Wenger’s Lori Barwick visits Black Cat Music

Lori Barwick (2nd from left) with Black Cat Music sales team

The Black Cat Music sales team was delighted to welcome Wenger International’s Lori Barwick to the company’s South East England based HQ, this week.

Black Cat Music’s Managing Director, Alice Dagger reporting on the visit, commented: "We particularly enjoyed taking Lori, our counterpart from the Wenger international sales team, with us to the MMA Ensemble 100 Reception - a celebration of over 100 years of music education, which brought together highly influential figures in the world of music education in the UK.  There were beautiful musical performances from Apollo5, James Way, Woodcroft Primary School Choir & Alexander Bone".

MMA’s Ensemble magazine (celebrating 100 editions) is described as ‘a premium termly publication reflecting the most inspiring commentary and most useful resources relevant for those working in the UK and international schools worldwide’. The MMA is the National Association of Music Teaching Professionals – the largest and longest established association of music teachers in the UK, supporting all who work in a school music department.

Alice Dagger continued, "It was great to have the chance to meet Lori Barwick with us and to learn about Wenger's exciting new product developments, including the Transform motorised acoustic banners, which transform the acoustics of a performance venue in seconds; and the Transcend Active Acoustic System, which gives facility managers the ability to enhance acoustic environments in virtually any space. It was a great visit, and we look forward to seeing Lori and her colleagues at Wenger again soon.”

Black Cat Music is Master Distributor for Wenger in the UK, Europe and Russia.  Wenger music equipment is world-renowned for its quality and longevity, and all Wenger products come with a minimum 5-year guarantee.

The Black Cat special offer on Roughneck music stands

For the month of November, Black Cat is offering 10% discount on the Roughneck music stand as a special promotion. 

This generous discount can bring the price down to as little as £45.40 per stand, depending on the amount ordered, making it the perfect opportunity for schools and colleges to invest in top quality stands for their music department.

The all-metal music stand is designed for general practice and performance. With its welded base, the Roughneck music stand always stands straight, won't lean or wobble and will never need tightening. Extremely robust, the height adjusting trigger lock will easily hold 30lbs without releasing. 

For more information on the Roughneck music stand and full details on the November offer please go to the Black Cat Music website. 

Barking Abbey School goes state-of-the-art with the help of Black Cat Music & Acoustics

Barking Abbey will be the envy of many a school with the latest project that has transformed its music department with state-of-the-art facilities.

In pursuit of their musical mission, Barking Abbey School turned to Black Cat Music & Acoustics, who installed three AcoustiCabins practice pods and a recording studio as the main features of a brand new music suite, last month.
Head of Music, Mr Dorrington, has commented: “In the music department we can really see the difference that the music facilities are making to the students and their grades. The soundproof pods are a massive bonus for the department. We now have instrumental lessons in all three pods at the same time.  Students come in and practice regularly.”
He added: “It’s had a profound impact on the department. Students are beginning to come in and make their own mixed tapes and albums. Bands are forming in school which will be great for concerts.”
Alice Dagger, Managing Director of Black Cat Music & Acoustics responded: “We're thrilled that the school is already making such good use of their recording studios and practice pods. It's great to see the AcoustiCabins making a real difference to the music department and to the students' grades."

Students learn ‘respect’ for musical instruments at Tonbridge Grammar School thanks to wise investment in storage systems

It’s amazing how good quality equipment helps induce a professional pride in their music. Recently Black Cat Music made the short journey to Tonbridge Grammar School in Kent for a behind the scenes look at how the school stores and cares for the instruments and music equipment that has been built up in recent years. 

With Simon Hayward, Head of Music at Tonbridge Grammar School, Black Cat Music’s guide for the visit, we have produced a video of the tour of the music facilities. Students at the school take music up to Key Stage 3, then can go on to take GCSE in music. Senior students can go further and take a baccalaureate. Teaching music at the school for the last 11 years, Simon Hayward shows how the investment in music storage equipment not only keeps instruments safe and protected from damage, but allows equipment to always be on hand when it is time to practise. What’s more everything is kept tidy, so no clutter to trip over at the start and finish of lessons, or risk of damage to delicate instruments. Simon is impressed by the quality of the equipment and is confident that the robust and lockable storage racks will go on and on for many years.

