important Hint

After playing flute for over 30 years, including professionally for several years as principal flutist for a symphony orchestra, and playing piccolo for 6 years in marching bands, I have had a lot of experience on the playing end of instruments. I have also taught lessons for students from absolute beginners to musicians with fairly advanced level skills. I have had the privilege of playing and trying out a LOT of flutes and piccolos. Sky is NOT a brand I would buy, simply because I feel that the tone quality is poor and the instruments are poorly assembled using what I think are low quality materials.

The flutes and piccolos are very appealing to kids with the bright colors and gold plated keys, etc., but the “bling” does NOT last – it seems the plating is very thin and wears out very quickly. Beginners are not known for great tone at first, but these instruments will NOT help mitigate their weaknesses, since there doesn’t seem to be any way to get a rich, resonant sound from their thin, cheap base metal heads and bodies. It’s a challenge for a good musician to make these instruments sound good. In the Sky instruments I’ve seen, the joints don’t seem to fit well; keys don’t seem to close properly and aren’t durable; the pads and springs are simply awful.

Given that there are other decent, and even GOOD, choices of flutes and piccolos in the lower price ranges, I certainly wouldn’t recommend Sky instruments to students/parents. There are MUCH better choices available, even if these are “band approved” (whatever that is supposed to mean). If in doubt, ask a music teacher, flutist, etc. — You can track one down with a few questions usually (try schools, church organists, etc.).


Help answer the question about Band Piccolo
Any tips on how to get my band director to let me march with my Bb piccolo trumpet instead of my Bb Soprano?
Any tips on how to get my band director to let me march with my Bb piccolo trumpet instead of my Bb Band Piccolo Soprano?My tone is SO much better on the picc. it is my primary instrument and i have immensely greater range, my notes are more seperated, and i sound SO much better...my lowest possible note is a Concert B Natural right below middle C on the picc.. and that is FAR lower than i EVER need to play in marching, any advice?Im in high school @ wichita heights high school in wichita, kansas, usamy director is kimberly vogt

fine-woodwinds Band Piccolo Free Important Hint

Tagged as: 6 Years, Absolute Beginners, Bling, Bright Colors, Choices, Doubt, Joints, Low Quality, Marching Bands, Music Teacher, Musician, Musicians, Parents, Principal Flutist, Privilege, Quality Materials, Resonant Sound, Sky Instruments, Symphony Orchestra, Tone Quality

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Hayashi May 10, 2010 at 8:22 pm

I don’t have this instrument, but I did purchase a Sky flute for my daughter. The flute started falling apart within 6 month. The plating wore off, the pads fell off, and the instrument sounded horrible from day one. I thought I was getting a good deal with a Sky. I should have just spent the extra money and bought a better quality Flute from the start.

Driskill May 11, 2010 at 8:29 am

This instrument is horrible! I bought it last August and within 7 months it broke, and the parts can’t be replaced. The pads fell off, the plating wore down, AND the tuner in the mouth piece broke off! Yeah REAL great quality… I will never buy or recommend this item ever again.

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