Raymond Sabarich at the Paris
Conservatory in the 1950's
Equipment:
Selmer
Stomvi
Custom Mouthpiece (shallower than a
Bach 1 1/2C) with the wider rim on top due to the needs
of his particular orthodenture and spreading of his teeth
in older age (he filled these gaps with resin)
Make the choice of a mouthpiece
with your instructor: evaluate flexibility, lows, highs,
endurance
Fundamentals:
Flexibilities (gently-every morning)
Arbans
Franquin Method
Balay Method (scales)
Tonguing exercises of all types
(softly-not forcing the low or high notes)
Etudes:
Arbans Characteristic
Studies
Bousquet Studies
Theo Charlier 36
Etudes Transendentes
Chavanne
Marcel Bitsch
Charles Chaynes
Henri Tomasi
Solos:
Albinoni concerto in D Minor
Hummel concerto in Eb
Haydn concerto in Eb
M. Haydn concerto in C
Teleman concerto
Fundamental Suggestions:
Practice Pianissimo!
Rest as much as you play.
Concentrate on attacks and vibrato.
Bring the tongue forward toward the
back of the upper teeth to avoid heavy staccato.
The tongue is a valve. It's important
to penetrate the column of air but not to upset it-not to
shatter it.
It's important to blow freely, so as
not to crush the lips and pinch the tone.
Don't think of the notes as high. Make
them come out easily, Just think of them as just another
pitch.
It is not necessary to put a lot of
pressure on the lip: if you act well with the air
pressure from the vertical push and the lip muscles, you
can alleviate the pressure of the left hand.
Use alternate fingerings on the
piccolo to achieve better intonation.
In general, use more legato tonguing.
If you get dry mouth during a solo
performance, rub lemon juice between your thumb and
forefinger before going on stage. Rub it in your mouth to
stimulate salivation as needed.
Practice the basics on the Bb (the
piccolo was not designed for basic studies and training).
Practice until you reach complete
technical liberation and enter the sphere of music.
Massage the upper lip nightly with
"indian skin cream" or butter to keep it in
good shape for the next day.
