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.