Whether you’re performing for a crowd of ten or a crowd of 10,000, you know how important it is to have the best tools and accessories at your disposal. The last thing you want when performing a complex piece of music is for your performance to suffer because the quality of your musical accessories was lacking. Whether you’re leading a high school music class or a player in a symphony, you want your music stand to work for and not against you. It’s for this reason that we’ve put together a helpful guide for anyone who’s looking to pick up a music stand that’ll suit their specific needs.
Manhasset M48 Symphony Music Stand
Music stands come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most important thing you should consider when selecting one is its sturdiness. Music stands need to be able to handle the books of sheet music you’ll be placing on them. Unsteady ones that are prone to toppling over simply won’t do when you’re performing live. If you’re in the market for a high-end, sturdy music stand, look no further than the Manhasset M48 Symphony music stand. Described as an “industry standard by which other music stands are judged,” the Manhasset M48 Symphony music stand will provide you with a desk size of 20”W x 12-7/8”H, allowing plenty of room for your sheet music. The Manhasset M48 also features the “Magic-Finger” clutch which lets you adjust the height of the stand from 28” to 50”. At Music & Arts, it’s available for only $47.50 compared to its usual list price of $81.95
Manhasset 53D Drummers Music Stand
In terms of height, the adjustability of your music stand can be incredibly important depending on the type of instrument you play. For example, drummers can use the Manhasset 53D Drummers music stand because of the 16” shaft that enables the stand to be connected to all varieties of drum set tom mount hardware, hi-hat/cymbal stands, and percussion instrument racks. On top of all of this, the Manhasset 53D features a full-size desk for sheet music. Drummers will certainly appreciate the convenience and customizability of this music stand, as it was designed especially for them. It’s available at Music & Arts for $79.99, from a list price of $98.50. One other great detail about the Manhasset music stands is that they all come with a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ten years from the date of purchase.
K&M Ruka Ultra Lightweight Music Stand
For musicians that travel a lot and require a collapsible music stand, there are many options available. Collapsible music stands tend to be a little bit less sturdy but they have been designed to take up a lot less space, which can be incredibly valuable when you’re traveling. Another advantage of collapsible music stands is that they also tend to be inexpensive. Ranging anywhere from $7 to $36, there’s sure to be a collapsible music stand that’ll serve your needs while you tour. One of the most highly rated collapsible music stands is the K&M Ruka Ultra Lightweight music stand. Made by Koenig & Meyer, this simple yet stylish music stand has a large and deep desk. Despite this, it still collapses down to less than 20” and can easily fit into a briefcase or tote bag. It sells for $36.99.
Hamilton Folding Music Stand
If you’re just looking for a simple, straightforward and inexpensive music stand, you need look no further than the Hamilton Folding Music Stand. This model is the most popular and enduring model from Hamilton Stands because it folds easily and quickly. This music stand features a deep shelf for holding extra music and spring clips for keeping it securely positioned. The Hamilton Folding Music Stand sells for only $8.04 and comes with a limited lifetime warranty (against defects in materials and worksmanship).
Quik-Lok Small Clamp-On Sheet Music Holder
If you’re looking for something smaller that you can clip onto your mic stand, the Quik-Lok Small Clamp-On Sheet Music Holder is a popular choice. It measures 11.75’ W x 7.9” H, it’s large enough to handle most sheet music. The Quik-Lok’s small size makes it an incredibly convenient sheet music holder for travelling musicians who don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up. It’s price of $17.71, when you purchase it from Music & Arts, also makes it an attractive option.
Stageline MS40 Music Stand
One way to ensure the sturdiness of your music stand is to purchase a beautifully manufactured wooden Stageline MS40 Music Stand. Available in oak, walnut, or black finishes, this lovely wooden music stand will certainly stand apart from the aluminum music stands that everyone else uses. Although it’s usually listed at $199.99, it’s available from Music & Arts for just $112.59.
Music stands come in many different shapes, sizes, levels of sturdiness, and convenience. It’s important that you take all of these factors into account when you’re shopping for a music stand of your own. For some musicians, like drummers, the choice is relatively simple as there are music stands specifically designed for them. For travelling musicians, it can be a balancing act of convenience, reliability, and cost that need to be taken into account when choosing which stand to buy. For musicians looking for a music stand to practice with in their home or studio, investing in a quality music stand can certainly be a great idea. Whatever instrument you play, whatever your needs are, at Music & Arts we strive to provide every musician with the best tools available.