The Piccolo is nearly half the size of its larger sister, the flute. Its length is nearly 30 cm. long, while the concert flute is 66 cm. long. It is built of two joints instead of the flute's three.
The name of the piccolo is derived from the Italian "Flauto Piccolo", which means "small flute". Because of its short length, the piccolo is characterized by its piercing, shrill, hard and bright tone. It produces the highest notes of all the symphony orchestra instruments. Its penetrating tone easily dominates an entire symphonic orchestra; the player must use the highest tones of the piccolo with the greatest care.
Because of its very high notes and the need to avoid leger lines when playing high notes, the music for the piccolo is written an octave lower than it really sounds. Thus, if the flute and the piccolo have to play from the same notes, the flute will sound as written and the piccolo will sound an octave higher than written.
The piccolo is, without doubt, one of the lightest musical instruments. It is capable of playing harsh notes, as in Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, as well as the most delicate and lyric melodies, as in the second movement of Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto in C major.