 When it comes to Wenger music stands, which he explains are virtually unbreakable, we see members of the choir in a slick, well practised maneouvre, collapse the stands, load them on to a move and store cart and wheel them away for the next group to use. Tonbridge Grammar School has a good tradition in choral singing. Examples from the Motet Choir’s repertoire accompany the video narration. Over the years a big library of choral music has been built up and now benefits from its own storage and indexing facilities. Naturally members of the choir have their own Choral Folders. It all adds up to acting and looking professional as well as looking and sounding good in performance.

Students learn ‘respect’ for musical instruments at Tonbridge Grammar School thanks to wise investment in storage systems

It’s amazing how good quality equipment helps induce a professional pride in their music. Recently Black Cat Music made the short journey to Tonbridge Grammar School in Kent for a behind the scenes look at how the school stores and cares for the instruments and music equipment that has been built up in recent years. 

With Simon Hayward, Head of Music at Tonbridge Grammar School, Black Cat Music’s guide for the visit, we have produced a video of the tour of the music facilities. Students at the school take music up to Key Stage 3, then can go on to take GCSE in music. Senior students can go further and take a baccalaureate. Teaching music at the school for the last 11 years, Simon Hayward shows how the investment in music storage equipment not only keeps instruments safe and protected from damage, but allows equipment to always be on hand when it is time to practise. What’s more everything is kept tidy, so no clutter to trip over at the start and finish of lessons, or risk of damage to delicate instruments. Simon is impressed by the quality of the equipment and is confident that the robust and lockable storage racks will go on and on for many years.

 When it comes to Wenger music stands, which he explains are virtually unbreakable, we see members of the choir in a slick, well practised maneouvre, collapse the stands, load them on to a move and store cart and wheel them away for the next group to use. Tonbridge Grammar School has a good tradition in choral singing. Examples from the Motet Choir’s repertoire accompany the video narration. Over the years a big library of choral music has been built up and now benefits from its own storage and indexing facilities. Naturally members of the choir have their own Choral Folders. It all adds up to acting and looking professional as well as looking and sounding good in performance.

Price discount on Conductor’s Stand

August is a great time to buy Wenger Preface Conductor’s music stands as for this month only they are offered at a 10% discount compared to the usual price.

Already affordably priced thanks to elegant design and clever engineering, the Preface Conductor’s stand still benefits from plenty of useful features. This stylish conductor's stand enjoys a large desk, a sleek, non-scratch black surface, and dual posts offering superb stability and strength. Although robust it's also extremely lightweight and easy to use and store. The tilting desk permits easy angle adjustment while integrated storage keeps all the conductor's needs nearby and out of sight. In fact, it's been exquisitely fine-tuned to give conductors more stand for less money. Plus each stand comes with a 5-year warranty.

For full details of the Preface Conductor’s stand and to take advantage of this special offer visit the Black Cat Music web site.

Black Cat Acoustics is top of the class for music teacher

When Sevenoaks based music teacher, Amanda Rupp set up Aeolian Music, her teaching work was to take place at her home. Amanda was anxious to ensure that her private music room met the current reverberation time guidelines for music teaching within schools.

It was time to call in Black Cat Acoustics to evaluate the acoustic environment and recommend a suitable solution.  After the installation work was completed a delighted Amanda said, “I am delighted with my Black Cat acoustic panels which have greatly improved the sound attenuation in the music room. By ensuring that my private music room meets the current reverberation time guidelines for music teaching within schools, I have optimised conditions for myself and my pupils.

Affordable, Active Acoustics system previewed at ABTT

Transcend is the name given to a new Active Acoustics  system which now offers an affordable means of enhancing the acoustc environment of virtually any perfomance space at the flick of a switch.

