Erin Nichols

Performer Spotlight: Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson

This Saturday, Ball State University’s flute studio is presenting their annual Flute Day–the virtual edition! All sessions are free, from 9am-4pm, and will be held on Zoom. Registration is open through tomorrow at https://ballstatefluteday.weebly.com/. A schedule of events and materials can also be found there. This year’s featured performer is none other than Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal flute, Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson. Höskuldsson is the principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as a distinguished international soloist and chamber musician. Prior to joining the CSO, he served as principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 2008-2015. A native of Iceland, Stefán has been praised by the New York Times for his agility and warmth of expression. He also currently teaches at DePaul University in Chicago and has been a faculty member with the Pacific Music Festival in Japan since 2010. He has given master classes at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Academy of Music. Mr. Höskuldsson attended the Reykjavik School of Music in Iceland where he studied with Bernhard Wilkinson. Following his graduation, Stefán attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester,

Nov 5, 2020 No Comments

Caring for your wood piccolo

As the temperature drops in the Midwest and we settle squarely into the colder months of the year, I wanted to take a few minutes to discuss a very important subject: the care required for wooden instruments, specifically piccolos. Wood is much more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes than metal, and sudden changes or poor maintenance can lead to serious issues like cracking and warping of the instrument. With just a few precautions, you can keep your wood piccolo looking and playing like new for years to come. Most wood piccolos are made of grenadilla wood, which as I mentioned is susceptible to cracking as temperatures rise and fall, especially in the Midwest, where most of us are stationed. Therefore, wood instruments are strongly discouraged for outside playing, especially in a marching band setting. Just as with string instruments and wood clarinets and oboes, the bodies of piccolos can actually crack due to temperature fluctuations, which causes the wood to swell and shrink, compromising the integrity of the body. The simplest way to avoid this is–say it with me–avoiding temperature and humidity extremes. Be sure to always swab out your piccolo after you have played it as well, to

Oct 27, 2020 No Comments

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Indianapolis is chock-full of amazing performing groups, and I wanted to take some time to highlight some of them in the coming months. This week, we’re talking about the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, a small chamber group based in the Butler University area, with a roster packed with amazing musicians. Founded in 1984 as the Musicians of the Cloister, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra first performed at Trinity Episcopal Church. In 1987, Maestro Kirk Trevor was appointed Music Director and Conductor, a position he held until 2015, when Matthew Kraemer took over. The ICO joined the Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival as Orchestra-in-Residence in 2007 and remains in that position today. During this three-day immersive educational event, the ICO sponsors a nation-wide competition for the composition of new works for chamber orchestra. In 2012, ICO became the professional Orchestra-in-Residence for Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University. Of course, since we’re all about all things flute here, let’s introduce the flutists of the group. Alistair Howlett is Principal Flute, in addition to being Assistant Professor of Music at DePauw and Professor of Music at Anderson University. Howlett has performed as Guest Principal Flute with the Indianapolis Symphony, East Coast and

Oct 20, 2020 No Comments

D# roller

This week, the latest in a series of “Things that Make your Life Easier as a Flute Player:” the D# roller! Traditionally an advanced feature, the D# roller can be found as an option on semi-professional and handmade flutes. If you’ve been playing flute for any length of time and have worked on repertoire in the low range, you know that it gets quite tricky to move around in the D#-D-C#-C area. Especially tricky is the pesky transition from D#-C#, where the pinky finger has to slide between those keys without causing a “blip” between the notes. The D# roller solves that problem by situating–you guessed it–a roller at the edge of the D# key to help the movement around those notes. (photo courtesy Altus) The Indy Flute Shop currently has a great selection of semi-professional and handmade flutes with this feature: a Miyazawa 202, 402, 602, and a handmade Altus 1607. Make an appointment to stop by and check one out today!

