Some more exciting news for the shop: we just received an exciting addition to our Powell line, the Aurumite-clad signature headjoint! This headjoint is available as an upgrade to either the Powell Sonare intermediate line or on a Signature handmade flute, both of which are in stock here! This material was introducted at the NFA convention a few years ago, and I have found it to be an affordable yet quite effective upgrade to either of these instruments. Powell’s concept for making this fusion metal was to put a flute tube of one precious metal inside another. The inner “tube” would be made of a relatively dense and expensive precious metal compared to the other tube. The patented process accomplishes this by metallurgically bonding sterling silver and 14k gold to each other while each is still in sheet (or flat) form. The resulting laminated sheet is then cupped and drawn into flute tubing just like most other flute tubes are made. The version of this fusion technology which has become most popular over the past four years is Aurumite. According to Powell specialist Hannah Liuzzo, the 9K rose gold on the exterior of the KT headjoint offers qualities that are

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. You will select your school and your instrument and our system will autofill everything selected by your director for that instrument. From there, we can

Nothing incites more sticker shock in this industry than finding out that someone’s instrument, after careful storage for many years, is in dire need of a re-pad and overhaul. In a perfect world, a flute could sit on a shelf for untold numbers of years and be ready to play just as good as new–but unfortunately, the opposite is often the case. Pads, which serve the purpose of sealing the keys to the tone hole when depressed, are made of a combination of cardboard, felt, and thin intestine-like material, all of which are inherently disposable eventually. After years of neglect, temperature and moisture changes, and (ick!) the possibility of bug infestation, a re-pad, or overhaul, is almost always necessary. So why does this cost so much? Well, here’s the long answer: First, the mechanism and keys are removed, pinned sections are broken down and lubricated, and pins are replaced as necessary. Have you seen a flute completely taken apart, IKEA style? There are a TON of tiny little parts! The mechanism is then cleaned out and polished. Keys are adjusted as necessary to remove excess side play within a section. Pivot screws and pivot joints are cleaned and refitted to

I have been doing some comparison shopping for a customer, and I field quite a bit of questions about them, so our topic for the week: bass flutes! In the past 5 years, I have seen an explosion of music–both band/orchestral and flute choir–written with bass flute parts. These wonderful instruments can be a bit hard to find, so I have included a list of the most popular ones. Altus Since its creation, the Altus Bass Flute has established a solid reputation for reliable performance among artists and students alike. The consistent performance qualities of a balanced tone throughout the range has contributed to building confidence with flutists who choose to play and recommend these larger instruments. The hand crafted Altus Bass flute has received particular praise for its truly superb scale, even tone color, and unique timbre. This instrument is silver plated with a sterling silver lip plate and riser. It is the most expensive of the bass flutes that I am able to order, starting at $8,700. Gemeinhardt The Gemeinhardt 21BSP bass flute is an excellent option for flute choirs and soloists alike. The keywork is designed for ergonomically correct hand positions, and the headjoint is great for

Hi there! Our director of marketing, Tim Gee, recently undertook the huge task of updating all of our instrument care videos. The original videos were done just before HD became popular, so it was time for a redo. Below is the general care and maintenance video for flute, with instruction given by yours truly! If you’d like to see the rest of the flute videos, you can view them on our Flute Care & Maintenance page.

I have a very exciting announcement to make: we are now able to upgrade current customers to an intermediate level instrument online! Our technical support staff has been hard at work to ensure this process goes as smoothly as possible, so we are excited to finally be able to roll it out. Here’s what you need to do: 1. Call the Indy Flute Shop to talk about upgrade options and pricing, or send us an email. Please note, it’s best to have a conversation with Erin over the phone if you are not able to make it in the store. I’ll do my best to find the best instrument to fit your student’s needs and your budget, based on what you have paid into your current instrument. 2. Once a price point and model has been determined, watch your email for a link to complete an online “application.” You’re already approved at this point; we just need to make sure we have all of the correct information to update your agreement. 3. Complete the application and send it back to us, ensuring you have the correct initial and ongoing payment methods. 4. Your student’s instrument will be delivered via the

We are very pleased to announce that we now have an additional Straubinger-certified tech here at our full-service repair shop, Ben Bruemmer! He has successfully completed training to become a certified Straubinger Pad Technician. These pads are specifically designed to be used in higher end professional flutes and require specialized training. Straubinger™ Pads are designed specifically for hand-made flutes and consist of different materials and components than a traditional pad. The patented pad support unit and profiled washer are machined to close tolerances, one at a time, on a high precision lathe. The actual installation of the Straubinger Pad requires careful preparation of the flute. The instrument must be in the very finest mechanical condition in order for the pads to be installed properly. The tone holes must be shaped correctly and the cups perfectly aligned over the tone holes. The spuds must be at a precise height, and the screw washers and bushings (grommets) a particular shape. Special tools are required to perform this work. The pad certification training is an intensive three-day course, designed specifically to cover the concepts, methods of application, and procedures required to install Straubinger Pads correctly. This very specific training is designed exclusively for

As contest season comes to a close we feel it is the perfect time to reward your student for his or her hard work by upgrading to a higher level instrument. If you’ve been looking for a good reason to exchange your beginner instrument for a more advanced instrument, Saturday, February 24, 2018 may be the perfect time to do just that! On Saturday, February 24th Paige’s Music and the Indy Flute Shop are presenting an exclusive offer to those who have competed in solo and ensemble contest earlier in the day. If your student brings his or her contest medal into our store we will take one month off of a new rent-to-own agreement or 7% off an outright purchase of an intermediate or professional level instrument. We have a variety of step-up instruments available for rental. If you have any questions about upgrade options, please call or email us and we can explain our Premier step-up rental program. Offer valid in store only. Offer only applies to in stock inventory. Call or email Erin with any questions!

Are you shopping for a favorite flutist in your life? The IFS carries several accessories that range from simple to stylish! For more ideas, just read on… One of the most popular accessories for flute players who are looking to improve their hand position is the Thumbport. The Thumbport attaches easily to the body of the flute, directly under the pointer finger on the right hand. It is made of a smooth rubber material, so there is no worry of scratching or scuffing the silver finish. The device features a small notch that is meant to provide some extra support for the right hand thumb and help guide the right hand into a better position–what I like to call the “pop can” hand, if you can envision the shape that your hand makes when holding a can of your favorite delicious carbonated beverage. In addition to being very helpful in developing better hand position, the Thumbport also comes in a variety of different colors, complete with a little satin carrying bag. If your student has been playing for a couple of years, you may notice that their cleaning supplies are getting a bit…well, worse for wear. There are a variety

Last week we went over the procedures for turning your instrument if you or your student is no longer going to be playing. This week, let’s chat about what to do with your instrument if you are going to continue playing! Of course, we hope your summer plans leave you lots of time for practice, but it’s also a great time to catch up on maintenance for your flute. If summer is a down time for you and your playing time, then you should send your instrument in for a check-up. We recommend two visits each year to help keep your instrument in proper playing condition and the summer is the perfect time. In fact, schools across the state will be sending in all kinds of school-owned instruments this summer to be cleaned, repaired, and refurbished so that they are ready to go for the next school year. The best way to get your horn serviced during the summer is to bring it to the store. Our District Managers are visiting some schools during the summer, but not all schools and not every week. It’s very sporadic. The safe thing to do is call us first to see if arrangements