Now, thanks to Transcend, venues can offer acoustic environments that  suit a wide range of performance applications, simulating the experience of listening in  opera houses, theatres, arenas, performing arts centres or churches, without having to  design for a single specific type of performance. Now, many types of facility can become multi-functional spaces delivering the best possible sound quality for any seat in the house. Transcend’s active acoustics algorithm results in a system that requires fewer microphones and speakers providing a more reliable and stable system. An that permits lower-cost installations than can be achieved by other systems on the market.

The product is the outcome of combining the acoustic and engineering expertise of Wenger and JR Clancy to deliver an advanced dynamic system built around active acoustic technology processing using high-speed digital audio communications. Transcend enhances the natural reflections of a space to provide optimal acoustics for any performance or event. From choral and symphonic to drama and lecture it creates the ‘optimal’ space. Transcend can be managed, controlled and monitored using audio architectural software.

Big Bargains on Bravo Music Stands

There are big bargains to be had during July when you buy Wenger black, with chrome base, Bravo Music Stands from Black Cat Music.  It’s a big, big saving of 40 per cent off the usual price.

The Bravo Music Stand is designed and engineered to high quality standards to provide a long, trouble-free life. Bravo’s polypropelene desk will not chip, bend or scratch and includes a useful accessory shelf, handy for keeping pencils or reeds to hand. Height is adjustable too, all  in just a single, smooth motion, from 61 cm to 116 cm.

Full details and the offer, which applies to the black stand and chrome base versions only is published on Black Cat Music web site..

June special prices on Encore chair

With correct seated posture a vital consideration for musicians, the current discounted price on offer from Black Cat Music makes June a great time to buy the Encore Chair designed specially for musicians.

The result of considerable research and development, the Encore Chair offers both comfort and posture support for seated musicians. Thanks to the curved ‘waterfall’ leading seat edge, musicians are able to sit comfortably in a more upright and poised position, while the slender back gives plenty of room for arm movements when playing. The seat and back panel are fitted to a sturdy tubular frame and can be supplied in other fabric colours as an alternative to the standard black. Seats can be ordered for either 470 mm or 490 mm height above floor, with an option for alternative heights available to special order.

For full details of the Encore Chair and to take advantage of this special offer visit  our web site.   

Another valuable MMA Conference

Alice Dagger & Brigitte Downs at MMA

Black Cat Music Sales Consultant, Brigitte Downs back from the MMA conference said: "It was a pleasure, as ever, to meet up with familiar faces and new at the annual MMA conference.  Ripley St Thomas CE Academy in Lancaster was a great venue, and we enjoyed the weekend."

The MMA Conference, which took place over the weekend is described as “a widely respected annual gathering of professionals in music education with a comprehensive and diverse programme of some of the best speakers in the UK. Hosted by an MMA member school, the atmosphere is always friendly but professional and for the last five years, the conference has sold out in advance.”

Managing Director of Black Cat Music, Alice Dagger added: "We were able to attend some very interesting conference sessions by Music Mark and ISM.  We loved the keynote talk with Evelyn Glennie, and I was pleased to attend the Micromusicals workshop run by Christopher Norton, as I learnt to play piano with the help of his Microjazz piano pieces".

“The conference trade fair is always a lively hub of activity with some thirty corporate members giving in-depth advice and showcasing the latest instruments, products and scores” The Black Cat Music stand displayed Wenger music stands, chairs and accessories including the top-selling Classic 50 music stand, the Nota Standard Chair, the Encore chair, the Preface Conductor's Stand and the Folding Podium.  The Black Cat choir folders and band folders, with bespoke gold-blocking (also on display) continue to be highly popular with music teachers.

Looking forward to the MMA Conference

Alice Dagger - off to MMA

Brigitte Downs

Soon to be heading north to participate in the MMA Conference 2016 are Alice Dagger and Brigitte Downs of Black Cat Music.

