Erin Nichols

What I’ll be checking out at NFA

Greetings! In just one short day, I’ll be heading up to Chicago for the National Flute Association’s 50th annual convention! I haven’t attended convention since 2018, and it’s always such a great opportunity to catch up with my vendors and customers, try new instruments, and renew my passion for what I do. Here’s a sampling of what I’ll be checking out this week. Arnold Jacobs’ Breathing TechniquesChicago Symphony Orchestra tuba player Arnold Jacobs was legendary for his teaching relating to breathing and air use: Song and Wind. In this workshop, Angeleita Floyd, Kimberlee Goodman, and Alexa Still will introduce Jacobs’ ideas, cover the basics of anatomy and pulmonary function, detail the materials for DIY breathing bags (provided for the first 30 participants), instruct how to assemble the breathing bag, and share first-hand experiences with Jacobs and the exercises he taught.I work with tons of younger students who don’t have a true grasp of the importance of the breath in flute playing, and I’ve been known to tell kids that it takes just as much air to play the flute as it does the tuba (I’m not sure they believe me!), so this will be some great concrete information to bring

Aug 9, 2022 No Comments

Top tips from Doctor Flute

Hey all! I’m on vacation this week, so I thought I would share a great online resource for flutists of all ages, from a professional flutist and educator, Doctor Flute–also known as Dr. Angela McBrearty. Dr. McBrearty received her DMA in Music Education from The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Her dissertation addressed flute pedagogy as it pertains to the beginner flute. Previously, she earned her MM in Flute Performance from Binghamton University and an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Houghton College. Her website, doctorflute.com, is a wealth of knowledge about everything from making your first sound to advance techniques. Here are a few of my favorite informational articles/videos:Relax Your Embochure to Improve Your Tone Live Flute Lesson on Beginner Vibrato Double Tonguing Troubleshooting Happy learning, and I’ll see you next week!

Jul 25, 2022 No Comments

Back to school special

I can hardly believe I’m typing this, but it’s time for a bunch of local schools to start thinking about heading back for the upcoming semester! Whether you’re totally jazzed or have the end of summer scaries, we have a great deal for you if you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an intermediate or professional model instrument: a free flute or piccolo stand! The Indy Flute Shop has 4 options available for this special offer, all by K&M: your choice of a flute or piccolo stand, with either a 4-leg compact base or a larger base with 3 legs. I personally use the 4 leg compact flute stand because the legs fold up and store inside itself, making it super compact to throw in my purse or better yet, Fluterscooter bag! You can receive one of these free stands with an eligible upgrade of a flute or piccolo from the Indy Flute Shop–just click here to make an appointment to come test some out! See you soon!

Jul 21, 2022 No Comments

A History of Piccolo’s Greatest Hit

I hope everyone has fun plans that keep you safe–and cool!–for the 4th of July holiday next week. In honor of the holiday, I thought I would pass along some history on piccolo’s most famous solo: The Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa. Even if you don’t know it by name, you probably recognize the famous piccolo part at the end. “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America. In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on Christmas Day, 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from a vacation with his wife in Europe and had just learned of the recent death of David Blakely, the manager of the Sousa Band. He composed the march in his head and committed the notes to paper on arrival in the United States. It was first performed at Willow Grove Park, just outside Philadelphia, on May 14, 1897, and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm. Sousa explained to the

Jun 30, 2022 No Comments

Straubinger pads

If you’ve ever played a flute with Straubinger pads, you know how wonderful they are–the responsiveness and the smoothness of the key action is unparalleled. With the level of detail that goes into them, there is an intensive certification process required to become certified to work with these pads. We are excited to introduce our most recent Straubinger Certified technician, Kaz Chan! Kaz joined our repair team in 2018 after graduating from University of North Texas and then repair school at Minnesota State College Southeast (commonly known as Red Wing). Due to his fantastic work on woodwind instruments, he was quickly assigned to be next in line for Straubinger certification, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed that by a couple of years. He finally completed his training about a year ago, and we are so happy to have him here! The Straubingers do all of their own training, and as such the list of certified technicians is pretty short–in fact, there are only 6 in the state of Indiana, and we have two of them right here at Paige’s! Straubinger pads consist of different materials and components than a traditional pad. The patented pad support unit and profiled washer are machined

