The Care and Maintenance Tips for Piccolo

If you are playing the Piccolo, then tuning it and making sure that it plays the sounds properly is important. You will need to take care of the Piccolo and manage the routine as well, if you want to ensure a good life for Piccolo.

Here are a few care and maintenance tips that we would like to extend to all the Piccolo players

• • Let's start with assembling the Piccolo. Care needs to be established while you are processing the assembly of your instrument

    • You will first need to be sure that the tenon cork is smooth and lubricate. You ought to use the cork grease for the purpose. The reason being this lubrication will ensure smooth and easy fit of the cork in the instrument

    • Next on, you ought to hold the wood above the assembly mechanism and the headjoint from below the embouchure hole in order to piece them together. Twist the two in order to make the fix properly. Make sure you don't insert the finger while putting the two together

    • Make sure you don't apply too much pressure while joining the two ends. If you are unable to squeeze them together, then connect with a professional

  • Next on, you will need to clean and swab the insides of the Piccolo clean. Here are our favourite techniques to help you with that

    • Use a silk oboe swab connected with a string, and use the weight to remove the condensation from within the instrument

    • You should ideally perform the swabbing after every use of the instrument. This way you will increase the life of the instrument, and reduce the maintenance needs exhibited by the instrument

    • Make sure you keep the Piccolo protected from the temperature extremes in your surrounding environment. This could affect, specifically if you move from a warm building into a cold temperature. It can crack the wood of the instrument. You should ideally insulate the instrument within a case, so that it remains protected.

    • The headjoint should be ideally warmed up before it is blown into the embouchure hole. This way, you can avoid the cracking of the headjoint or other parts of the instrument. The headjoint has a thinner piece of wood, and is more prone to the cracks

    • The fingerprints on the instrument can be removed with the help of a cotton cloth that is dampened in water. You should ideally not use cloth that are infused with the cleaning chemical. It is not recommended to use silver polish on the instrument to complete the cleaning.

    • When not in use, keep the instrument within the case, safe and protected

  • Make sure you clean, and oil both the wood and mechanism of the instrument at regular intervals. The headjoint should be oiled more frequently, at least 3 to 4 times a year.

If you are unable to cater to the needs of maintenance exhibited by the instrument, then connect with a professional. Make sure you invest in piccolo insurance, as that would help you protect your instrument, and offers the best professionals' assistance for instrument needs.