Can You Hear the Difference Between a Cheap and Expensive Piccolo?

PICCOLO! Our most requested video of the YEAR! A piccolo vs piccolo showdown with a lot of great piccolos. I think this is even more challenging than the last one we did with flutes. First time here Check out our Amazon Store www.amazon.com...
TEST: 6:21
Want to learn the flute? Try my 15 Lessons for Flute over at musogy.com
But you be the judge! Can you hear the difference between all these piccolos?
We're also back at Twigg Musique in Montreal to showcase all these amazing piccolos.
ALSO IF YOUR IN CANADA BE SURE TO CHECK OUT www.twiggmusiqu...
Yamaha YPC 32
Yamaha YPC 62
Sonare Piccolo by Powell
Powell Conservatory Piccolo
Roy Seaman
#canyouhearthedifference #piccolovspiccolo #piccolo
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[@flutechannel]

Thanks for watching everyone! Be sure to let us know who you think wrote the piece I played and tell us how many you got right in the test! Also check out the description for all the info about everything we talk about in the video! This was by far one of my favorite videos to make! Thanks for watching and happy practicing!

[@gammafoxlore2981]

Rossini

[@flutechannel]

@@gammafoxlore2981 you got it! thanks so much for watching !

[@huskvarsm]

I don’t play the flute I’m a guitarist but my tastes are pretty eclectic I love listening to Emily play.

[@drewtrueaxis6541]

$5700 piccolo and she's like "eh..." lmao..

[@HeyitstheoriginalKay]

I thought the SAME thing and started cracking up. 😂

[@raleighjane8871]

“It’s a good budget one” *$600* Weird flex but ok

[@mynameisnotbruce6686]

Raleigh J when you have free time take a look at the price of budget oboes 😪😪😪

[@OmgMellophone]

@@mynameisnotbruce6686 Haha any double reed.... I just got a new intermediate bassoon and it was $14,000.

[@mynameisnotbruce6686]

OmgMellophone damn that’s rough

[@Got2Bespoke]

OmgMellophone As a bassoonist, I always got a kick out of it when people would complain about the cost of their instruments. 😉 Although, there are always more expensive instruments. I imagine the timpani (with all of the pieces) is quite expensive. Anyway, then I started to teach myself the harp lol. I swear don't intentionally pick expensive instruments. The harp was what I originally wanted to play when I was very young, but my school did not have one and rentals back then weren't readily available. Nice to see another bassoonist in the comments section. Happy playing!

[@jaxw2628]

I just started bassoon yesterday :)

[@ShelleySkyDoe]

Im really liking the yamaha 62 and 61. They both have a crisper sounds and more brightness.

[@flutechannel]

right?! and they are a blast to play!

[@beaunation]

Yeah! I have that!

[@ChrisLeeW00]

To no surprise, I personally favored the grenadillo yamaha.

[@enbykeith]

How do you guys not hear the sound difference??? Definitely an instrument that gets better as the price goes up

[@justinj_00]

Once they get past the second one they all sound identical to me but I don't play piccolo so that may be why

[@DN_13]

Yamaha 62 sounded the best.

[@landofsweet101]

Yeah I like the Yamaha 62 the best

[@lilz2449]

Ugh I really want to try the piccolo but I’m broke lol

[@flutechannel]

search around! You might be able to find some! Sometimes maybe even a shop might have some used ones! Like the Flute Center of New York! :) Thanks for watching by the way!