The MMA Conference, which this year will take place at Ripley St Thomas CE Academy, Lancaster runs from the 20th to 22nd May 2016. The event is described by the organisers as “a widely respected annual gathering of professionals in music education with a comprehensive and diverse programme of some of the best speakers in the UK. Hosted by an MMA member school, the atmosphere is always friendly but professional and for the last five years, the conference has sold out in advance.”

“The conference trade fair is always a lively hub of activity with some thirty corporate members giving in-depth advice and showcasing the latest instruments, products and scores” where Alice and Brigitte look forward to renewing acquaintances and meeting new people during the course of the conference.

May discounts on Classic 50 music stands

 Throughout the month, Black Cat Music is offering a generous 10% discount on their best selling Classic 50 music stands in a special May promotion. Quantity discount breaks allow purchase prices as low as £40.45 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 this month.

The ever popular Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formulation 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 of the May offer can be found on the Black Cat Music web site.

It’s a big Bravo order for an Austrian band

Black Cat  Music recently supplied a large number of music stands to a leading brass band in Austria.

Based in Villach in the Austrian province of Carinthia, Austria the KELAG Blasorchester took delivery of  40 Bravo Music Stands supplied in a smart chrome and black version along with a Preface Conductor’s stand. The band was formed  over 60 years ago and in the tradition of many such bands has a strong connection with local industry with employees of Carinthian electricity AG being members. They  talk of themselves as “musical ambassadors of Kelag” which is a major energy company. Their repertoire includes traditional brass band music, symphonic music and music from films and musicals. The traditional concert in November is an integral part and musical highlight in the team of the year Kelag brass band.

Wenger Bravo Music Stands are already recognised as a premium design and thanks to a recent engineering upgrade the late versions incorporate a new friction slider making a great product even better..

The Bravo Music Stand is designed and engineered to high quality standards to provide a long, trouble-free life. Wenger explained that as the Bravo desk is heavier than in other music stand models, the desk must be held to a higher level of force expectation. In other words the latest upgrade enables the force to be increased. But the even better news is that this is achieved without any price increase!

Bravo’s polypropelene desk will not chip, bend or scratch and includes a useful accessory shelf, handy for keeping pencils or reeds to hand. Height is adjustable in just a single smooth motion, from 61 cm to 116 cm. 

Good words from Goodwood for Black Cat Music

Photo : 1 Sir Patrick & Lady Cable-Alexander, The Duke & Duchess of Richmond

 and Gordon, Kathy Gore and Andrew Bernardi

The team at Black Cat Music just love to hear news of how our musical equipment has contributed to the success of a music event, particularly when it is from such a distinguished event as the Bernadi Music Group’s performance at Goodwood House opening the Shipley Arts Festival.

Andrew Bernardi, Director Bernardi Music Group and Member of Professorial Staff, Trinity Laban Conservatoire , told Black Cat Music’s Carla Croft, “I wanted to say ‘ Thank you for providing such high quality stands folders and lights - our players have expressed their great appreciation.  Black Cat’s high quality stands add the confidence of maintaining the practical elements of supporting the sheet music whilst adding the finish touch to our appearance - thank you for your invaluable advice and care to our Ensemble.”

Bernardi Music Group at Goodwood House opened the Shipley Arts Festival on the 10th April 2016. Led by violinist Andrew Bernardi, who played on his priceless Stradivarius violin, dated 1696, with Voirin bow formerly owned by Yehudi Menuhin. The popular classical programme celebrated the first night of the Shipley Arts Festival and also featured baritone and composer, Roderick Williams, soloist at the 2014 ‘Last Night of the Proms’. The programme included the world première of ‘Goodwood Variations’ composed by Roderick Williams, and featured concert pianist Maria Marchant and flautist Bruce Martin.

Cathedral Choral Folders Cassocks Colour match

Choral Folders are always a popular choice and the capability to customise  with gold-blocking creates a great sense of identity for the choir members. At Black Cat Music we are used to requests to add a crest, name or individual detail, but the requirement from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral  was also to match the choir’s red cassocks. 

