Own an ex-demo Music Practice Room at special offer price

Here is a great opportunity to own a sound-isolating Music Practice Room. Previously a central feature of our exhibition stand at Music Education Expo 2014 this room is now available at a dramatically discounted price of £10,995 + VAT. Even better value, this one time only offer price, includes installation too. 

Measuring a generous 2,610 x 2,045mm this model includes two ventilation panels and window door for security. Some Terms & Conditions apply. 

ISBA and MMA Conferences coming up

Black Cat Music will be attending two important conferences in May.

The Independent Schools’ Bursars Association Annual Conference at Harrogate is first on 7th and 8th May. Then it is on to the MMA Conference at St George’s College, Weybridge on May 16th to 18th. 

ISBA Conference delegates are invited to drop by the Black Cat Music exhibition stand where examples from their comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment will be on display, as well as to update on the popular Black Cat Music Structured Payments Scheme. The 2014 ISBA annual conference will take place at the Harrogate International Centre in Yorkshire. 

The MMA Conference at St George’s College, Weybridge will be hosted by the Director of Music Tansy Castledine, together with MMA President Sandy Chenery and the team from St George’s. This year’s MMA Conference promises an enjoyable and invaluable comprehensive progamme to inspire music teachers and practitioners.

It’s only Rack n Roll but we like it

It is not just musical instruments and music that needs to be stored and managed – how about costumes, concert wear, band uniforms and robes? Think Rack n Roll from Black Cat Music. 

Wenger’s Rack n Roll system is the easy, smart way to move your bulky garments, costumes and props from storage to rehearsal or performance for a fast change. The Rack ‘n Roll garment rack is heavy-duty enough to hold a full wardrobe, but designed so efficiently it can easily roll through standard doorways or elevators. Now you can keep your valuable investments off the floor when you need to move them — so no more soiled or torn costumes. Garment racks are available in both a 4' (1.2 m) and 6' (1.8 m) model. They can be easily disassembled without tools. 

Big step forward in portable staging

Portable staging that is easy to transport and store, yet is strong, safe and configurable into any combination is setting new standards thanks to the Wenger StageTek system.

StageTek™ system , available from Black Cat Music, is a refined smart staging system resulting from extensive research, engineering and technical advancements in materials and manufacturing. These technical advances have resulted in a staging system that is 20% lighter, stronger, easier to handle and faster to set up. 

Affordably priced, when it comes to stretching investment across multiple needs like seated risers and performance stages, this new system has it all. But there is no compromise on performance, comfortably exceeding required standards on three critical loading capacity measures for uniform load, point load and dynamic load. Plus it is easy to handle, lighter to lift and with nice smooth edges for safety it is really easy to set up too. Anyone can set up StageTek in minutes, all without the need for any tools.

Configurations including single or multi-level stages, thrust stages, choral risers, runways and many more options become possible in both scale and shape facilitated by a selection of different height, ‘plug-in’ legs. These simple to use, economical but strong plug-in legs secured by hand-turned locking knobs make hundreds of configurations possible to meet a wide variety of needs. 

When it is time to dismantle, legs can be stored on the underside of the deck and panels quickly loaded on to a storage and transport cart that fits through standard door sizes. Designed to save as much as 50% in storage space compared to other systems, StageTek can be wheeled to a storage place or transported to another venue.

Encore chairs help choir sit up and take notice

Thanks to a purchase of 24 Encore Chairs from Black Cat Music, a German church choir and musicians are now sitting upright in an ergonomically comfortable position for good posture. 

Standard chairs let the musician slouch, allowing the spine to be forced out of its natural supportive position. This lowers the rib cage and constricts the diaphragm, reducing airflow. Wenger Music Posture Chair design redefined what a music chair should be by providing the seated musician with the same strong, natural posture as if they were standing. 

