Hi, Bugs. Good luck with your endeavor.

Years ago I ordered a wooden fife which is about the same size as a piccolo. I had never played an instrument of that type before.

I took it along on a camping trip of about a week's duration, and every time I had nothing to do, I tried to play it. I finally did it. It's just a matter of trying different mouth positions till it works - rather like learning to whistle.

Later flute teacher said to me, "Do you know that there are people who get a flute and don't get their first note out for months?" So don't be discouraged if it doesn't come right away. You are normal.

Some years later I bought a wooden flute. I couldn't get the high notes, so the seller of the flute gave me excellent advice. This is it:

Pretend you are standing against the wall of a dining room, and on the opposite wall is a tall dining-room cabinet. To play a low note on the flute, aim the stream of air at the bottom of the cabinet. To get a high note, blow the stream upward, towards the top of the cabinet. The middle notes, logically enough, go towards the middle (waist high) of the cabinet. I tried it and it worked.

I'm pretty sure this advice will apply to your piccolo too.