How does the sound of the piccolo compare to its written pitches?

The piccolo is a transposing instrument that plays one octave higher than the written pitches. When a musician reads a note on the sheet music, the sound that comes out of the piccolo is actually one octave above that written note. This characteristic is important for composers and musicians to remember when arranging music for ensembles that include the piccolo, as they must adjust the written notation accordingly to ensure that the intended pitch is achieved in performance. Understanding this transposition is essential for accurate scoring and performance within the context of a larger orchestral or band arrangement.