June 2023

Take a Stand!

by Virginia Felton

What makes a good music stand? Factors to consider

The lowly music stand is often the last thing we amateur musicians pay attention to—until a stray elbow knocks one over in the middle of a workshop and everyone stops to help retrieve the errant sheet music. Oops! 

If you acquired your first music stand when you started band in junior high, or more recently when you took up the recorder, perhaps now is the time to treat yourself to a new one. The factors that contribute to a music stand’s usefulness are not complicated, but they are worth thinking about before you buy.

Although music stands are widely available on Amazon and elsewhere, please consider our ARS Business members when purchasing.

At the other end of the spectrum, you may be able to find a two-piece wire frame stand for $5 - $10. If it never leaves your practice room, it will probably be fine, but the “bookplate,” the part that holds the music, may come flying off at the slightest nudge, and the stand’s adjustments will be minimal.

One-piece music stands have the advantage of avoiding this danger, although they may be awkward to assemble. Regardless of which folding music stand you acquire, take the time  to practice setting it up and taking it down so you can be as efficient as possible. Once you are at a workshop, this will save you valuable time as you are getting set up for a workshop class or stay too late and  have to rush to the next one.

Regardless of whether a wire stand is one- or two-piece, be very careful when opening it and make sure that you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for expanding the bookplate. It is possible to “get your wires crossed,” and untangling them can be a challenge.

Of course, the sturdier the stand, the heavier it is likely to be. Konig & Meyer is a well-known maker of folding stands. One of its standard models weighs in at 3.3 pounds and costs as much as a stationary Manhasset. But it is study and reasonably easy to set up and take down.

Here are a few others to consider:

Kasonic 2-in-1 Dual-Use Folding Sheet Music Stand

This is called “dual-use” because the bookplate is removable and can be used on a desktop (handy for those Zoom ensembles), but it also attaches securely to the shaft. It is very lightweight (2.14 pounds) and comes with a carrying case. It currently retails for around $18.

Donner Sheet Music Stand

This stand is somewhat pricier at $32+, but has the advantage of a wide bookplate of nearly 20 inches—wide enough to accommodate three sheets of music without a page turn. It is heavier than many, at 4.09 pounds, but is sturdy. Available on Amazon.

On-Stage SM7122

This stand is among the lightest (2.6 pounds) and comes in a variety of colors. It is less sturdy than the others mentioned here, but is still a good value at $18.95. On Amazon.

Some additional stands to consider

Many recorder players wax poetic about the super-lightweight Yamaha 250 ALS stand. It is not easily available in the US, however, it can sometimes be found on eBay or Amazon or eBay. A close alternative is the Strukure Deluxe Stand, which comes in a variety of colors and is also made of aluminum. 

An interesting and unique stand is the Presto, sold by Desca Music. It is all plastic, has a wide bookplate, folds, and includes a built-in pencil shelf. It retails for $79 and weighs 3.5 pounds.

Other considerations

Some music stands now come with shafts that will accommodate a tablet or computer for music reading. Also, Manhasset makes a plastic shelf that will fit onto most any stand and provides a place to set a soprano or alto recorder (about $7). 

The internet provides plenty of choices, and a couple of sites rank various stands. If you are ready to do some web sleuthing, try Musicradar.com or bestreviews.com.

Also, keep an eye out when you are at a workshop for the stands that seem most appealing. Fellow musicians are usually happy to compare notes.

It is a good idea to slap a name and address label with your phone number on the bottom of your stand’s shelf so that it can find its way back to you if you accidentally leave it behind. Also, small magnets will adhere to most metal stands, and can help keep music in place if it is breezy. 

A few years ago ARS President Carol Mishler wrote an ARS NOVA piece about easy hacks to make your music stand work better. It includes tips about accommodating wider music, keeping your pencil handy and stand lights.

Workshops!

And while we are on the subject of workshops, here’s an ARS NOVA piece that will help you get the most out of the ones you are planning to attend this summer. 

Plus, there are lots of workshops across the country that still have a spot for you. You’ll find a list of them here. Even if it looks like the time for registration may have passed, don’t hesitate to register anyway. Many workshop directors will still welcome you warmly.

Virginia Felton, ARS Board Member

Caveat Emptor: The opinions expressed in this piece represent solely the wisdom or folly of the author.