Used Musical Instruments

How can I find and choose a good Piccolo trumpet?

Q: I am looking for a good piccolo trumpet. I live close to Chicago and the Schilke factory is in melrose park close by. Isin't Schilke supposed to have good ones. What other brands are good?

A: Yes, many professionals consider the Schilke piccolo trumpets to be the best. Selmer also makes a very good instrument. When I was a professional trumpet player, I used a Selmer. Maurice Andre uses one as well.

Make sure whichever instrument you get that it is both a Bb and A instrument. There should be two mouthpiece shanks that come with the instrument so that it can be converted.

If you are using the piccolo trumpet for Baroque music, you will most often use the A side of the horn, as many high parts are written in D, and the transposition is easier with the A horn. (You just pretend the part is in bass clef, and change the key in your head)

As far as where to buy them in the Chicago area? I am not sure. Northwestern University has an outstanding brass faculty. Call them. They might be able to help.

Penny Lane Piccolo Trumpeter

David Mason piccolo trumpet player on The Beatles 'Penny Lane' tells how it all came to be.