Sarah O’Keeffe,  Music Department Administrator at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, initially  asked Myke Millward at Black Cat Music to send samples of various red folders to match the red of the choristers’ cassocks. Myke was delighted to later receive some photographs from Sarah with members of the choir complete with their brand new folders. Myke told us, “The folders look fantastic and match the cassocks perfectly. I’m really, really pleased, it's so nice to see 'the end result' for us here.”

Red choral folders are available in two options – with strings, or with expanding pockets to retain sheet music – and the hard-wearing covers benefit from brass bound corners and include such detail as hand-stitching, resulting in the traditional high quality product expected from Black Cat Music. There is a minimum order of five folders and the option, at a modest extra charge, to customise with gold-blocking the name and crest of the choir. Black Cat Music offer a custom gold blocking srviceon all of our choral and orchestral folders, so you can add your logo or choir crest to the front of the folder.

New Instrument Storage Solution for Tonbridge Grammar School

During the recent Easter break, Black Cat Music successfully installed a number of Instrument Storage products at Tonbridge Grammar School. It seems the school is delighted with the result, tweeting ‘Lovely new instrument storage units from @blackcatmusic finally in over Easter.”

Musical instruments vary considerably in size, but Black Cat Music has a comprehensive range of standard product solutions, or alternatively can provide custom built storage to suit the available space and needs.

Instruments require storage facilities that offer protection against damage and loss. Some instruments are frail, demanding suitable storage that protects against physical damage. As with any expensive asset it also makes sense to provide safe and secure storage to guard against accidental damage, vandalism and theft.

Other factors to keep in mind are space, ease of access and keeping a consistent temperature all year round. Storage can take up a great deal of floor space and Black Cat Music can provide guidance in using available space sensibly without causing congestion at busy times.   At class change times, where many students are storing or retrieving instruments, careful consideration of planning layouts so everyone have access without getting in each others’ way and damaging the instruments will help things go smoothly. It is important to avoid areas of high temperature and humidity, which can be detrimental to some instruments and a cause of problems such as cracking, loosening of joints and corrosion.

Put your conductor on a Podium this month

Conductor's Podium

Black Cat Music is offering a 10 per cent discount on their popular Double Conductor’s Podium, during April.

This offer is a great opportunity to add this useful accessory to your store of essential music equipment. Sturdy and manoeuvrable, the Conductor’s Podium can be easily moved from rehearsal room to the stage. The upper stage is detachable and locks securely into the base unit. The detachable safety back rail is removable for storage. The construction is built around a robust single piece steel chassis, tough epoxy powder coated black paint blends with the black laminate sides and the step surfaces are covered with a durable grey carpet which all adds up to a high quality and elegant product. Furthermore, the Conductor’s Double Podium comes with a 5- year warranty. 

Visit the Black Cat Music web site to get the complete story.

Black Cat Music - helping schools to purchase music education equipment

Watch the video

At Black Cat Music we know that budgets are under pressure, but compromising on quality by opting for the cheapest option can prove to be a false economy in the longer term. That’s why we have two schemes to help education establishments make purchasing music education more affordable.

 The Black Cat Music Education Discount Programme   is free to join and you can  save 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.

When setting up a new music facility, spreading the costs of equipment over the following years can now be a welcome benefit thanks to the StructuredPayment Options system operated by Black Cat Music. So we have come up with a scheme to spread payments over a period of up to five years.  We use a government compliant operating lease, ensuring the purchase is within government guidelines which offers benefits for government funded schools and organisations. The scheme smooths out budgets and cash flow while allowing investment in music performance equipment that doesn’t compromise on quality. The scheme also applies to independent schools and other non-government funded organisations. What’s more, at the end of the Agreement, for one extra payment the equipment becomes fully owned. Terms and Conditions apply, these and further details can be read online.

Risers improve choral sound for University choir

Not only are the singers delighted with their new Wenger Risers supplied by Black Cat Music to Umeå Universitet, Sweden, but thanks to the elevation and space to spread out, the received performance sounds better too.

Liv Meidell told Black Cat Music, “We are very content with our new risers and the nice distance we achieved when spreading out means the sound is now even better!”

