Performers

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

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

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

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

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

Volante Winds

If you’re looking for some wonderful music performed by top-notch musicians to usher in Christmas and close this year out, look no further than Volante Winds. Now in their 5th Season, Volante Winds has reached high acclaim in the field of chamber music for their “beautiful sound”, “perfect ensemble”, and “excellent, mature poise.” All former doctoral candidates of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, they have continued to collaborate this year with virtual recordings of the highest caliber. Suyeon Ko is the Instructor of Flute at Western Illinois University. Dr. Ko is also the founder and the Artistic Director of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Flute Academy, and is a founding member of Volante Winds. Originally from Jeju, South Korea, Dr. Ko received Doctoral of Music degree in flute performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University, Master of Music degree in flute performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Music in flute performance from Jeju National University in South Korea. With the Volante Winds, Dr. Ko has toured across the U.S. and East Asia. Formed in 2016, the quintet has been a featured ensemble at premiere

Dec 22, 2020 No Comments

Thanksgiving 2020

I know, it’s cliche. But in this time of uncertainty, stress, and sometimes turmoil, I wanted to spread some positivity and share how grateful I am for you. If you’re reading this because you’ve purchased a flute from me in the past, referred your students to me, or if you’re just interested in the content I provide–thank you, so very much. This year has truly made me even more aware at how lucky I am to do what I do. For those of you who have trusted me and my associates at Paige’s Music to assist with upgrading you or your student’s instrument during this time–so especially grateful for you! I know so many people have had to tighten their wallets and be more mindful of spending, and I truly appreciate that you have chosen to support a local small business with your hard-earned money. And even though I know we are all missing live music and interacting with people freely, how lucky are we that we have access to the technology that makes it easy to enjoy so many amazing performers from the comfort of our homes! I wanted to especially give a shout-out to Karen Moratz–who is doing

Nov 24, 2020 No Comments

At Home Exercises with Paul Edmund-Davies

The days are getting colder and shorter, and we’re still slogging through this the best we can, so why not take the opportunity to learn some tips from a master? The Indy Flute Shop had the pleasure of hosting Paul Edmund-Davies several years ago (before my time, actually!), who established his international reputation as flautist and soloist in the 20 years that he was Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra and then the five years in the same position at the Philharmonia Orchestra. He put together a set of free videos and sheet music designed to keep your flute playing fresh and fun during your time at home. You can find the videos and music here, and download PDFs of the information here. Many thanks for flutist and blogger Jennifer Cluff for this wonderful information. Happy practicing!

Nov 17, 2020 No Comments

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

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

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

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

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

Performer spotlight: Valerie Coleman

An often-overlooked but incredibly important contributor to the flute world, both as a composer and performer, Valerie Coleman is an iconic artist who has paved her own unique way to success. She has been named one of the Top 35 Women Composers by the Washington Post, founded several chamber performing groups, and has been a featured performer with numerous orchestras around the world. Her compositions frequently incorporate jazz styles along with political and social themes, and her piece “Umoja” was named as one of the Top 101 Great American Works in 2002. Coleman was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, in the same inner-city neighborhood where Muhummad Ali was born. She began playing flute in fourth grade and immediately began to compose and write down music. Incredibly, by the age of 14, she had written three full-length symphonies and won local and state competitions, while performing in a youth orchestra. She earned a double B.A. in theory/composition and flute performance from Boston University, and then pursued her Masters degree in flute performance from Mannes College of Music. Her teachers during that time included Julius Baker and Alan Weiss. While still a student, Coleman formed the chamber group Imani Winds in

Jun 16, 2020 No Comments

Warren Township NAMM Foundation Award

This news is a bit belated, but I wanted to give a HUGE congratulations to the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, here in Indianapolis, for winning the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation 2020 Best Communities for Music Education–for the fifth year in a row! This award is only given to a very select group of schools throughout the country, so to be chosen five years in a row is an amazing achievement for this district’s performing arts programs. Warren Township, on the east side of Indianapolis, serves approximately 11,500 students from elementary through high school. This is not the first time that Warren’s performing arts programs have been nationally recognized, as they have earned Grammy Signature Schools Semi-Finalist recognition 9 times and were honored as a Grammy Signature School in 1999. Music ensembles have 27 appearances at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Organizational State Finals since the 1980s. The cornerstone of the Best Communities for Music Education award centers on support for K-12 music education by administration, faculty, students, and community. Ed Meckes, Director of Bands and Performing Arts Chair at Warren Central High School, says that the district applies every year by showcasing various

May 5, 2020 No Comments

What I’m tuning into this week

As our lifestyle of quarantining and social distancing drags on for another week, I’ve really been looking for the silver linings whenever I can. I am so thankful for continued employment for myself and my husband, the chance to be home with my daughter (who just turned 1–where has the time gone??), and finding new ways to connect and share music with others. In that spirit, I wanted to share some of the online events that I’ll be tuning into this week from amazing artists and industry professionals. All of these streaming events are free and open to the public, and you can either watch them live or view them later on their respective social media platform. Mimi Stillman: Tea and Mimi, Tuesdays 4pm Eastern Time, Facebook LiveThose of you have been following me for a while know it’s no secret that Mimi Stillman is a favorite of mine. Aside from being an absolutely flawless flute player, she is so kind and knowledgeable. Tuesdays at 4pm, she is presenting a “Tea with Mimi” concert series from her home on her Facebook page, playing a wide variety of solo pieces, from Bach to her own compositions. I will be posting the

Apr 28, 2020 No Comments

New flute choir arrangements

Being a local small business, I am always happy to support fellow small businesses whenever possible. From flute bags to private lessons, there are tons of opportunities to shop and support these types of businesses in the flute world. Now, I’m happy to announce that there is a new opportunity to support a local performer and entrepreneur in the Indianapolis area through her brand-new flute choir arrangements. If you don’t know Donna Wilson, we were happy to feature her on our blog a few months ago (if you missed it, find it here), and now she has added an exciting new job to her busy life: flute music arranger! Be sure to check out her growing library of works arranged for flute choir. These arrangements are currently only available on her website, but watch for more news and availability as her library grows! Shop local, play local, and enjoy these wonderful arrangements.

Mar 10, 2020 No Comments