One question that I get asked by customers frequently is “What should I be using to clean my instrument after playing?” It goes without saying that proper care of your instrument starts with, at the very least, cleaning out the moisture that accrues inside the instrument while it is being played. I wanted to address some common facts and myths about swabbing out a flute and discuss the best materials to use to do so. I often joke with customers that I am not a very good salesperson when it comes to inside swabbing materials. Many people come in looking for what they assume is a special material to use, and I usually send them on their way empty handed–but with good reason. In my experience, there is no better flute cleaner (keep in mind, we are talking about the inside of the instrument, not the outside silver finish) than a handkerchief-sized piece of plain white cotton from your rag pile at home–provided it is free of dyes or chemicals. For most people this includes something like a piece cut out of an old men’s undershirt or something similar. Cotton is both absorbent and gentle on the inside of the

This month’s brand spotlight coincides with some exciting things that are happening here at Paige’s Music for the last few months of the year. Yamaha intermediate instruments are our most popular step-up instrument store-wide, and with very good reason–read on to find out why. The exciting news is that now through the end of the year, we are offering a $50 or a $100 rebate (depending on the level of the step-up instrument) for any Yamaha intermediate instrument, flutes included! DID YOU KNOW? -Torakusu Yamaha, the founder of what is now the Yamaha Corporation, started his business by building his first reed organ in 1887. The company was officially established 10 years later. -Yamaha founded its own music school in 1954. -Yamaha Wind Instruments were not manufactured until 1965, 65 years after the production of the first Yamaha pianos. -The first Yamaha flute was introduced in 1970. Their exclusive handmade series flutes came about in 2011. For a cool graphic timeline, check this link out: http://www.yamaha.com/about_yamaha/corporate/product_history/index.html Yamaha flutes and piccolos are known for their exceptional durability, accessible tone that is powerful and not too bright or too dark, and wonderful features for the price of the instrument. Yamaha intermediate flutes

In the spirit of talking about the plethora of different options that are available for flutes, I am focusing this week on options that are available to customize your lip plate and/or riser. There are many things that can be added to this part of the flute, often for a reasonable cost, since the surface area is relatively small compared to the entire headjoint or body of the flute. One of the most common options that is often found on intermediate flutes is a gold-plated lip plate. This adds some color variety to the headjoint, but does not change the sound quality of the instrument, since it is just a layer of plating, as opposed to a solid material. However, this can be useful for players who have a silver sensitivity, as the gold replaces the silver resting against the bottom lip. Yamaha intermediate series flutes come with this option standard, and many other brands offer this option for little to no extra cost. On the other hand, adding solid gold (or other options such as rose gold) to the entire lip plate will change the quality of the sound, and of course will add an additional cost (which varies

One thing I have learned since coming to work at the Indy Flute Shop just over two years ago is this: there are a mind-blowing number of options available to customize your flute to your needs! Silver content, lip plate shapes and materials, silver mechanisms, engravings, key features–you name it, somebody has requested it! This can make shopping for a new flute both exciting and perhaps just a little bit terrifying. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be highlighting some of the most popular features of flutes that are available here in the shop. This week, we’ll be discussing the split E mechanism. The split E mechanism is a feature that is available on several step-up (intermediate) level flutes, as well as most higher-end instruments. This key option uses an additional rod and lever, permitting the lower G key to close when high E is played. Closing the lower G key and fingering high E decreases venting and brings more stability to the note with a faster response and without the “cracking” effect that many players struggle with, especially when leaping up into the higher register from the middle. This feature is very convenient and easy to transition

It seems that the countdown to the end of the school year is already on! Before the final concert is played and the end of the year madness begins, I thought I would take a little bit of time to go over one of the main purposes of the Indy Flute Shop, and how current Paige’s Music customers can go about trying and upgrading flutes for their student. Here are some of the basic ways this can happen: If you are currently renting a beginning flute from Paige’s Music: Customers who are renting an instrument from Paige’s are (with very few exceptions) pre-approved for an upgraded instrument. Even better news: up to 18 of your payments on a beginning (or Debut, as we call them) instrument can be directly applied to an upgrade! These instruments are also available on a rent-to-own agreement, and payments made on a Debut instrument will lower the original monthly payment of an upgrade. If you did not rent your beginning flute from Paige’s Music: Rent-to-own agreements, or outright purchase of an instrument from the Flute Shop, is still available if you purchased or rented your flute elsewhere. For a rent-to-own agreement, a credit approval is

Are you currently renting a flute from Paige’s Music or the Indy Flute Shop? Now that school is in session and music programs have hit the ground running, we are extending a special offer to our current rental customers! For the month of September, if you come into the Indy Flute Shop for an intermediate or higher-level instrument, your first month’s rental is FREE! This is the perfect time of year to think about upgrading your or your student’s instrument. For middle school students, this is often the time of year when teachers start “chair” auditions, and an intermediate-level instrument will give them a better edge with a superior sound and playing quality. High school students may be looking ahead to honor program and college auditions, and a step-up or “conservatory” level instrument is an option at that point. Whatever your instrument needs are–or even if you just have questions about your current rental–give Erin a call or an email!