Black Cat Music can supply a range of 3- or 4-step Wenger choral risers that fold and roll easily for transporting and all come with a full 5-year warranty. Wenger Signature risers with their classic black styling are safe to use, simple to setup, lightweight for ease of handling, stable and strong, are quiet in a performance and include an integrated back-rail with safety crossbar. Riser arrangements can be reconfigured, quickly and securely. Optional side-rails can be attached without the need for tools. And when the show is over they are easy to move to the next venue or to storage.

For touring Wenger Tourmaster choral risers are exceptionally portable and robust. No other risers fold, roll, set up or travel so smoothly. The Tourmaster sets up in seconds and is easy to take up stairs, around tight corners, across the parking lot, and into a bus or a van.

Today at Musikmesse

Dateline: Today: Frankfurt, Germany 

Alice Dagger at the Musikmesse today

 Black Cat Music's Managing Director, Alice Dagger reporting from Musikmesse currently taking place in Frankfurt reports from the show.

"I was interested to learn about new product innovations at Musikmesse, and look forward to bringing these innovations to our customers."Alice tells us.

Alice continues, "It was a pleasure to meet our counterparts at Wenger Corporation at the Messe. Wenger are world-renowned for the quality and longevity of their products and we are proud to Master Distributor for Wenger in Europe and Russia."

The show this year was staged with another event as Alice explains, "It was good to catch up with our friends on the Harlequin Floors stand at the ProLight & Sound exhibition, which was running concurrently with the Musikmesse."

The show runs until Sunday. Using the strap line, this year “It’s my tune” Musikmesse, staged in conjunction with Prolight & Sound claims to offer a completely new concept for music businesses, entertainment and musicians. Musikmesse is described by the organisers as the international trade fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and marketing.

Attending Musikmesse - the international music industry’s big event

This week leading lights of the music industry are heading for Frankfurt am Main to attend Musikmesse, which runs from 7 – 10 April.

Present will be Alice Dagger, Managing Director of Black Cat Music who says, “'I'm very much looking forward to visiting Musikmesse and catching up with the latest product innovations from the international music equipment scene.  Black Cat Music & Acoustics prides itself on being innovative and offering the highest quality music equipment to our customers, both in the UK and abroad.”

Using the strap line “It’s my tune” Musikmesse, staged in conjunction with Prolight & Sound claims to offer a completely new concept for music businesses, entertainment and musicians. Musikmesse is described by the organisers as the international trade fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and marketing.

For those who cannot attend the event, we will be reporting next week on some of the highlights at Musikmesse, so watch our newsfeeds. Meanwhile you can view here the exhibition video.

Sound Isolating rooms for Preparatory School

Installation by Black Cat Music is scheduled to commence this month on the construction of two Sound Isolating Music Practice Rooms at Belmont Preparatory School, Dorking.

There are already many opportunities at Belmont Preparatory School for children to perform in dance, drama and music in the Theatre and Music School.The school which caters for pupils from 2 to 13 years can already claim excellent facilities including sports hall and theatre which are additionally available for hire by external groups, subject to availabilty. Located at Feldmore on a 65 acre site, the school is close to Guidford, Dorking, Horsham and London.

The two new wet build Sound Isolating Music Practice Rooms are being constructed in the Lower School Area and when complete will provide excellent acoustic spaces where pupils can learn and practice instruments in ideal conditions. Each room’s high level of sound isolation prevents their music disturbing children working close by in the Music School, or for the occupants of the room being disturbed by noise from outside. It means that completely different music can be played in the two new rooms, each isolated from the other and indeed elsewhere in the school.

The practice rooms are designed to overall achieve an insulation performance of 38dB (rw) thanks in no small part to walls and ceiling constructed of triple-layered Sound-bloc board with a 40mm insulation gap, full floating floors, acoustic doors (38dB rated) and internal absorption panels - up to six in each room.  The Sound Isolating Rooms 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 school. The balanced acoustics within the room also provide a high quality space suitable for recording purposes.