Tips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flute Assembly Tips

Greetings from the Indy Flute Shop! I truly hope all of you are staying safe, healthy, and (mostly) sane as this highly unusual time trudges on. Personally, I’m holding on to the fact that this too shall pass—and it will! Life will return to normal. We will be able to visit friends and family, participate in activities, and make music together again. In the meantime, I wanted to share some more “back to basics” tips for keeping your flute in good working order, especially during this time. Sometimes when flutes come in for repair, the issue is due to improper assembly and disassembly. The tenon, or the area where the instrument pieces go together, is a thin piece of metal and can be bent or broken with repeated misuse. In the video below, one of our woodwind technicians, Steve “Sarge” Grimes, shares some flute assembly tips on how taking a flute apart improperly can damage the tenon joint over time. If you missed the post a few weeks ago, make sure you are properly caring for your instrument after playing with these basic tips on caring for your flute.

Apr 21, 2020 No Comments

Paige’s Music Curbside Pickup Available Again

Beginning Tuesday, April 14th we will be open normal business hours to take phone, email, online orders and to provide contact-free curbside pick-up while our showrooms remain closed. We will also be running a modified delivery route to central locations in local school districts on an as-needed basis and every purchase during the stay at home order will receive free shipping to your home. Please contact us so we can work with you to provide the most convenient arrangements possible to serve you during this current stay-at-home order. Curbside Service Details 1. Call us at 317-842-2102 It’s best to call ahead so we can get your order or serviced items ready to go prior to your arrival. This will save you time once you’re here. 2. We’ll take your order or prepare your loaner or repair to be picked up. 3. Call us again when you arrive. The number again is 317-842-2102. 4. One of our staff members will bring your items out to you. Staff members use hand sanitizer between each customer interaction We use disinfectant wipes on the handles of each instrument prior to bringing then out to you. Receipts can be emailed to you if we have your

Apr 14, 2020 No Comments

Updates and resources

Let’s address the elephant in the room–these are some crazy times we’re going through right now. The situation is changing hourly, but the effects are already deeply felt by everyone in the music community, all over the country. Being a part of the music business feels like such a small world, and I know so many of you are suffering from cancelled performances, lost revenue, and other hardships. I see you. I feel you. I’ve struggled to decide what to write on my weekly update here, so I’m going to do my best just to provide you with some helpful information. First of all, we are still open for the time being. Again, so many new developments are happening at a very fast pace, so we are monitoring the situation and making smart decisions, which right now includes lots of hand washing, cleaning instruments, and keeping a safe distance from customers. If you do desire to play test instruments at this point, we will ask you to wash your hands beforehand. All flutes will be wiped with alcohol swabs beforehand and swabbed out thoroughly afterwards. Instrument exchanges, purchases, and upgrades can still be made in store for the time being.

Mar 17, 2020 No Comments

Reblog: Mindfulness

This week’s blog is a repost from Donna Wilson, flutist, mom, and blogger extraordinaire! Donna has been active as a freelance performer since 1992 and as a teacher since 1996. She currently serves as Second Flute with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic orchestra and is Adjunct Professor of Flute at Indiana Wesleyan University. Donna is also currently the President of the Greater Indianapolis Flute Club, a group committed to connecting with the flute community and sharing the joy of flute music and performing. She earned a Master of Music in Performance with Distinction at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England studying with Peter Lloyd and Laura Jellicoe, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Performance with Distinction at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied principally with Kathryn Lukas. In addition to her busy schedule, Donna runs the blog “Mommy’s Gotta Practice,” a site devoted to musicians, working moms, and everything in between! This blog post by Donna, entitled “Mindfulness–It’s Not Just the Latest Buzzword!,” really resonated with me both as a musician and a new mother. I have some thoughts that I will share in next week’s blog, but for this week, please enjoy