The Encore chair from Black Cat Music is a well-researched and developed chair offering comfort and support to the musician. With its curved 'waterfall' edge and slender back, musicians sustain a more upright and poised position. Speaking from Sankt Jakobus Kirche in the small Thuringian town of Ilmenau Frau Gröpler told us, “The Encore chairs have arrived! They have already been tested by our trombone section and they think they are great. We are pleased that everything has worked so well. The chairs are perfect for our musicians - the narrow backrest is especially good for the string players. The stackability of the chairs is also very important for us.” 

Have you signed up to save when buying music education equipment?

At Black Cat Music we know that budgets are under pressure everywhere. That’s why we wanted to remind customers of our Education Discount Programme, where you can save money each time you buy products for your education establishment.

It’s simple, free to join and you can start saving 5% on all standard products purchased for schools, colleges and universities – in fact any education establishment located in the United Kingdom. Just log on to the Black Cat Music web site to complete the online application form. We will then send you a confirmation email and your discount code to use each time you make a purchase of standard priced products. 

And don’t forget to check your post, because there will be a limited edition Black Cat Music coffee mug on its way to you as a welcome gift. Look out too for our special monthly offers. As a member of our Education Group you will enjoy previews of these offers typically up to a week before everyone else – great news when stocks of discounted products are limited. Finally you can follow us and join in the conversation on Twitter, Our blog and Facebook for all the latest buzz, news, our take on inspiring music and a weekly fun spot.

Don’t miss our discounted prices on Classic 50 music stands

When you get back at schoool for the new term and the Easter eggs are just a fast fading memory – then here is some good news. In case you missed it, during April Black Cat Music is offering 10% discount on Classic 50 music stands and there is still time to order! 

Quantity discount breaks allow prices as low as £37.12 each when purchased in quantities of 50 or more. Schools and colleges looking to equip with new music stands designed for robust and regular handling can still take advantage of this great offer. But hurry, the offer must close at the end of the month. 

Already a top seller, the popular Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. Its elegant design makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments. To learn more watch the Classic 50 put through its paces at YouTube.com 

For full details on the April offer can be found on the Black Cat Music web site. 

Black Cat Music team to attend MMA Conference

The Black Cat Music summer roadshow will head south next month after ISBA, to attend the MMA Conference at St George’s College, Weybridge, May 16^th to 18^th.

Hosted by the Director of Music Tansy Castledine, together with MMA President Sandy Chenery and the team from St George’s, this year’s Conference promises an enjoyable and invaluable comprehensive progamme to inspire music teachers and practitioners.

Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger summed up Black Cat Music’s anticipation of the conference, saying, “We are looking forward to the MMA Conference this year, the splendid programme of events and renewing contact with conference delegates”

Further details are on the MMA web site.

Not long to ISBA Conference in Harrogate

Black Cat Music is counting down the days to the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association Annual Conference at Harrogate, 7th and 8th May. Conference delegates are invited to drop by the Black Cat Music exhibition stand where examples from their comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment will be on display, as well as to update on the popular Black Cat Music Structured Payments Scheme. 

The 2014 ISBA annual conference will take place at the Harrogate International Centre in the famous Yorkshire spa resort, from Wednesday 8th May – to Thursday 9th May. The ISBA's popular annual conference brings together many of the independent education sector's leading experts offering topical updates for schools plus networking opportunities and an exhibition of more than 100 professional advisers and companies dedicated to providing high quality services to the education sector. 

Held over two days, the event welcomes more than 400 bursars and senior management staff from independent schools every year. As the administrative managers of schools they are the key decision-makers in sourcing their school's services and supplies. 

Martin Loft, Technical Executive at Black Cat Music & Acoustics recalled, “Last year, ISBA conference delegates were very interested in our equipment for music departments,” and Martin went on to say, “Our sound-isolating Music Practice Rooms from MusicPracticeRooms.com were especially popular, as they represent a cost-effective solution for managing noise in school music departments.” 

Trio of Music Practice Rooms for Goldsmiths

Black Cat Music has successfully installed three sound-isolating Music Practice Rooms at Goldsmiths College in London. 

Manager Teresa Rogers said, “The majority of the work was done in the summer of 2013. It was a busy installation period for Music Practice Rooms and Black Cat Music.” 

