The Piccolo Intonation Book by Stephanie Lupo
Excerpts from the Doctoral Thesis: “A Pedagogical Guide to the Piccolo Focusing on Intonation with 39 Original Etudes”
Published by Alry Publications
Winner of the 2022 National Flute Association Graduate Research Competition
- 39 Original Etudes for Piccolo Intonation
- Design of the Piccolo and Effects on Intonation
- Piccolo Performance in Relation to Intonation
- The Recent History of Piccolo Pedagogy
- Regular and Alternate Fingering Chart
In the last thirty years, flutists have begun to recognize the piccolo as a solo instrument and not just a flutist’s accessory. Many players were not formally taught piccolo lessons and feel uncomfortable teaching it themselves. However, flutists are realizing the importance of playing the piccolo well, not only for improving their flute skills, but also for developing their careers. The Piccolo Intonation Book explores the recent history of piccolo pedagogy. While the piccolo is similar to the flute, it is necessary to understand the differences in order to ascertain the characteristics and beauty of the piccolo. This book examines specific facets of piccolo design and performance while demystifying intonation, the most notoriously difficult aspect of playing the instrument. After reading about the intonation of the piccolo through various lenses, players will have the opportunity to improve their tuning by practicing 39 original etudes, one for each note of the piccolo. Additional features include care instructions and an extensive regular and alternate fingering chart for the piccolo. With a better understanding of the instrument, piccoloists will overcome their fears and find more joy in their piccolo playing, paving the way for fellow musicians and audiences to love it too.
A dynamic performer, teacher, and scholar, Dr. Stephanie Lupo is the flute professor at Olivet Nazarene University. She is also the Woodwind Coach of the Kankakee Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has also served as flute faculty at the Dorian Summer Music Camps. Prior to these appointments, she was a teaching assistant at the University of Iowa and the University of Akron.
Dr. Lupo is principal flute of the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, regularly performs with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra on flute and piccolo, and she can be heard on the Albany Records label. She was also principal piccolo of the Wheaton Symphony Orchestra and co-principal flute and piccolo of the Ohio Light Opera. She has also performed with the Heartland Festival Orchestra, La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, and the Peoria Bach Festival Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she plays regularly in the KVSO Woodwind Quintet and her flute duo, Whisper Tones. She performs with a 22K gold J.R. Lafin headjoint with a 9K/Ag Burkart body and a Keefe piccolo made of grenadilla wood with 14K rose gold fittings.