[@cristopherdelacruz5829]

Rent one

[@leesunmi3715]

Same lol I spent it all on bts albums😂😂😂

[@fleur_el]

Me too but Idk if I could play it though even though I am s flute play but I can’t hit 2 of my notes which is the very High B and the high C which are torture

[@juliana-hm3fr]

I don’t play flute but I got both my saxophone and clarinet on Craigslist and am currently searching craigslist for a soprano sax. I’ve had my sax for 5 years and it sounds really good and I’ve had no problems. You can get good instruments for cheap on Craigslist if you’re willing to look for a while

[@dalejezwinski7078]

Quick-n-easy High B-natural alternative on piccolo. Use both trill keys. (Thumb LH1 LH3 / Trill1 Trill 2). Seriously, I don't know who showed this to me, but it has saved my life, and I have noticed that it works on almost ALL piccolos across the board. The Powell's really shone in this little test of yours to me. The Roy Seaman also. But I will also say, that I don't usually like Yamaha's (FOR ME) but the best sounding clip was you on your Yamaha, which in my opinion goes to show that whatever works best for each individual player along with lots of practice and work with that instrument really shows in the end result. Also you're playing Rossini ;-)

[@flutechannel]

its a great alternative for sure and works on most piccolos. Thanks for sharing and watching dale.

[@coasterkat4432]

I could definitely tell the difference between the Powell/Roy Seaman piccs-vs-the others because they had a more open & richer/deeper tone. It would have been nice to know what all the models were made of as opposed to just mentioning the two. I was hoping to see a larger variety on this test like a high-end piccolo such as Hammig or Burkart along with Gemeinhardt & Jupiter just to add variety in brands and pricing. I play a Hammig Mezzo (composite) w/modified thin wave headjoint for outdoors & for indoors, I use a Briolette wooden piccolo which actually plays better than my Hammig, in my opinion.

[@UltraBall23]

coaster kat after the Yamaha 62, they’re all grenadilla

[@bransonbankenbush4887]

My school has he Yamaha 32. I play piccolo, flute, and saxophone

[@flutechannel]

Wow that's awesome. Tell your other school flutists about us. Thanks for watching!

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

The piccolo was easier to hear a difference between models vs the flutes. Once she played the wood body, the sound was noticeably richer and bright.

[@policeswat64]

Thank you for helping me find my first piccalo

[@flutechannel]

My pleasure!

[@johnrea8173]

I am really surprised by the Yamaha 62. Those low notes are SO rich. It was definitely my second favorite.

[@zacharycoronado6749]

Tbh my very favorite piccolo is an antique Conn from around 1915 or so. METAL body with an EBONITE headjoint. Weird little beast but plays fantastically.

[@flutechannel]

wow really! that sounds like its amazing!

[@alancabral2344]

The difference My ears and my ears and my wallet to

[@elizabethhanson5113]

I enjoyed this, I watched mainly to test my hearing skills. I found some of the piccolos to sound scratchy, some were very nice, so I blamed the scratchy sound on the musician. My favorite was the Yamaha 62. I didn't know which one it was, but I said it was the second to the last during the final. I don't remember the price, but it was a nice sound. PS - I did not know the music and I am NOT a musician, just love good music. Thank you.

[@flutechannel]

my pleasure Elizabeth!

[@jademarie9806]

I'm the only flute in my highschool band-- I was going to try piccolo so people could hear me, especially when marching, but the music department couldn't fix the one we were lent because it was going to cost $350 to fix... which is half of our school's budget. I love my small school, but after buying a new $2300 flute, I cant afford to play anything else.

[@flutechannel]

Some shops also can rent out instruements like piccolos it might be cheaper.

[@jademarie9806]

@@flutechannel my director suggested the same thing, so I'll probably look into it soon. Thanks!

[@empiricalpallas6709]

That’s wild ! I played flute/piccolo allll throughout elementary to high school and there was a TON of us I miss band and private lessons. Such an amazing skill to learn !!

[@adinaherz3181]

Rossini - Barber of Seville. I can't believe you got 4/7. It's so hard to tell the difference between the instruments. Good job.

[@flutechannel]

Thanks Adina and for watching as well. It was SOOOO HARD!

[@WorldofIntenseArtie]

Well, the actual excerpt was La Gazza Ladra -- it's on every big piccolo audition and I immediately recognized it.