Sep 10, 2019 No Comments

FAQ: How to clean your cleaning supplies

I got a comment recently on a past blog post that inspired me to create this post on how to take care of your instrument cleaning supplies! With a little TLC, your cleaning supplies can last for several years. So when your cleaning cloths get a little dirty, save your hard-earned dollars and give them a scrub! Interior cleaning swabs Swab cloths to clean the inside of the flute are generally made of cotton or silk, or a hybrid of the two. When it starts looking (or smelling…) like it needs a cleaning, feel free to hand-wash it or toss it in the washing machine. My best recommendation is to wash with warm water with NO liquid fabric softener. Liquid softeners leave a residue on cloth that can build up over time and can transfer to the metal and pads inside of the flute, so it’s best not to use it. Hang dry or tumble dry low, with like materials. If your cloth has a “raw” edge I would not recommend putting it in the dryer. Exterior polishing cloths Like interior swabs, polishing cloths can be washed in a similar manner, in warm water with no liquid softener, or as

Sep 3, 2019 No Comments

FAQ: How do I get my instrument repaired?

Have you or your student recently started back to school, only to find that your playing is a bit…rusty? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Lots of students take the summers easy when it comes to playing your flute, and you may find that when you pick it back up again, that it is in need of some repair and maintenance. We have you covered! Sending an instrument into Paige’s Music for repair is a very easy process. Here’s what you need to do: How Do I Get My Instrument Repaired? – FAQ | Paige’s Music News about band and orchestra rentals, sales and service in Indiana 1. Call us at 1-800-382-1099 to let us know that your instrument needs service. We’ll arrange for a loaner to be sent to your school so your student isn’t without an instrument for class. TIP: You’ll need to keep your accessories and cleaning items with you so that you’ll have them to use with the loaner until your instrument is returned to you. 2. Our District Manager will bring the loaner with him on his next visit to your school. He will also pick up your instrument and bring it back to the

Aug 13, 2019 No Comments

New band parents info

For many of you, it is just about time to begin the exciting journey of starting your student on an instrument for beginning band! If you have come to this site looking for information about renting a beginning flute, first of all–welcome! You and your student are about to embark on a wonderful, fulfilling journey of flute playing. At the Indy Flute Shop, in partnership with Paige’s Music, we have partnered with many schools throughout the state to become the supplier of school band and orchestra instruments. The Indy Flute Shop carries instruments at the intermediate to advanced level, which most families choose to pursue after their student has been playing for a year or two. For many families, the easiest option is to rent. Renting with Paige’s Music is a great opportunity to participate in music-making. We make rental easy and convenient and provide you with peace of mind. All of our band and orchestra rentals include free repair and replacement, free deliveries and pick-up, exchange, return, and early purchase discount options. We have several convenient options for renting an instrument on our Debut Rental plan. The most convenient option for renting an instrument is our online Option. First,

Jul 16, 2019 No Comments

A Summer Practice Guide for Middle School Band and Orchestra Students

The article below is written by Mr. Alex Keim, band director, at Noblesville East Middle School. When we asked him if we could post it here, he mentioned “It is geared toward 6th grade band, but it is definitely applicable to all middle school students returning to 7th or 8th grade.” We felt like it was great advice that all middle school band and orchestra students could benefit from.

Jun 18, 2019 No Comments

Care Tips for Summer

We’ve had mild weather so far this season, but those hot, humid days are right around the corner. Many of you are out of school for the summer, and perhaps taking advantage of some opportunities to perform or practice outside. Many community bands in the area host outdoor concert series, which is great, but it does come with some extra necessities as far as taking care of your instrument. Here are a few tips to ensure that your instrument doesn’t suffer in the heat. 1. Always make sure to store your instrument away from heat and direct sunlight. In the summertime, this means avoiding leaving it in your car for long periods of time. Car interiors can get very hot, and while short times exposed to heat might not make a big difference, over time it can actually start to melt the glue that holds the flute pads in place. They may come unseated or fall out completely. As you probably know, having new pads installed in a flute is quite expensive, so avoiding temperature extremes will definitely save you money in the long run. 2. Keep a polishing cloth handy. When the temperature rises, we sweat, and when we

Jun 11, 2019 No Comments