May 26, 2022 No Comments

Flutists in mourning

The flute community is mourning two huge losses this week with the passing of Emerson DeFord and William “Wibb” Bennett. DeFord passed away at his home on Monday, May 9th and Bennett passed Wednesday evening after a brief battle with motor neuron disease. Both of these men left an indelible mark on the flute world, and they will be greatly missed. After serving with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, DeFord began his flutemaking career at the W.T. Armstrong Flute Company in Elkhart, Indiana, and quickly rose to the position of vice president of production in 1962. A few years later, he started the Heritage Division, where he mentored many flutemakers including Bickford Brannen, Jack Moore, Tom Green, John Yeater, and Larry Earnhart. DeFord and Mark Thomas worked together to improve the quality and design of student flutes and to develop the complete flute family (including bass, alto, E-flat soprano, C, treble G, and B-flat flutes) and, later, a wood piccolo and professional C flute. His name is now synonymous with the modern student flute. One of DeFord’s most important contributions to the flute world is his work with flutists who have been injured or have developed physical conditions

May 12, 2022 No Comments

Double tonguing

If you’ve been playing flute for more than a couple of years, or if there’s a budding flautist in your life, chances are you’re starting to come across passages in your practicing with a lot of notes that need to be played quickly. Perhaps you’ve attempted them at tempo, only to realize your tongue just isn’t going to move that quickly! What’s the solution? Double tonguing! Double tonguing is an essential skill for intermediate flute players to learn, and although it can feel awkward and challenging at first, it really does make playing fast passages so much easier once you’ve mastered it. Dr. Cate lists three essential components to make double-tonguing successful: air, embouchure, and the tonguing itself. Air: “how you use your air is probably the most important part of effective double and triple tonguing. If you don’t blow sufficient or fast moving enough air, all the tricky tonguing in the world will be worth nothing if not supported by a fast, controlled airstream.” Often, as students are learning this skill, they become very tense in body and sound, which restricts their air flow. Improper technique or tightness in the throat will further cut off the air flow, resulting

Apr 21, 2022 No Comments

Flute Day schedule

The moment you’ve all been waiting for–our Flute Day schedule is here! This is going to be an amazing event on Saturday, April 2nd with so many opportunities for flutists of all levels, and space is limited for some events, so be sure to sign up soon! 2-4pm: Altus professional instrument trials, by appointment onlyAltus will be providing a variety of handmade instruments to try in an intimate environment with Erin and Dr. Cate. Appointments are a half hour and must be reserved ahead of time. Go to www.paigesmusic.com/schedule and select “Flute Testing with Cate Hummel” to reserve your appointment! 5pm: Cate Hummel recitalWe’re SO happy live music is back, and Dr. Cate will be performing a wonderful variety of accompanied and solo pieces as a tribute to the the difficult times we all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation that ensued from it. Frank Horvat’s Music for Self-Isolation is part of a project of about 30 short pieces for all different instruments and voices. The entire project was recorded in an empty theater in Toronto in the summer of 2020. It was made into a commercial recording and a documentary was made about the project. Matthew Durrant’s