Oct 13, 2020 No Comments

Step Up to Yamaha 2020

It’s time once again for our annual Step Up to Yamaha promotion, where eligible instruments will earn you a $50 or $100 mail-in rebate when purchased or rented from now until the end of the year. Here is all the information you need to know about this exciting opportunity: What instruments are eligible?Yamaha step-up and semi-professional flutes and piccolos are eligible for this promotion. Yamaha 300 and 400 series flutes come with a $50 rebate, and the 577 and 677 models come with a $100 rebate. The YPC62 series piccolos are also eligible for a $100 rebate. Please note that this rebate does not come off of the purchase price of the instrument; rather, you will submit a form online or through the mail for a Visa gift card, to be used wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. What purchase options are available?Want to rent your instrument instead of purchase it outright? You’re still eligible! In fact, most of our customers choose to start their student on our rent-to-own plan for their step-up or semi-professional instrument because of flexible payment arrangements, early purchase discounts, and full repair coverage. When you submit your rebate, you will be asked to provide a

Oct 7, 2020 No Comments

Maximizing your flute trial time

As we all adjust to life in the midst of a global pandemic, there are understandably extra steps we need to take to ensure the health and safety of both us and you. We welcome you or your student to come try instruments at the shop, but we want to make sure your time is best utilized so you can find your perfect instrument safely. With that in mind, I wanted to re-post some tips and suggestions for what to bring with you when you come to the Indy Flute Shop. FAQ: What should I bring to try a new instrument? | Indy Flute Shop – Indianapolis, Indiana In order to make sure we are setting you or your student up with the perfect flute, it’s really important to make sure that you are getting an idea of how the instrument plays and responds to your unique ability and playing style. The best way to do this is to bring some music, either that you are working on currently, or a piece or two that you are comfortable with. Scale exercises or etude books are always a good idea too, if you have them. We do have some music collections

Sep 29, 2020 No Comments

Private teacher spotlight: Jenna Page

Continuing with our private teacher spotlight series, this month I’m featuring local performer, teacher, and composer Jenna Page! 1. When did you start playing flute? Did you always know you wanted to play an instrument, and what drew you to the flute?I started playing the flute like most students do – in my sixth grade band class. I went to my school’s instrument “petting zoo” to try out various instruments. I gravitated towards the flute and the saxophone, but when it came to finally choosing, it was actually my parent’s choice. My dad took me to the music store one afternoon and surprised me with a flute. Music has always been a big part of my family and growing up. My mom gave me piano lessons. I sang in choir in elementary school. Joining the school band was just a natural extension of my musical education. 2. What made you decide to pursue music as a career?When choosing a college major, I was torn between elementary education and music performance. I decided that if I wanted a shot at a music career, I needed to pursue that first. If it didn’t work out or if I didn’t like it, I

Sep 22, 2020 No Comments

Archive: French key arms

When I wrote a blog post about French pointed key arms back in 2015, most step-up brands that I carried in the shop still came with Y-cup arms, which has been the standard for beginner and intermediate flutes for years. Since then, the intermediate flute world has just exploded with brands, features, and options, and now it is much more common for these level flutes to come with French key arms. In fact, every instrument in the Indy Flute Shop (with the exception of some older closeout models) now has this feature! Read the blog for more information. This week’s burning question: What are French pointed key arms, and how do they differ from “regular” keys?French pointed key arms have traditionally been a feature on semi-professional and professional-grade instruments, due to their handmade features and greater time associated with creating them. Unlike the traditional “Y-cup” arms that are found on student and some step-up instruments, French key arms consist of a pointed tone arm that extends to the center on the pad cup and is soldered to the top of the cup. This type of construction is stronger than the standard “Y” cup mounting where the tonearm is soldered to