[@landofsweet101]

4 is the Yamaha 62

[@바다-l4g4q]

Ooh love these type of comparing videos!👍❤

[@flutechannel]

so happy you like it! share it around and thanks so SOOOOO much for watching!

[@amelie.b6747]

I have the Yamaha (the 1st) one, and I find it very good for me !

[@-WahFung-]

Thanks for the video, I learnt much more about piccolo .

[@flutechannel]

Happy to help! Thanks for watching!

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

You guys seem so chill. I would like to hear you play together.

[@victorcocco6738]

I enjoyed the Expression piccolo very much. Thanks Flute Channel .

[@flutechannel]

youre welcome Victor! Thanks for watching!

[@Liutgard]

That one is my favorite too!

[@MrHsuLaoshi]

Rossini! I’ve played that excerpt many times haha

[@emwindaruisaiah960]

I really need one...but don't have money to buy...

[@hugglebear55]

Aw, wish I saw this video before our marching season was over. I had a piccolo solo and our piccolos at school wasn’t the best, so I was going to buy one. Never found one that had an overall opinion on it.

[@nightingalehollow]

The Powell and the Yamaha 62R sounded best on you. :-)

[@AndrewStAubin-pn6gc]

The composer was Gioachino Rossini

[@flutechannel]

You got it! Thanks Andrew!

[@JeffreyLByrd]

I’m a bassoonist, but i think the same principles apply. In my opinion the biggest differences are to the player, not the listener. If it feels right to me then the listener will have a good experience.

[@flutechannel]

I think you would be right! Thanks for watching Jeff!

[@erind9535]

Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra) by Rossini! Guessed 5/7 correctly, got the Yamaha 62 and the Roy Seaman mixed up.

[@flutechannel]

You rocked on both Erin! Thanks for watching!

[@erind9535]

@@flutechannel Can you do a review of the Mancke piccolo headjoints at some point? I have a Mancke headjoint in the kingwood on my piccolo and love it but would love to hear your thoughts on the different woods and headjoint cuts.

[@Nelsonbrook33]

@@erind9535 I have two Mancke piccolo headjoints in pink ivory and mopane, and a mopane flute headjoint. They are amazing!! They totally change the sound of my piccolo (a Roy Seaman Storm). I don't notice the difference as much with the flute, but there is one there. The headjoints are fairly pricey, but they make my Roy Seaman intermediate piccolo sound like a top-notch professional instrument! Good to meet another Mancke user/fan!

[@erind9535]

@@Nelsonbrook33 The Mancke headjoints are awesome headjoint! I really want to try the mopane flute headjoint, so I'm having a little headjoint envy, lol.

[@ninoding]

I like the sonaré

[@flutechannel]

It's nice right?

[@jadehenderson9333]

I have the Yamaha 32 for Marching band

[@justanotherfluteguy]

I was anticipating a Burkart Elite 🙃 and La Gazza Ladra Overture !!!

[@flutechannel]

maybe next time! thanks for watching!

[@sebthi7890]

sorry for me the Powell was the most elegant ... the Yamaha is more fad in the tone, i would prefer the elgance, and in my ears only with the Powellwas you hit the last tone in pitch. Interesting Video

[@flutechannel]

Some people think so too! Thanks for watching.

[@zetacon4]

Sebthi, you are the only one so far while I have been reading the comments who heard the Powell was the only one to reach the top note in pitch. You won the pitch detection award! For me, that made recoqnizing that instrument from all the rest for that single reason. Also, I chose the Powell for the over-all beauty of it's timbre and quality. Nice to find a commentor with excellent hearing!

[@sebthi7890]

@@zetacon4 thank you, i survived 20years the rehearsal of choir director S.M. Fischer, he tortured us sometimes for 30 minutes with 4 bars. 😭

[@MystalurDimensh]

How did I end up here? It's 1 AM, but I've watched the whole thing tho.

