Instruments

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

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

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

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

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

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

150th Anniversary Sale

We’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of Paige’s Music all 2021, but April is extra special–we’re giving you $150 off any Premier rental or purchase (no foolin’)! Any instrument from the Indy Flute Shop will qualify for this discount–just complete your purchase or rental anytime during this month! Outright purchases will receive a $150 instant rebate for in-stock instruments. If you choose to rent instead, no problem! Current renters of a Paige’s Music student flute will receive an extra $150 added to their rent credit. New renter? No problem! We’ll take $150 off of your rental package price for qualified new rentals. The fine print: offer applies to in-stock instruments only. Available to qualified customers. Not valid for accessory purchases.

Apr 1, 2021 No Comments

Flute history crash course

As I mentioned in last week’s post, this year Paige’s Music is celebrating 150 years in business! I am part of a research team that is diving into the history of the past 150 years–I haven’t done any research since I was in grad school, and I’m loving it! I figured this was a great time to do a series delving into the history of the flute, so this week is a crash course over the history and evolution of the instrument itself. Many thanks to Gemeinhardt for this awesome timeline. While the term “flute” refers to a broad number of instruments which are found in many different cultures, we will be exploring the history of our modern flute. There are many names for this special kind of flute. These names include: cross flute, German flute, transverse flute and flauto traverso. What is important about all of these names is that they define an instrument that is held horizontally while being played. A flute dating back to approximately 900 B.C. was found in China and called a ch’ie. To date, the oldest flutes have been found in the Swabian Alps region of Germany, and are said to have been from

Jan 12, 2021 1 Comment

Open-holed flutes

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately from parents coming in to upgrade their student’s flute about the purpose of open-holed keys on the flute. Truth be told, there are a lot of differing philosophies about this subject, and the trends are different depending on where you are in the world, believe it or not! Here are some of the most basic reasons for why most flutes you’ll encounter, besides student flutes, will have open holes. As flutes evolved from an instrument with no keys but simply holes which were covered by the fingers, to ring keys (similar to a clarinet), to the traditional keys we see on French-style flutes today, open holes have generally been the standard of how keys were constructed, particularly in the United States. Plateau-style, or closed-hole keys, came a bit later and are almost universally used on student flutes, as the player gets used to the proper hand position. Once a flutist upgrades to an intermediate step-up flute or higher, open holes becomes the new standard. This feature requires more accurate finger placement on the keys, which can improve technique. As a flutist transitions from closed to open holes, plugs made of plastic, silicone,

Dec 8, 2020 No Comments

December piccolo special

For the month of December, we are offering BIG savings on our most popular piccolo, the Storm series by Roy Seaman! While supplies last, get $10/month off a new Storm piccolo (normally $60/month), OR rent or purchase a flute from the Indy Flute Shop and receive $20/month off! You don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to get this affordable, versatile instrument in your hands for a special price. For more than 30 years, Roy Seaman piccolos have been the choice for both new and discerning piccolo players worldwide, and the Storm series is a great option for players who need the stability and durability of a composite instrument with the superior tone quality of wood. Since it is a plastic-based material, performers can use it on the marching field, but without sacrificing the sound quality of a wood instrument. The Storm is available with a traditional headjoint or the revolutionary Wave headjoint—a great option for beginning and experienced players alike. Storm piccolos are 100% made and assembled right here in Indiana, so you can feel good about shopping local for the holidays for the piccolo player in your life. This is a limited-time offer, so make your

Dec 3, 2020 No Comments

Super Sale 2020

We go ALL OUT for our annual Super Sale. Here’s how this worksVisit our store Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21. Draw a ticket for 5-50% off your purchase. There really are tickets for 50% off. And we do not limit savings to bargain items. Customers have literally saved THOUSANDS on everything from Altus flutes to Yamaha piccolos and everything else under the flute-related sun. Prefer to rent? We’ve got you covered.All tickets will give you two to four months off ANY premier instrument on our rent-to-own program. This includes intermediate and professional flutes, piccolos, and auxiliary instruments, as well as accessories like LeFreques and Fluterscooter bags. You still get all the same great rent-to-own benefits through Paige’s Music–it’s kind of a big deal. Free repair and replacement? Check. Easy exchange? Check. Easy return? Check. Early purchase discount options? Check. Do you offer traditional financing? YES.We offer special financing on Yamaha instruments. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within 18 months. Minimum monthly payments required. Financing offered through Synchrony.Want to finance something else? Email Erin at erin@indyfluteshop or call her at 317.813.2044 and we’ll chat

Nov 10, 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

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

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

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

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

Summer step-up promo

As school ends and summer begins, we’re all looking for ways to safely ease back into some kind of normal, whatever that means. And what better way to get in the mood for summer than with a sale? We know that times have been tough, and many people have taken a hit financially, so we want to make it just a little bit easier for you to get a new flute or piccolo for you or your student. Now through the end of June, the Indy Flute Shop is offering a special promotion for all intermediate and higher level flutes and piccolos. For this special promotion, you will be able to have your new instrument for two months before any payments will be due on our easy and flexible rent-to-own plan. Any rental that is completed online or in-store any time during the month of June is eligible, and your first payment will be due August 1. This applies to new rentals or our easy upgrade program from Paige’s Music’s Debut Rental Program. If you’re not currently renting a beginning flute from Paige’s Music, no problem! Here are some of the benefits of renting an intermediate flute or piccolo from

Jun 3, 2020 No Comments

Summer instrument repair

“School’s out for summer!” That phrase seems so nebulous these days, doesn’t it? What has school looked like for the past 3 months? What is “out,” exactly? And what is summer, and beyond, going to look like for us? There are still so many uncertainties that we face, but we here at the Indy Flute Shop and Paige’s Music want to make sure that your instruments are well taken care of over the summer as you practice and prepare for whatever next school year may bring. For many of you, summer is the perfect time to get your instrument serviced, so here is some information on how to go about getting that done. One option to get your instrument repaired this summer is to simply visit our showroom in Indianapolis and drop your instrument off. We are also still offering curbside service. You will leave your instrument with our knowledgeable repair staff, they will contact you after a brief quarantine period with a free, no-obligation repair estimate if you do not have a rental or service policy with us, and most repairs are completed within a week. Loaners are free if you are renting from us, or you may rent

May 28, 2020 2 Comments