Sep 17, 2020 No Comments

Flute podcasts

I’m super late to the podcast game, but during COVID lockdown in March and April, I found myself needing to keep my brain active while I was home with my daughter. I’ve enjoyed subscribing to podcasts related to motherhood, food, lifestyle–and flutes, of course! I wanted to share a few of the best flute-related podcasts that I have enjoyed listening to lately. Whether you are a performer, student, or amateur, you can definitely find something to interest you with these. Flute 360The Flute 360 podcast “incorporates a panoramic view of flute-related topics” from Dr. Heidi Kay Begay, a self-employed teacher, flutist, podcaster, and non-profit organizer. The episodes are educational in nature and cover a range of topics from tech equipment setup for recording, to military musicians, to interviews with well-known performers. https://heidikaybegay.com/ Talking FlutesTalking Flutes is hosted by the duo of Clare Southworth, Flute Professor at the Royal Academy of Music London and Jean-Paul Wright, Managing Director of the Trevor James Flute Company. They share their insights from their unique and different perspectives in the flute industry, offer advice on looking for your next instrument, and have tons of interviews with famous flutists from Jasmine Choi to Greg Pattillo. https://flute.podbean.com/#

Sep 10, 2020 No Comments

Sonare closeout deal

The Indy Flute Shop is already proud to offer competitive pricing on all of the instruments that we carry, but every once in a while we like to offer a deal that’s even better than our every day low prices. Right now, we are offering a special closeout deal on our Powell Sonare 505 models–and we only have two left, so take advantage of this offer soon! The Powell Sonare 505 is a great hybrid instrument between an intermediate and semi-professional level. The body is a durable, silver-plated construction with drawn tone holes, pointed key arms, and a B foot joint. The headjoint is a Powell Signature level, with a hand cut tone hole and constructed of sterling silver. These instruments also come with a split E mechanism, providing a greater flexibility and clarity in the high register. Our sale price on this model is so low, we can’t even publish it online, so give Erin a call to discuss price and payment options! This deal is available until the two 505 models are gone, so make an appointment to stop by and try these great instruments today!

Sep 1, 2020 No Comments

Private teacher spotlight: Jill Mandell

I am very fortunate in my job to work with many local professionals, and the backbone of great flute players in the state is definitely our amazing private teachers. These teachers work both in their homes (mostly virtually now with COVID precautions) and in local schools to help flute players progress in their skills, and when they are ready for their next flute, I often work with both parents and the private teacher to find their perfect instrument! Today’s spotlight is on Jill Mandell, a prolific private teacher in the Carmel/Westfield area. Please enjoy this interview and learn a bit more about Jill! 1. When did you start playing the flute? My father was an elementary principal in Bloomington, Minnesota and in our school district, band was started in the 6th grade. He would bring home instruments from his school for me to try, and when I was in 5th grade he put the flute in my hands– I knew I had found my instrument. I could not make a sound out of it, but he could, so he was the one who taught me how to make the correct embouchure. 2. Did you always know you wanted to play

Aug 25, 2020 No Comments

event links and info

Wow! I am so happy and grateful to everyone who tuned in to our virtual event Tuesday night with Karen Moratz. It was so great to see everyone watching from all over the country and engaging in great discussions. We will definitely be hosting more of these types of events, so stay tuned. There was a ton of information that was given out, so I wanted to unpack everything in one central location. Below are all of the links that were discussed during our chat. www.paigesmusic.com www.indyfluteshop.com www.win-d-fender.com -Coupon code: MORATZ for 5% off-Erin has the Win-D-Fender in stock at the shop; call or email to place an order for pickup or free USPS shipping. Musicians of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestraisomusicians.org/facebook.com/ISOmusicians/instagram.com/isomusicians/twitch.tv/ISOMusicians Karen’s (NEW) Yoga studio pagewww.suryasta-yoga.com instagram.com/suryastayoga/YouTube: Suryasta Yoga facebook.com/suryastastudios/twitter.com/SuryastaYoga COVID StudiesUniversity of Colorado study pageBe sure to view July 13 as well as more recent results University of Colorado study round 1 results videoUniversity of Colorado study round 2 results videoResearcher talks about flute results: https://www.facebook.com/theflyingbaton/videos/570042633666941/?v=570042633666941 IDRS: 4 infectious disease/aerosol experts Texas Tech University Viral Spread Mitigation in Flute Playing currently underway, no info available yet Mixing/recording technology/miscellaneouswww.tomplay.com https://www.mixcord.co/pages/acapellaKoechlin Sonata for 2 Flutes

