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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

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 8

Episode 8 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to go. Several state, national, and international performing arts organizations were formed during this time, as well as big changes in our company. Watch the video to learn what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1975-1990! TRANSCRIPT:Welcome back to our journey through the history of Paige’s Music. Today, we’ll traverse through the 1970s and 1980s an explosive time for the performing arts.1976 also marked a major milestone for Paige’s Music. We opened our first Indianapolis location and have called Indianapolis home ever since.We expanded our business to first in Terre Haute to the mall. And then that grew and grew and then decided to put a store in Indianapolis. That would be our central location for our salesmen calling on schools. And it got it got to be real good.That same year, Paige’s Music partnered with Bands Of America and hosted the very first Grand National Championships at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.Seven years after landing on the moon NASA accomplished another feat by landing on Mars for the first time, a journey we were likely to repeat with astronauts in the coming decade.America’s achievements

Apr 20, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 7

Episode 7 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to go. A significant drum stick and mallet company started during this time as well as Drum Corps International. Watch the video to learn what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1960-1975! TRANSCRIPT:Hi there, Erin and Jeremy here. We’re back with more “Paige’s of History,” looking today at the years 1960-1975.This time period was a very eventful one, both in our country and for our company.Several important events shaped our modern history, such as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and the Beatles’ first American appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.The Vietnam War lasted for this entire time period, finally ending in April of 1975.In 1963, music educator Clifford Cook began the first U.S. based Suzuki string education program at Oberlin Conservatory, with 30 young students and 2 teachers. Suzuki methods are still widely used to this day to teach young children.That same year, percussionist Vic Firth founded his percussion company in Boston, Massachusetts.In 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts was created.This important agency provides grants and seeks to fund, promote, and strengthen the

Apr 13, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 6

We’re chugging right along in our Paige’s of History series, looking today at 1945-1960! A famous comedian from Indianapolis, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, as well as one of the most famous clarinets of all time were born during this time period. Watch the video to find out the answers, and to learn what else was happening in our country and with our company between these years! TRANSCRIPT:Hello everyone! And welcome back to another episode of our “Paige’s of History” Spotlight.This week we’ll be looking at the years 1945 through 1960…On April 12, 1947, comedian and talk show host extraordinaire David Letterman was born right here, in Indianapolis.That same year, in a YMCA on the West side of Chicago, approximately 120 directors assembled for a six-hour clinic and new music reading session. Today, what is now known as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, hosts 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.in 1950, Robert Carree developed the Buffett R13, which is still one of the most popular clarinets in the world.On June 25th, 1951, RCA Broadcasted its first color television program on CBS.On October 4th, 1957- The Cold War began to heat up when Russia

Mar 26, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 5

Episode 5 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is here! Watch the video to learn what was happening in our country and with our company between 1930-1945! TRANSCRIPT:Welcome back to Paige’s of History…Jeremy and Erin here. This week we’re taking a look at the years 1930-1945.Following the collapse of the global economy in late 1929, the country entered the Great Depression. Fortunately, Paige’s Music endured this difficult time.Frederick Paige passed away in 1932, leaving Paige’s Music solely in the hands of Warner Paige.In 1936, American gangster John Dillinger escaped from the supposedly “escape proof” county jail in Crown Point, Indiana.That same year, French manufacturer Henri Selmer Paris launched the “Balanced Action” saxophone—A revolution in modern saxophone design. Two years later, C.G. Conn released the Conn 8D French horn, the classic American horn prominently featured in the Original Star Wars Trilogy soundtrack.Legendary jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was born in Indianapolis in 1937.In otherworldly news, Krypton’s favorite son Superman appeared in Action Comics #1. Forewarning the history to come, Marvel Comics sold one million copies of Captain America punching Nazi leader Adolf Hitler nearly a year before the United States entered World War II.After 14 years of back-breaking construction, Mount Rushmore was

Mar 18, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 4

Episode 4 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to view. Concert and marching bands were on the rise and Indiana University School of Music opened its doors. Watch the video to find out when that was and what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1915-1930! Transcript:Hi there, Erin and John back with more “Paige’s of History,” looking at 1915-1930.The entrance of the United States into World War I in 1917 prompted the Wilson administration to promote a “patriotic mind-set.” Concert bands and marching bands were also used to promote patriotism for maintenance of civilian morale.College and university marching bands were also culturally influential during and after World War I, especially in the Midwest of the United States.In 1920, station KDKA in Pittsburgh became the first radio station to offer regular broadcasts, and in 1921, Indiana University School of Music opened its doors.In 1924, Vincent Bach began producing his line of trumpets, with musicians referring to a Bach trumpet as a real “Stradivarius.”The last half of the 1920s was a flurry of historical activity: the first motion picture with sound, The Jazz Singer, was released in 1927, Charles Lindbergh lands The Spirit of St.

