Piccolo: from novice to professional

Fluteworthy

Regular price $45.00 Sale

by Rosamund Plummer and Christine Draeger

Written by two legends of the Sydney flute scene Rosamund Plummer and Christine Draeger, this is a complete handbook for piccolo players.

It includes sections on

  • Choosing an instrument
  • Intonation
  • Solo repertoire
  • Duets, trios, quartets
  • Alternate fingerings
  • Audition preparation
  • orchestral excerpts masterclass
  • Vivaldi concerto masterclass
  • arrangements of essential piccolo orchestral solos  in the form of duets, trios and quartets.

Rosamund and Christine first met in 1986 whilst playing in the Sydney Symphony. Together they founded Tucana Flute Quartet in 1992 and  wrote many arrangements for flute quartet, some of which are available in Tucana Big Book of Flute Quartets published by Fluteworthy. Their next collaboration was Practical Studies for the Advanced Flautist (2003), also available through Fluteworthy.

Piccolo: from novice to professional is the result of many years of experience playing, teaching and discussing. Through their collaboration, Rosamund and Christine provide solutions to the many questions arising from a flute player's decision to play the piccolo. They offer practical advice, inspiration and encouragement to piccolo players of all levels.

Rosamund Plummer has held the position of Principal Piccolo in the the Sydney Symphony since 1986, the same year she won the 6th National Flute Competition in Brisbane. After studying flute with Peter Richardson, Frances Lehmann, Margaret Crawford and Michael Scott, as well as piano, cello and composition, at the Conservatorium High School in Sydney, Rosamund was appointed, aged 18, Principal Piccolo and shortly afterward, Associate Principal flute, in the Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra (now known as Orchestra Victoria). During her orchestral career, Rosamund has had the privilege of further study with James Galway, Peter Lloyd ((then Principal flute LSO), William Bennett (English Chamber Orchestra), and Walfrid Kujala ( Principal Piccolo, Chicago Symphony).

In 2014, Rosamund became the first recipient of the Global Wind Artist Residency, an initiative of the Department of Medieval Japanese Studies, Columbia University, New York. The ensuing 3 month residency in Tokyo, studying the ryuteki, a 7th century Japanese flute , has engendered a passion for Japanese music, culture and language and as a result, Rosamund is now learning to play the shakuhachi, a happy struggle which will take a lifetime.