Aug 20, 2020 No Comments

August Sale

Whether you or your student are going back to school virtually, in-person, or some combination of the two, you’re going to want to make sure to take advantage of our sale this month. When you upgrade your flute with the Indy Flute Shop during the month of August, you will receive a free flute stand or premium music stand! We have several easy, convenient, and safe ways to do this. When you step up your flute this August, your upgrade will include your choice of a K & M 3-leg or 4-leg flute stand. The 3-leg stand has a wide, sturdy base, and the 4-leg is a great compact option that folds down for easy carrying in a gig bag or purse. If you don’t need a flute stand, you can also choose a premium music stand. Step-up flutes can be either purchased outright or rented with our easy, hassle-free rent-to-own plan. When you rent an instrument from Paige’s Music and the Indy Flute Shop, all of your payments go towards ownership, and you can always pay off early for a discount. There is no long-term commitment to the rental, so no worries if your student changes their mind. And

Aug 11, 2020 No Comments

Instagram Accounts I’m Loving

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the pandemic and subsequent semi-hibernation have found me spending a lot of time on social media. It is definitely a mixed bag for me, and I certainly find myself doing some mindless scrolling. But I also think that social media can really bring a lot of positive aspects to our lives, if we consciously curate what we give our time and attention to. This week I wanted to share with you just a few Instagram accounts that I’m enjoying right now. Playing Without Pain (@playingwithoutpain)This account, created by flutist and entrepreneur Francesca Leo, seeks to connect and educate musicians with resources to treat and prevent performance-related injuries. She is also passionate about maintaining good mental health, and her IG stories have a great focus on anxiety (both performance and general), body positivity, work/life balance, and self-compassion. She is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and persons of color. Her posts and stories are always a great breath of fresh air, especially during these challenging times. Music Strong Fitness (@musicstrongfitness)Founded by Angela McCuiston, musician health coach and chair of the Performance Health Committee of the National Flute Association, this page is another great

Aug 4, 2020 No Comments

A Virtual Evening with Karen Moratz

I am so excited to announce the very first Indy Flute Shop virtual event, featuring none other than Indianapolis’ finest, Karen Evans Moratz! I have so missed hosting artists and events here at the shop, but unfortunately it looks like it’s going to be a while before we will be able to safely do that again, so along with the rest of the music industry we are making the best of the situation! I can’t think of a better, more talented, or kinder person to collaborate on this event with, and I really think you are going to enjoy what we are putting together for you. Please join the Indy Flute Shop for a very special virtual event with Karen Evans Moratz– Indianapolis performer, author, entrepreneur, and Win-D-Fender representative. The Win-D-Fender sound guard was originally invented to help flutists play outside without the fear of wind silencing the sound. However, in the past few months it has gained notoriety as a tool to help combat the spread of air when playing related to COVID-19. Karen will give a brief talk on the Win-D-Fender and answer questions about the product. She will then perform a short recital of unaccompanied pieces. Read

Jul 28, 2020 No Comments

Getting started this year

Let’s get right to it–there is a LOT of uncertainty right now in regards to what the start of this school year is going to look like. If you have a student who is starting an instrumental music program this year, this uncertainty is even greater–what is their beginning program going to look like? Will they be able to learn a new instrument with virtual instruction? What should I do about getting their instrument? I’m going to tackle these questions and more. And while this blog is dedicated to flute players, please know that this advice can be used for any beginning band or orchestra student. First and foremost, the biggest piece of advice I can give you is the following: if your student expressed interest in beginning band last spring, move forward with that plan. If you haven’t signed up to rent an instrument from Paige’s Music, go ahead and do so online. You can choose to pick up the instrument in our store, using our contact-free curbside service, or have the instrument delivered to your child’s school. As of today, we still have a scheduled date and time to deliver instruments to beginning school music programs; the date