[@woode__]

0:26 does this imply that piccolos can 3d printed 🤔🤔

[@telethemarie]

3 years later and I’m sure you know the answer by now. Check out the Guo Greneditte piccolo. I am ordering one to try out from the Flute Center of New York along with a Pearl to compare.

[@tootmcscoot]

Composer was Rossini (I’m pretty sure at least). Not a flute or piccolo player, but I liked the video anyway

[@flutechannel]

glad you liked it! thanks for watching!

[@robertcowles2058]

East Hartford, Ct Can I hear the difference? ... absolutely not. Does that mean I did poorly?

[@flutechannel]

Not at all! ;) Thanks for watching Robert!

[@AvidDreams]

I was a difficult kid in middle school. My choice was flute or saxophone. I wanted to play the piccolo but it wasn't a choice so I went with the saxophone.

[@NoodleyBits]

I couldn't tell the difference between any of them...maybe a slight difference between the metal head and the grenadilla wood but that's it. I actually play a $600 Jupiter piccolo in my band (Actually, I paid $600, it's actually an $800 piccolo that I got a deal on from the shop since I'm a repeat customer) and it is great for me. I rarely play the high B so that's not a problem for me LOL (however I do have to play the high Ab). I rambled, but I have a very hard time hearing slight differences...I have to use a tuner because I cannot hear if I am sharp or flat.

[@paulineb66]

FarfalleAlfredo I have a Yamaha 32 piccolo and love it. I recently bought a Yamaha 62 wood headjoint for my 32 and use that headjoint for indoors now. My piccolo is 20 some years old now. I bought it new for $450.

[@Natalie-gw8jt]

the sequel to the flute video of this

[@flutechannel]

Totally. But I still think it's quite unique and a bit different this time. Thanks for watching Natalie!

[@42ssh]

I hear more differences than the flute comparison. Is it because she's a better flutist than a piccoloist? :-)

[@flutechannel]

truly after reflecting it comes down to even more subtle things in the playing of the instrument. if I play each excerpt identical on each piccolo I really feel it would be very difficult to know which is which. That's why its important to try the instruments and see how they feel and how much energy you need to make the same music on each one. Does it take more/less energy and so forth. I really loved this videos because it proves even more that it really depends on how it feels when you play the instrument. Thanks for watching btw!

[@figarofeegarrooooo2782]

Rossini I can't remember the song but I played some time ago

[@ShaytardMates]

Our school has 3 Brannen Professionals and they each suck in a different way. Whether sound, mechanism, or tuning

[@flutechannel]

Wow really? That's unfortunate! Should take them in for repairs.

[@ShaytardMates]

@@flutechannel They get sent to the shop every year and get annual maintenance too. Unfortunately they always end up broken again. The rod gets bent when people hold the body incorrectly while jamming the headjoint onto it, which causes these issues.

[@gravyisnice4465]

It's unfortunate that you didn't look at any all-metal piccolos.

[@flutechannel]

We wish we did, couldn't find any.

[@finesofly]

Metal are not preferred in the orchestra but metal are mostly used on the field for marching band.

[@ShelleySkyDoe]

Metals aren't as advocated for unless you are playing in an open and busy environment which orchestra dont play in.

[@alyssafernandez5868]

@@flutechannel Gemeinhardt makes them.

[@Lupo32]

The piccolo I know is green

[@wolfgangvanchopin4093]

It s rossini la gazza ladra Thanks for the video

[@luisavila8973]

Gioachino Rossini?

[@MrVinniy]

Whats the name of the music?

[@PatIreland]

it might have been more instructive to play the cheapest and the best back-to-back to make the differences more visible. That said, I enjoyed the video.

[@flutechannel]

Glad you liked it! You should make your way to our Patreon and help us with a monthly contribution. It helps us make more videos and we get to answer your questions in priority. Plus a liveshow just for Patrons. patreon.com/theflutechannel

[@valensaso]

A mí me gusto la Yamaha 62 😍

[@dreamofdystopia]

Rossini? He composed the Barber of Seville.

