In the world of music we frequently wonder what equipment others are using. Is it the hope that there is a perfect instrument out there? Do we think that having a certain make of instrument will make us popular (we play piccolo so not likely). Or, is it just our desire to simply know for the simple fact of knowing? Well, here you go! A very nonchalant Facebook post resulted in this feed back regarding what piccolos people are using. Enjoy!
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……..a few individuals that responded to our call
Beth Chandler Cahill – Professor James Madison University – Keefe and Hammig
Julianna Nickel – Professor George Mason University – Burkart
Laurie Sokoloff – Baltimore Symphony and Peabody Conservatory – Keefe
Therese Wacker – Professor Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Burkart
Christine Erlander Beard – Roy Seaman LTD with an awesome (bocote wood) headjoint by Mancke!
Dionne Jackson – Professor University of Connecticut – Keefe
Sarah Jackson – LA Philharmonic – Keefe
Zachariah Galatis – Portland Symphony – Keefe and a Mancke headjoint!
Carole Bean – National Symphony Orchestra – Gold keyed Powell with a Burkart head, Keefe
Erica Peel – San Diego Symphony – Hammig, but recently added a Mancke headjoint.
Sarah Eckman McIver – Symphony Number One – Keefe
Leslie Marrs – Professor Drake University – Brannen
Nan Raphael – Keefe with Modern cut head joint. Backup is a Brannen with Keefe modern/classic cut head joint.
Laurel Ann Maurer – I have 2 that I mostly use. A Burkart Elite and a Weissman/McKenna
Sarah Howard – Cocus wood Hammig
Aleksandr Haskin – Qatar Music Academy and the American School of Doha – Burkart XXV
Cynthia Rugolo – Cocuswood Brannen with Keefe headjoint and a 1945 Helmut Hammig
Phyllis Avidan Louke – Burkart
Keith Hanlon – Professor Frostburg State University – Keefe
Amanda Taylor – co-editor of The Flute Examiner – Hammig
Shivhan Dohse – Professor Coe College – Hammig!
Lori Akins – Burkart
Stephen Kujala – Got a couple of 70’s vintage Powells, a Haynes silver cylindrical (for superhigh, super soft B’s & C’s), a Haynes Db, and I’m soon joining to modern era with a Keefe on order.
Corinna Muller – Weissman grenadilla.
What do YOU play? Comment below.
I played an Armstrong from 1966 until about 12 years ago. Now I play a Zentner.
Thanks Gyan!
I play on a Powell!
Thanks for sharing Carl. They are great instruments!
Thanks, Carl. We appreciate your comment!
My C piccolo is a late sixties/early seventies Gemeinhardt 4P. My Db piccolo is a three digit serial number Haynes (wood). While in the Navy, I played on Navy -issued sterling Haynes (C) and Selmer (Db). The Selmer was a terrible instrument, with poor response in all registers and a horrible scale. The Haynes was acceptable, but the keywork felt “heavy” and “clunky” to me. I was also not particularly enamoured of the sound of either of them. I felt they were shrill and “edgy”. I much prefer the warmer sound I get from the instruments I am playing on now.
Used to play on Yamaha piccolos, now using a Burkart Professional piccolo
I play a Hammig… and I love it!
I love my Keefe!
Thanks for sharing, Carolyn!
I play a Burkart Elite, and my backup is a Burkart-Phelan Carbon Resin body with a Grenadilla Burkart head. Also have a Pearl Grenaditte for sketchy situations or dicey weather.
Thanks for sharing, Bobbi! 🙂
I play of a Keefe piccolo, made in 2012, with a Grenadilla headjoint (Modern Cut).
I would love to get my hands on a Cocus headjoint from Keefe, in a Classic cut. The registers are beautiful, and very woody on that headjoint. It is interesting to note that Nan Raphael pointed out that our piccolos are siblings, and I did not believe it even when she showed me her piccolo herself.
Very curious what the Mancke headjoints sound like as well.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for your feedback. Sounds like you have a beautiful instruments. I’ve seen/heard great things about the Mancke. I tried several at the convention this year and loved them!
I play a Yamaha YPC-32. I also got a grenadilla Yamaha headjoint to go with it. It was a birthday present my senior year of high school. 20-ish years later, it’s still going strong. I love the wooden headjoint for indoor (pretty much everything I do anymore) and the silver headjoint for outside (not really used since marching band).
They have been the “go to” piccolos for ages. Thank you for sharing.
What a great story! Yamahas are workhorses for sure!
I’ve been playing on a Pink Ivory Wood Nagahara Mini since 2015 😀
Someday I would love to own a Burkart Resona piccolo as a backup
I play on a Yamaha YPC-62. It is an amazing instrument and I would compare it to the Burkart Pro. I’m thinking of upgrading the headjoints to a Mancke Pink Ivory Wave in the near future.
Hammig cocus is the best.
Hammig cocus is the best. It’s very big warm and rich sound
Hammig
I play a Hammig 650/3 grenadilla with a Hammig Cocuswood headjoint and am in love!