Jul 21, 2020 No Comments

Cleaning your flute-COVID edition

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation have teamed up to give you some helpful tips for cleaning and sanitizing musical instruments. Of course, we have comprehensive cleaning guides for every instrument on our website that you can find here, but during the time of COVID-19, we all have extra cleaning and precautions on our mind. Below are some helpful tips to give you peace of mind and make sure your or your student’s instrument stays clean and safe to play. The flute headjoint can be easily sanitized with an isopropyl alcohol-soaked pad. Simply wipe the lip plate, headjoint exterior, and inside edge of the lip plate opening, making sure that the pad is not too wet. Never submerge the headjoint in water–there is a cork in the top of the headjoint that will get damaged if introduced to too much moisture. After wiping with alcohol, wipe off excess moisture with a polishing cloth. Cleaning the body of a flute is a delicate balancing act of making sure that too much moisture does not get introduced to the instrument, particularly because the key pads are very sensitive to moisture and will be

Jul 14, 2020 No Comments

Summer Super Sale

Thursday, July 23rd through Saturday, July 25thIf you have been a customer of Paige’s Music or the Indy Flute Shop for a while, you are probably familiar with our two annual sales in March and November. Since we had to close our doors in March, and we didn’t want you to miss out on these “super” savings, we have decided to host a Super Sale event in July! Here’s how you can save:Visit the shop Thursday, July 23rd through Saturday, July 25th and draw a ticket worth 5%-50% off! This ticket is applicable to any outright purchase of an upgrade flute or piccolo. If you’d prefer to rent, we’ve got you covered there too. Each coupon also has an offer for up to four months off our rent-to-own program. Payments made on a beginning flute from Paige’s can be transferred to a step-up flute from the Indy Flute Shop, outfitting your student with the perfect “forever” instrument for them at a price that can’t be beat! We hope you’ll join us as we’ve greatly missed seeing and making music with you! We have made adjustments at our store to keep both our customers and employees safe. All instrument testing is

Jul 6, 2020 No Comments

Exercises for sore flutists

Well, we’re at the halfway point of 2020 and all I can say is…whew. It’s been a doozy! Whether you’re back to a normal working and playing schedule, working from home, or still waiting to go back to work, a lot of us are starting to feel the effects of this different routine. Gyms are closed or at lower capacity, group exercise is a no-no, and let’s face it–maybe you just haven’t felt like being active. I definitely apply to all of these. Thankfully, the National Flute Association, along with their Performance Health Care Committee Chair Angela McCuiston, put together a great resource for some stretches and exercises to relieve tense areas that tend to plague flute players. A 2017 study found that up to 93% of musicians experience playing-related pain at some point in their lives, and flute players are certainly no exception to this because of the asymmetrical nature of holding the instrument. Corrective exercises and strength training, both in the areas of pain and other areas such as the core, can help alleviate and prevent injury and pain. This link provides a wealth of information, a series of simple, no equipment exercises, and a helpful video at

Jun 30, 2020 No Comments

Tackling tarnish

I pulled this blog post from the archives because I think it’s a great reminder on some easy things we can do to help slow the progression of pesky tarnish on our beautiful instruments. I get a lot of questions asking about how to prevent buildup and tarnish, especially in those hard-to-reach areas, as well as questions about how I keep the shop instruments so shiny. Read on for answers to those questions and more. “My flute just isn’t as shiny as it used to be!!” We all know how frustrating it is to see our meticulously-maintained instruments starting to develop discoloration, especially in those pesky hard to reach places. This week, I wanted to talk a little bit about things that can be done to help put the brakes on this issue.Unfortunately, the development of tarnish, which is a chemical reaction that occurs on silver or even silver-plated items, is an inevitable reality for flute players. Exposure to the air, materials in a case, and contact with the skin all cause gradual discoloration of the metal. Small things such as the glue used to hold a case together can even cause this to occur. The good news is there

Jun 24, 2020 No Comments