About the etude, I have no idea what a grade IV solo is, but I can say that a piccolo is similar to a flute, but it's not something that you're going to be able to pick up overnight. One of my friends started playing the piccolo after about 2-3 years of playing the flute and she could not get a sound out of it at first, but after a couple of months of practice and lessons, she was able to get a decent sound on it.

I think you will do well if you have twelve years of experience!
Is the guard band really competitive, I didn't think it was.
Good Luck

well first of al get piccolo playing right, as for the peice try the grade 5 and higher ABRSM exam peices (in the uk but if you can't order any just look at the sylabus online) but if you type ABRSM in google and it should come up (that it propally what they mean by graded peices someting like the standard you have to play to get pass in one of abrsm exams.

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http://www.abrsm.org/?page=home
that is the website for ABRSM and i hope it helps, good luck in your audition

Yes, too easy.

I think that there is a problem understanding the repertoire grading.
Some grades are divided into A-B-C. Some are divided into 5 or 9 catagories or so. I would ask the people what grading system is used or where you can get a repertoire list. THE ABRSM system isn't often utilized in the US. as much as other UK related places.

Most band music in the U.S. is graded from 1-6 (or if you prefer, I-VI), with 1 being easiest and 6 being hardest. How about doing a few movements of a Bach sonata?

And yes, make sure you can play piccolo well before auditioning if that is part of the requirements.

Piccolo isn't that hard. I picked it up in a blink of an eye, (then again I have been playing Flute for like 7 years)I think you will do just fine. And with the song, I understand you want them to think you're great by having an extremely hard song, but to tell you the truth Playing a song you know you can play perfectly with extras you can add in is more than enough for an audishion. I did the simplest song, used my best vibroto, and added a bit of frills and I was in my band.

I'm guessing that a Grade 3 piece (on a scale from 1-5) on FluteWorld would be equivalent to a Grade 4 piece (on a scale from 1-6) for the audition.

Grade 4 on FluteWorld is very difficult!

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See more about the FluteWorld Grading Scale here: http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=strona&wart=16

Note that the Mozart Concerti fall under Grade 3.

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Actually, come to think of it, based on growing up in New York and their I-VI grading scale, a level IV is more like FluteWorld's Level 2 (or 2+).

Sunshine, are you still looking for a Powell without a headjoint? I wrote to you to try to help as a friend of mine has one, but I never got a response back. If you are going to post on usedflutes.com for a wanted ad, it might help if you responded to people. I tried twice.

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I am guessing you are the same Sunshine7000 on there? If not, I apoligize.