Mar 11, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 3

Episode 3 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to view. It was a booming time in our country and our industry. One of the first school music programs started right here in Indiana. Watch the video above to find out where that was and what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1900-1915!Transcript:Hi there, Erin and John here againWe’re back with “Paige’s of History,” looking at the first 15 years of the 20th century.Sadly, William Harlan Paige passed away in 1901. His sons, Warner H. Paige and Frederick Paige, took over the business at that time. The turn of the century was a booming time, both for our country and the music business in general. Events such as the first silent film, the first successful flight of the Wright Brothers, and the rising popularity of ragtime music happened in the first 5 years of the 1900s.Things were hopping in the school music world, too: The Music Educators National Conference was formed in 1907, and in 1909 one of the first school band programs was formed by W. Otto Meissner in Connersville, Indiana.Companies like Paige’s would soon see a boom of demand for school musical

Mar 4, 2021 No Comments

Paige’s Music History Spotlight-Episode 2

Episode 2 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to view. Some of the most famous instrument brands were born during this time period, including a flute name you might recognize. Enjoy this video to find out what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1885-1900! Transcript: Today on “Paige’s of History,” we’re looking at the years 1885-1900.This time period saw the development of several notable instrument manufacturers on the heels of the second Industrial Revolution.Henri Selmer founded his namesake company in 1885 and eventually began producing world famous clarinets and saxophones, and William S. Haynes founded his flute company in Boston in 1888.Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd, now known as Yamaha Corporation, was founded by Torakasu Yamaha in 1887. Japanese woodwind maker Yanagisawa began importing their instruments for US military bands around this time as well.Just before New York’s Ellis Island began processing immigrants from other countries in the United States, Peter Ilioych Tchaikovsky conducted the first performance at Carnegie Hall.At the height of the military band movement, instrument maker J.W. Pepper patented the Sousaphone in 1893, and the world famous “Stars and Stripes Forever” was published in 1896.During this time period, military and extracurricular

Feb 25, 2021 No Comments

Re-introducing myself

It’s been a while since I’ve said “hey” around here, and I know I have a lot of new followers since this video came out, so I wanted to take a moment to re-“introduce” myself. Hi! My name is Erin Nichols, and I’m the manager of the Indy Flute Shop at Paige’s Music. I work with everyone from new players to students looking to upgrade their beginner flute from Paige’s Music to local and area professionals to help them find their next perfect forever instrument! I genuinely love what I do, even though I never saw myself in this kind of position. Other random things about me: I’m an I/ENFJ (who else loves Meyers-Briggs??), I have 3 senior pets (a 13-year old beagle, a 9-year old miniature pinscher mix, and a 12-year old red tabby cat), and I LOVE to read. I live in a historic neighborhood in Indianapolis with my husband of 13 years, Colin, and my almost-2 year old daughter, Ailey. If you want to know a little bit about me and my background, feel free to watch this video from about 3 years ago. Enjoy!

Jan 19, 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

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

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

event links and info

Wow! I am so happy and grateful to everyone who tuned in to our virtual event Tuesday night with Karen Moratz. It was so great to see everyone watching from all over the country and engaging in great discussions. We will definitely be hosting more of these types of events, so stay tuned. There was a ton of information that was given out, so I wanted to unpack everything in one central location. Below are all of the links that were discussed during our chat. www.paigesmusic.com www.indyfluteshop.com www.win-d-fender.com -Coupon code: MORATZ for 5% off-Erin has the Win-D-Fender in stock at the shop; call or email to place an order for pickup or free USPS shipping. Musicians of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestraisomusicians.org/facebook.com/ISOmusicians/instagram.com/isomusicians/twitch.tv/ISOMusicians Karen’s (NEW) Yoga studio pagewww.suryasta-yoga.com instagram.com/suryastayoga/YouTube: Suryasta Yoga facebook.com/suryastastudios/twitter.com/SuryastaYoga COVID StudiesUniversity of Colorado study pageBe sure to view July 13 as well as more recent results University of Colorado study round 1 results videoUniversity of Colorado study round 2 results videoResearcher talks about flute results: https://www.facebook.com/theflyingbaton/videos/570042633666941/?v=570042633666941 IDRS: 4 infectious disease/aerosol experts Texas Tech University Viral Spread Mitigation in Flute Playing currently underway, no info available yet Mixing/recording technology/miscellaneouswww.tomplay.com https://www.mixcord.co/pages/acapellaKoechlin Sonata for 2 Flutes

Aug 20, 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

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

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

C# trill key

This week’s blog is one from the archives…I think I have a few new followers since this video was originally posted in November 2014. I also look a tad more well-rested… This video is a quick overview of the purpose of the C# trill key, a feature available on many flutes in the Indy Flute Shop. Have you ever played a flute with a C# trill key? What do you think–unitasker or absolute necessity? Leave a comment below and let me know! C-Sharp Trill Key

Feb 11, 2020 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

Composer of the month: Philippe Gaubert

Our composer of the month for May is the illustrious Philippe Gaubert, who was also a respected conductor and flute performer as well as composer of flute music. Considered by some to be a “weekend composer,” he nonetheless wrote several pieces that are still staples of the flute repertoire today. He was considered one of the top French music composers between the two world wars. Gaubert began studying flute as a young boy with Jules Taffanel, father of the distinguished flautist Paul Taffanel. In 1890, impressed by his talent, Jules persuaded Paul to take the boy on as a pupil. He entered the Paris Conservatoire when Taffanel became professor of flute there in 1893. He was still a teenagerwhen he became the first chair flute at the Concerts du Conservatoire and the Paris Opera. At the same time, he studied composition and became an assistant conductor at the Concerts du Conservatoire from 1904. With the outbreak of World War I, Gaubert served in the French Army and fought at the Battle of Verdun, earning the Croix de Guerre. After he was discharged due to chronic bronchitis, Gaubertreturned to the Conservatoire where he was immediately named a professor of flute. Even though he was more well-known

May 14, 2019 No Comments