[@Xingqiwu387]

I think the Powell produced the best sound.

[@jeanmorix]

Hello, About the piccolo Yamaha YPC 32, what notes of the octave 3 , until which height could access (above E 3)?

[@maureenh9830]

Rossini is the composer!

[@flutechannel]

You got it Maureen! Thanks for watching

[@zhengli5876]

How about Yamaha YPC-91?

[@mariadavis8745]

Maybe Rossini?

[@flutechannel]

Maybe YES! You got it Maria!

[@tannerp.4977]

Good afternoon! I would love to ask for you advice. I am a beginner piccolo player (just for fun) and would like to purchase a new piccolo. I cannot decide between the Pearl 105E or the Yamaha YPC 62. I currently live in Thailand, so I am very worried about the wood cracking. I will only play indoors in air conditioning, but I am still worried about the wood. However the sound is much warmer on the Yamaha. Which would you recommend more, the wood (Yamaha) or grenadilla composite (Pearl)? Thank you so much in advance for your help!

[@lorddorogoth]

rosini!

[@LlewelynReswald]

The composer’s Rossini

[@flutechannel]

you got it! thanks so much for watching !

[@maxredacted9813]

Rossini wrote it

[@flutechannel]

OOO YOUR GOOD!

[@drago7466]

Gioachino Rossini is the composer?

[@flutechannel]

you got it! thanks so much for watching !

[@drago7466]

The Flute Channel I enjoy watching all of your videos :)

[@flutechannel]

super happy to hear! @@drago7466

[@isaac-mh2on]

i love these videos, you should try buying the cheapest flutes/piccolos on amazon or ebay or whatever website and rate them. great work ! 💓

[@flutechannel]

What a great idea!

[@alexanderbelov6892]

They may sound very close to Yamaha 32, since they use metal headjoint that defines 95% of the timbre.

[@peytamtam]

why anybody who answered the name of a piece that she played?

[@Nelsonbrook33]

Awesome video!! Thanks so much for taking the time to make these for all of us piccolo connoisseurs! I do have a question for you. The prices that you quote are different than the prices in the links to Flute Center of New York. In some cases, the prices on the website are noticeably higher; in other cases, they are significantly lower. I was excited about possibly being able to get a Yamaha 32 for $600, but on the website, it's listed as $1,387. Am I missing something?? Thank you!

[@flutechannel]

We were listing Canadian prices on the screen. They are sometimes vaslty different

[@Nelsonbrook33]

@@flutechannel Ahh..makes sense. I had wondered if that may be the case. Thanks again for this great video. I'm in the market for a second piccolo, and it's so great to be able to hear them actually played. You make them all sound so good that I could probably be happy with any of them, although my playing will quickly remind me that may not be the case. :) I do have one additional question for you: I was unable to find the Expression 60 Conservatoire anywhere online. Do you know if this piccolo is available in from any dealers in North America? Thanks again! PS...Your able-bodied assistant does a great job too!

[@manuscorner35]

mmm YE.

[@mushroomfox8713]

I will buy a picolo eny sugestions

[@flutechannel]

check all our videos in the end of the video!

[@aliciakim2776]

does anyone know what brands of piccolos are the best and are under 2000 dollars ? thanks all :)

[@flutechannel]

we have a great piccolo review video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWTaiJmLptiph80 Happy practicing!

[@Angelhernandez-yj6fw]

Gioachino Rossini

[@jensongamlin1451]

how do you play the high notes quiet, i cant, ive tried many times, but i cant, any tips?

[@flutechannel]

I made a video about playing high notes softly right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmmop6F9rLx-a5Y Enjoy!

