The piccolo is an instrument constructed of wood, silver, plastic, or a combination and is effectively a soprano flute. It is mainly used in orchestral pieces but there are a few pieces specifically for it. Though the fingerings are the same as the flute, the embouchure and other differences do require a separate effort to learn. This guide will outline the basics for playing this lively instrument.

[edit] Steps

Learn to play the flute. The piccolo is very similar and you should learn how to play flute first. If you play in a band or orchestra you will probably not play piccolo all the time, depending on the types of pieces the ensemble plays.
A wooden piccolo

Choose a piccolo depending on where you will be using it and your proficiency level. Plastic or silver plated metal piccolos are less expensive than wood or silver piccolos. Piccolos made of composite plastic are durable enough for marching and produce a fair quality sound. Wooden piccolos offer a more mellow timbre than metal ones. A popular compromise combines a metal head joint with a body made from wood. Two materials may lead to tuning inconsistencies however, as they will react differently to changing temperatures.
Gather the needed accessories from the Things You'll Need section below.
Consider paying a private lesson flute teacher who also plays piccolo for lessons. This resource will be very important as you learn to play.
The range of a piccolo--the highest note is the second D above the staff.

Learn the range of a piccolo. Flute fingerings will produce the same notes on a piccolo, only an octave higher. Music is written one octave below concert pitch. It may take time to become accustomed to the notes you play and the ones on the page.
Become familiar with playing your major, minor, and chromatic scales.
Try practicing with an electric tuner in front of you. See you how long you can hold a note steady and try to be consistently in tune. Also see what the tendencies of certain notes are on your piccolo- flat? sharp? in tune?
Tune before you play. Tune to an A^[1] and sometimes a D. Although tuning to a D is unorthodox, it helps. If the tuner says you are sharp (moves to the right), pull out the head joint. If you are flat (tuner will move to the left), push in the head joint. The piccolo is a small and fickle instrument, so make small adjustments! Try tuning to the low and high A. Piccolos cannot tune as effectively to a concert F or B flat.
Practice often. Others may find the piccolo aggravating, so try practicing in a closed room, but make sure it is large and has decent acoustics.
Clean your piccolo thoroughly after playing. Use a swab or string a cloth through your tuning rod and then through your piccolo to remove spit. Occasionally polish it with a cloth.

[edit] Tips

Make sure your tuner is set at 440 Hz (standard in US) or 442 Hz (standard in Europe).
If you are playing with an ensemble and sound out of tune, you should generally blow harder to raise the pitch, especially on higher notes. Try raising your eyebrows while playing in order to make yourself to raise the pitch. It may seem odd, but it really helps.
If your piccolo is consistently out of tune, its tuning cork may be in need of repair or adjustment. On one end of your tuning rod there should be a line that runs around it. Stick the rod into your head joint so your can see this line through the mouth plate hole. It should be exactly centered and if not ask a teacher to fix the tuning cork.
Only make small adjustments when tuning a piccolo. Make sure it is at the temperature it will be when played as this can affect tuning. If the piccolo is cold the pitch will go flat and if warm it will go sharp.
Keep your lips tight and your cheeks somewhat relaxed. This helps with tone and reduces airy sound.

[edit] Warnings

Be careful when cleaning or assembling your piccolo. Be gentle and do not twist keys or rub pads. If your piccolo is malfunctioning take it to a music shop to be fixed.
Flute players with large fingers may find it difficult to press the smaller piccolo keys accurately.
The piccolo is somewhat notorious for being difficult to play in tune. Its small size makes it difficult to construct completely in tune and causes what would be small pitch variances in larger instruments to become rather significant. The fact that it is so high does not help as it is rather conspicuous when out of tune.