I’m a flute player who has developed an interest in whistles. I’ve tried several of the cheaper models and had some fun, but I keep returning to the conclusion that I prefer sideblown instruments. Then, I came across Skip Healy’s website and saw his piccolo models. They seem to be just what I am looking for in an instrument: the range of a whistle, but played like a flute. Therefore, I am wondering if anyone here has any experience or advice with regard to these instruments.
Thanks in advance to everyone for their help/suggestions.
I haven’t played a Healy instrument, but have tried out a few fifes. I pretty much came to the conclusion that, for me, sideblown ends at ‘F’. Below that, I prefer a whistle.
i am sure they are wonderful instruments. i have played skips fifes. in general, piccolos and fifes have been traditionally designed to play in the second and third octaves. the bottom octave is available, but not strident. that being said, i had the opportunity to play a very nice, hand made, boehm system piccolo for a good six months, and i thought it was heaven.
you say you have only tried cheap whistles. so… you jump from playing cheap whistles to the assumption that whistles are no fun. a healy piccolo costs 400 hundred dollars. a nice whistle will cost you less than that. why dont you try a nice whistle? i can tell you i gave up on tin whistles until i got myself a burke.
yeah same here, i’m looking for a piccolo because i like sideblown instruments
i know i could get a good piccolo for less than 30 euros, but it would be in bamboo, so without tuning slide. so i was thinking about getting a sweetheart… do you know of any instrument that costs less?
Sweetheart has a D fife, a renaissance model I think it is,
cylindrical, for 35 dollars. I’ve played one, it works well enough.
IMO, FWIW, etc, when you get to that pitch a playable
in tune instrument is going to be a pretty good instrument,
in that they will sound about as good as you play.
I suppose more expensive ones sound better, but
my impression, (IMO,FWIW) is that the differences
in quality are not so significant.
The cylindrical sweetheart is a bit less in tune than the
conical, anyhow, but nothing much.
Yes, that scares me too. People say that it’s always possible
to play these instruments softly. The whole piccolo
genus is something I feel nervous about, however,
in terms of preserving what remains of my hearing.
Lately I’m busking, playing mostly a Susato C whistle
and a Sweetheart A fife, wearing ear plugs.
The original poster might wish to consider trying a D flute.
Yeah, talk to Skip about what you are looking for! I don’t own a Healy Piccolo but I do own and play a ten-hole Healy Bb fife. It’s a very versatile instrument, IMHO. It has a good first octave (no typical fife) and plays in-tune higher than I want to go. It can be played loud and as Jim has said; if you have the chops they can be played at more demure volumes. I think it’s a well designed, well made instrument. Not cheap, as has been observed. You can do a search and find affidavits from others here.
I also have owned and enjoyed Sweet folk fifes in C and D. But if I am playing in the high D range, I’ll just pick out a whistle.
With regards to daiv, you’re right. I should give whistles a better chance. It is just that I am used to sideblown instruments. I know that whistles are fairly easy to play, probably more so than transverse flutes, however, it is a comfort factor.
In response to jim, I already own a keyless flute in D (Copeland). It is a wonderful instrument and I love it dearly. The reason I was looking at the piccolo was that I wanted the range of a whistle while playing an instrument that is in many ways similar to a flute.
Perhaps I should have put this in my original post, but I am a fifer and have been for a while. I play Coopermans (Concert 6 and 10-hole models and the cylindrical-bore professional line), so I am used to fairly ear-piercing sounds (allbeit wearing ear plugs). Unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to play a Healy, but I hear great things, and if the sounds of the MCVs is any indication, they must be some instruments.
By no means do I consider a fife a session instrument. In fact, I hate to play a fife indoors (makes practicing difficult but my neighbors are some distance away and seem to be very understanding). The realm of the fife, in my opinion, is outdoors. To me, one of the most stirring sounds is that of the fife and drum from a distance: being carried across the field and ever increasing in intensity as the two approach.
From JessieK’s reply, I gather that the piccolo Skip makes is very similar to his fifes in terms of volume. Can anyone elaborate on this? Are they just loud across the spectrum or can they be played more softly while still retaining their tone?
The Healy fife is not like any other fife I have played. I think they may be a “love it” or “hate it” instrument. Before I played the Healy I had a conception of fifes based on the historic models. The Healy is nothing like those. It’s a big bore, big holed (depending on the model) flute, just scaled down to the Bb pitch. I have the squarish cut-away embouchure on mine. It’s got a big sweet spot. It has a genuine first octave but still goes up through the third. I rarely go there. If you are a fifer, you’ll likely run into someone that has one. You really should give it a try - then love it or hate it.
As far as I know the piccolos are just higher pitched than the fifes but share the same design features. Again I speak only from my experience with my own Healy fife. They can be played more softly but you have to have the lips to do it. If you are used to playing a fife with a small embouchure you should be able to control it quickly. I’ve never had an issue with the Healy retaining its tone. Still at that pitch, the piccolo will never be particularly quiet. And I am not trying to sell a Healy piccolo here. I just thought you wanted to hear from folks that actually play a Healy.
I have to thank you again. Like with my question about the Oz, you provide just the information for which I was looking. I wanted to hear from someone who had actually played the instrument (or, as in your case, something similar) and your comments are very helpful. I have been looking at a Healy fife for some time, but somehow can’t justify another one at present; I’m happy with my Concert 10-hole. However, I am interested in the piccolo and I’m glad to hear your input.
JessieK, thank you for suggesting the Hamilton. It wasn’t on my radar, but now I will consider it.
thanks for posting the link to eBay. It sure looks tempting. The only problem is that I have no experience repairing woodwind instruments and have no concept of how much really would be involved or how much the cost would be. Since this one seems relatively inexpensive, maybe I could make this a trial run. Otherwise, could you, or anyone else reading this post, suggest someone who has experience in such matters?