[@saraixchicken]

I’m a violin player how did I get here

[@teirabh]

bruh. I play euphonium 😂

[@helika5327]

Thank you both for your video. I have a question about the Sonare by Powell piccolo, which was used here. Flute Center of New York link states, that they have changed the model on January 1, 2017. I am very interested to know, which version did you test here. Thank you very much! (I personally think it had most distinctively a "wooden-cute" tone to it, compared to every other.)

[@flutechannel]

This model was from before 2017. We did not play the newest model AFAIK. But the similarities are close. Be sure to try it with my code TFC with the FCNY you can try a few before you buy. Best of luck Heli!

[@helika5327]

@@flutechannel Thank you for your answer. It is a very nice review, because you tested allot of the piccolos in the same review. Being in the same surrounding and conditions. Different editing, recording technology, room echo and volume between separate videos would make it difficult to compare "side by side" differences.

[@flutechannel]

@@helika5327 Happy to help!

[@thewierdoshow1335]

Gioachino rossini?

[@dcnannen4319]

3:56 haha

[@epicstubbsthecat9152]

Not one hammig?

[@flutechannel]

not any available here. But they are quite good too. Hammig if your watching we would love to try one!

[@johannasych2257]

Mozart?

[@flutechannel]

Rossini actually but good guess!

[@davasatephelps8537]

I’m sooo confused I thought this was the Flute Channel not the Piccolo Channel

[@huskvarsm]

And please accept my apologies Amelie for not spelling your name properly.

[@flutechannel]

not a problem!

[@andrewpahadi8833]

Rossini

[@glynnp42]

Rossini!

[@michaelfuria4257]

yikes, my hearing is getting worse and worse, I barely can hear the high notes! and I have a Bose sound system..

[@flutechannel]

oh no, you should go check your ears. Sorry to hear!

[@kylieearlepersonalacc.2656]

Is the piece at the beginning by Gioachino Rossini?

[@firxestacks1735]

*Um..... I dont think $600 is cheap*

[@femurpasta505]

I play the baritone what am I doing here

[@chantalprins3360]

Peter and the wolf...

[@flutechannel]

Rossini actually from La Gazza Ladra, overture!

[@eblair3742]

Hehe mine was $60

[@megatshafeeq8330]

Its gioaccchino Rossini La Gazza Ladra, overture

[@flutechannel]

You got it! Thanks for watching!

[@megatshafeeq8330]

@@flutechannel love this channel

[@RandomPerson-bj1su]

The first one was obviously the Powell because she played the first note longer than the other recordings. That is the only reason I guessed it. Other than that I was completely stumped. Also I think my ears are dead.

[@Andibelle1221]

So my cat hated this video. Probably good that I keep my piccolo packed up. 😭

[@philippebeauchamp2827]

It sounds like someone playing wrongly the standard flute

[@munkombwestanley5692]

What costs $10,000 in the west will cost $20 in China. Chinese know business. they don't exaggerate price!

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

If I start a piccolo, it won't be for $1500.

[@robertoguillenvela7392]

Siegfried

[@7.xify____582]

Lol my piccolo 79 $ amazón :v

[@chickchick0648]

600 dollars is not cheap for me

[@greatlatte9174]

can’t hear it when your ears are bleeding from the first

[@hnzplays_rroblox7669]

just searching piccolo from goku :-|

[@drZZhed]

Je joue sur un Lebret du début du XXe siècle, en palissandre et clés ouvertes sur ré, mi, fa et la; avant de fournir les conservatoires en France, Lebret avait travaillé pour Louis Lot qui avait pour sa part fourni une flûte à Taffanel, tout cela pour l’anecdote. J’ai essayé un De Palis chez Flûte Studio rue de Rome à Paris, et je ne sonnais pas très différemment. La grosse différence se trouvait dans le clétage, la facilité d’émission et la justesse « naturelle », avant toute correction d’embouchure. Résultat : très difficile de faire la différence sur un test à l’aveugle, comme entendu très justement dans cette vidéo, en tout cas plus que pour une flûte en ut.