Teresa explained, “ MusicPracticeRooms.comspecialise in the supply and installation of sound-isolating rooms which provide the ideal rehearsal space for musicians and singers and also make excellent recording studios. The modular design allows for a wide range of sizes, suitable for a solo singer, or up to a room large enough to accommodate a choir or a band. Another valuable benefit is that the rooms can be relocated as space requirements and priorities change.” The Sound Isolating Rooms are designed to create an ideal rehearsal space with climate controlled interior environment for the comfort of musicians and singers in which they can practice without their music causing disturbance to other classes in the college. The balanced acoustics within the room provide a high quality space suitable for recording purposes. The modular design allows for a wide range of sizes, from a solo singer to a choir or a band to be accommodated. And as needs and space allocations change the sound isolating rooms can simply be re-located when required. 

Goldsmiths can trace its history back to 1891 when The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths set up its Technical and Recreative Institute to provide educational opportunities for the people of New Cross. The University of London acquired the new Institute and re-established it as Goldsmiths College in 1904. Since 1989, Goldsmiths has been a full College of the University with its own distinctive role as an independent university institution, at the same time committed to its membership of one of the world’s great academic federations. 

The world-renowned music department at Goldsmiths embraces 21st-century culture. Goldsmith's music degrees bring together academic work with creative practice, letting students merge classical, contemporary, studio-based, ethnographic and popular music studies. Students at Goldsmiths are given the opportunity to perform, compose, study and experiment. The Music Practice Rooms from MusicPracticeRooms.com, installed by Black Cat Music, help to enable students to make music in sound-isolated pods - ideal both for rehearsing and for recording music. 

Roughneck stands sales to Belgium goes smoothly

The Black Cat team were delighted to receive another piece of positive feedback from one of our Belgian customers. The Gemeentelijke Academie Musiek en Woord - a popular Belgian music academy - was as thrilled with the quality of their Roughneck music stands as they were with the smooth service from the Black Cat team. 

Mr. Van den Driesschen told the sales team: "We received all the Roughneck Music Stands in perfect condition. I would like to thank you for all the work and it was a pleasure again, doing business with your company." 

Black Cat Music supplies Wenger music stands - world-renowned for their quality, longevity and elegant appearance - across the whole of Europe and Russia, and the team takes great pride in the quality of the products and of their service. The Black Cat team-members between them speak a raft of European languages fluently and are highly experienced in advising and supplying products to meet the needs of music schools, conservatories, schools and of course theatres and concert halls across the continent. Another satisfied customer! 

Anyone looking to invest in a rugged all-metal music stand, for practice and performance use that really lives up to its name, should take a look at the Wenger Roughneck. With its welded base, the Roughneck Music stand always stands straight, won't lean or wobble and will never need tightening. Finished with durable black powder coat paint, the 22 gauge steel desk has rolled edges for structural strength. To remove any concerns about accidental damage such as scratching or denting to expensive instruments, the use of polycarbonate and rounded edges means there are no sharp edges to worry about. The bolt-through desk attachment means that the desk holds firmly and securely, with desk height from floor to desk lip adjustable between 69cm to 110cm and a trigger lock that easily holds 30 lbs without releasing. 

Probably the toughest music stand on the market thanks also to its 12-gauge steel welded wobble-free base attachment designed for extreme durability and no tip overs. This rugged construction standard is carried through to an 18-gauge inner post that won’t dent and ensures the slider mechanism keeps functioning freely. 

Special Easter prices on Classic 50 music stands

During April, Black Cat Music is offering 10 per cent discount on their best selling Classic 50 music stands. Quantity discount breaks allow purchase prices as low as £37.12 when purchased in quantities of 50 or more. Schools and colleges looking to equip with new music stands designed for robust and regular handling can take advantage of this great offer throughout the month. 

Already a top seller, the popular Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. Its elegant design makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments. To learn more watch the Classic 50 put through its paces at YouTube.com 

Full details on the April offer can be found on the Black Cat Music web site.