Mar 10, 2022 No Comments

Flute Day with Dr. Cate Hummel

I am beyond excited to announce that flute performer, educator, and Altus artist Dr. Cate Hummel will be joining us for our 2022 Flute Day on April 2nd! This event will feature opportunities for play-testing some high-end Altus instruments not normally seen in the shop, which will be by appointment only. In the evening, Dr. Cate will present a recital featuring music written during the pandemic, followed by a masterclass with area high school and college students. Dr. Cate Hummel loves performing, especially music that is not well known by both recognized and forgotten composers. She is active as a performing artist and clinician around the U.S. and internationally. Some memorable events have included being a guest artist at the Festival International de Flauta in Monterrey, Mexico, playing the premiere of Douglas Townsend’s Sonatina for flute and piano (lost for 40 years), presenting on the teaching of Marcel Moyse at the British Flute Society Convention, playing a debut recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, a recital at Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center in New York, and on the Dame Myra Hess Series at the Chicago Cultural Center. She received her DMA and MM degrees from the Manhattan

Mar 3, 2022 No Comments

Brand spotlight: Haynes & Amadeus

One of the best parts of my job is the fact that there isn’t just a cookie cutter approach to buying a new flute–everyone has their own preferences, sound quality, and budget. My job would be a lot more boring if there was just one perfect flute for everybody! We offer a wide variety of brands to suit every player, and if you’re looking for some serious brand recognition along with a deep, rich, powerful sound, you’ll definitely want to check out the Haynes/Amadeus family of flutes. William S. Haynes and Co. Haynes is one of the oldest flute-making companies in the world, and their workshop has been based in Boston since the 1880s. The Haynes company has a rich history of fine instrument making for over 125 years, establishing their business by making a copy of a wood flute at the request of a member of the Boston Symphony. Brothers William S. and George Haynes made these wood flutes by hand themselves for the first 10 or so years of the business, as well as a solid gold flute with silver keys. By 1912, they grew to the point of needing a separate showroom and factory, which were both

Feb 22, 2022 No Comments

Teacher spotlight: Karen Moratz

If you’re in the Indianapolis area–or even if you’re not!–there’s a good chance you’ve come across Indy’s flute GOAT, Karen Moratz. Not only is she an accomplished performer, professor, and entrepreneur; she also has an incredibly diverse background and set of interests! I was lucky enough to study with Karen as I got my Masters degree at Butler University. Please enjoy getting to know a little bit more about her. Karen Evans Moratz is Principal Flutist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Artist in Residence at Jordan College of the Arts at Butler University. She has been on the faculty at the Grand Teton Festival Orchestral Seminar and the Aria International Summer Academy, as well as Visiting Professor at Indiana University/Bloomington and the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana. Her cadenzas for Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G major have been published by Southern Music. She was the Coordinator for the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition from 2003-2008. She is a founding member of the Greater Indianapolis Flute Club (Indyflute) and of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra. Ms. Moratz holds a bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory and a postgraduate degree from the Musikhochschule Freiburg im Breisgau. She was a member of the New

Feb 15, 2022 No Comments

Re-introducing myself

Hey there! In the spirit of getting back to more regular posting on here and social media, I thought it would be appropriate to introduce myself to any new followers and re-acquaint myself with others. My name is Erin, and I manage the Indy Flute Shop at Paige’s Music, which was opened in 2008 to better serve the needs of intermediate to professional flute players in Indiana. I’ve been here since March 2013, after finishing my Masters in Music Education at Butler University, where I studied with Karen Moratz. Although this isn’t a traditional teaching job per se, I still get to work with students of all levels to help them choose their next perfect instrument, so it truly is a perfect fit for me. My undergraduate degree is actually in Psychology from the University of Evansville, so I consider myself pretty well-rounded and can psychoanalyze you while you shop for a flute (kidding, kidding). In all seriousness, I really do love what I do, and I always hope that comes across when I’m working with anyone from an excited beginner to a professional player. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Colin–we’re celebrating 20 years of togetherness this summer!

Feb 10, 2022 2 Comments

Trevor James Rosewood piccolo

Something new in the Indy Flute Shop–the just-released Trevor James Rosewood piccolo! If you’re looking for a free-blowing wood piccolo that stands out from the normal offerings, you’ll definitely want to come give this a try. It’s unique both in looks and feel, and it’s at a great price to boot! This piccolo is made of rosewood, also known as mopane, wood, which provides a sweet, colorful and resonant sound that projects well. The headjoint is incredibly responsive and is cut by English maker Andrew Oxley. This piccolo is the perfect choice for anyone looking for an upgrade piccolo suitable for university, college, or for any orchestral/solo playing. The headjoint also has a wave style, reformed embouchure hole to give added focus to the sound along with tonal warmth and freedom of dynamic range. It is not always easy for flute players to transition to playing the piccolo, so the Trevor James wooden piccolo has been designed with ease of playing and quality of sound production as its primary focus. I don’t anticipate this awesome instrument will be in the shop for long–make an appointment to come check it out today!

Feb 4, 2022 No Comments

Ball State Flute Day 2021

If you have been anxiously awaiting the return of in-person events, wait no longer–the BSU Flute Studio is presenting their 2021 Flute Day live and in person, this Sunday the 17th! We are proud to help sponsor this event, featuring artist Shannon Sparrow of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra! All events are FREE and open to the public–bring your flute! Register here and find more information. Sharon Sparrow is currently Acting Principal Flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She earned a Bachelor’s degree at The Juilliard School and a Master’s degree at Mannes College of Music, studying with renowned teachers Julius Baker, Thomas Nyfenger and Geoffrey Gilbert. She has given master classes all over the world and locally is the Instructor of Flute at Oakland University and Wayne State University. Sharon is a sought-after trainer for orchestral auditions on all instruments, and she has coached players who have won major jobs in orchestras throughout the US. Her specialty is helping musicians with their mindset, confidence and certainty through preparation so they can master the audition experience. Sharon Sparrow is a hands-on advocate for music education at all ages, and has hosted and written children’s shows for both the Detroit Symphony and

Oct 12, 2021 No Comments

Nestor Torres virtual clinic

I have some BIG news for you – the Indy Flute Shop, along with Eastman Music and Haynes Flutes, is hosting a virtual clinic with jazz flute master and Haynes performing artist, Nestor Torres! Join us Tuesday, September 21, at 7pm on Zoom or Facebook Live for this exciting and dynamic event. This will be an improvisation clinic and participation is encouraged – bring your flute and come ready to play! Registration is required; visit www.wmshaynes.com/register to sign up for your spot. ABOUT MR. TORRESStanding on the shoulders of flute giants from worlds as diverse as Rampal & Galway in classical music; Richard Egues’ Cuban Charanga style; rocker Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull; Herbie Mann and – most influential of all – Hubert Laws as pioneers of Jazz Flute, Latin Grammy Award winning Nestor Torres’ rhythmic and mellifluous flute sound remains apart in a class all by itself. His 14 recordings as a soloist; 4 Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination and one Latin Grammy Award; collaborations with diverse artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Matthews, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Michael Camilo, Paquito D’ Rivera and Arturo Sandoval; as well as performances with the Cleveland, Singapore, and New World

Aug 31, 2021 No Comments

What can gold do for you?

Hey there! I’m back from a wonderful vacation with my family-it’s so good to be able to get out and travel again! We spent a week in beautiful Virginia Beach, where my toddler thoroughly enjoyed her first time in the ocean. Now I’m back in the shop and diving into several exciting projects to bring helpful information to new and experienced players alike! When customers walk into the Indy Flute Shop, many are immediately drawn to a select number of instruments that feature gold on the lip plate. It is certainly a striking visual difference, and it begs the question–is it solid gold? How much does that cost? Does it really make a difference to the sound? Well, it depends, but usually the answer to the last question is yes! Changing the material on any part of the flute will certainly change the sound, whether you’re looking for more projection, greater warmth, or a darker sound. Any player who has compared a silver-plated student flute to an intermediate or advanced one from the shop, for example, will know that sterling silver will add a huge amount of “oomph” to the sound versus a simply plated instrument. Gold can do the

Jul 6, 2021 No Comments

Accessory spotlight: LefreQue

There are so many accessories that can be added to the flute, all of which make claims and promises to improve your playing, hand position, intonation, and much more. At the Indy Flute Shop, we only carry the finest accessories that really do what they promise, hand picked by me! This week, let’s take a look at the LefreQue. At the NAMM show in 2016, I had the opportunity to try a unique new product that instrumentalists–particularly flute players–were raving about. It was a little gadget called the LefreQue that promised to help your instrument play easier, with greater dynamic range, and better in tune. I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to my instrument, so I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical. If you’ve never been to the NAMM convention, held at the Anaheim Convention Center, it’s hard to imagine just how massive the exhibit hall is–just over a million square feet (literally!) of exhibits showcasing new products all across the music industry. Bottom line: it’s LOUD. I picked up a flute and did some playing while my colleagues stood about 10 feet away, and of course they couldn’t hear me. But then I attached the LefreQue and

Jun 22, 2021 No Comments

Summer practice musings

Last week, I offered some suggestions for books to expand your playing repertoire this summer, but let’s be honest–after the year we’ve had, some of us are still trying to get back into the swing of things! That being said, how should we approach our playing while school is out? Let’s talk about it! First of all, just play. Play something–anything! That’s the first step…just pick up your instrument and make some noise. Whether you’ve just finished your first year or your 21st year of flute playing, it’s easy to get into a rut if you don’t have daily or weekly assignments to work towards. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always fine to take some time off…as long as “some time” doesn’t turn into all summer! Dr. Tammy Evans Yonce says, “When school is over and we’re off on summer adventures, we often don’t have the benefit of regularly scheduled lessons with our teacher. The frequent encouragement and support received during those lessons is absent, and that can have an effect on our motivation. There is also much less accountability; if we know we won’t have the opportunity to check in with someone, the temptation to delay practicing is there.

Jun 8, 2021 No Comments

Expanding your repertoire this summer

While it isn’t officially summer yet, it certainly has felt like it the past few days! Schools are finishing up, the days are getting longer and warmer, and we are continuing to cautiously emerge out into the world! I know many people took the opportunity that the pandemic forced upon them while staying at home to hunker down and practice, while others (hi, it me) found the idea too daunting and tiring and playing went to the wayside. Regardless of what field you were in, I know we could all use a little refresh and reboot. This season is sure to be one of rebirth and growth for so many of us, and in that spirit, I wanted to give some suggestions for summer playing and expanding your repertoire, no matter your ability level. If you’re a first year player (or have one at home) looking to expand your horizons beyond your band method book, “Forty Little Pieces (In Progressive Order for Beginning Flutists)” is my go-to suggestion. Just as the title suggests, these pieces start quite simple but still melodic and musically pleasing, and gradually expand to solos that could be played by perhaps a second-year student. Composers such

May 25, 2021 No Comments

Looking ahead

I really hope you enjoyed the little break from my “normal” blogging schedule for me to share our Paige’s of History spotlights that have been in the works all this year. I totally nerded out with this project and got back to my academic and writing roots–and discovered that being on camera is kind of fun, too! Now that the series is finished, it’s time to look ahead for what’s coming for the Indy Flute Shop. First of all, our website is getting a makeover! We have been long overdue for some changes to our site, including online ordering and photos of accessories available for purchase, Look for those changes to hit within the next 6 months or so (hopefully sooner!). I am also working on a series of “Two-Minute Tips” that are geared towards helping flutists through all levels of their playing journey. Subjects will range from basic (how to assemble your instrument) to more advanced topics for growing players. These videos will be emailed to current customers and posted on all social media. We’re still celebrating our 150th anniversary all this year, so look out for other exciting events and promotions as the year goes on. We’re all

May 11, 2021 No Comments