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Lancaster and Morecambe College discovered that by installing three Music Practice Rooms, the college not only made more effective use of available space, but was also able to reach out to support musicians in the local community.

Head of Music at Lancaster and Morecambe College, Pete French explained that “this is only the third year we have been running this course and we required proper facilities. There was a need for music practice rooms because we had facilities that were a little bit outdated and we wanted something new to accommodate the new course that we are building on.” Describing the new suite of music practice rooms supplied and installed by Black Cat Music he said, “the facility used to be a lecture theatre - it was just one space we could use - fortunately now we've got three spaces. The music practice rooms are being used every day with all three year groups time tabled in, so they are getting maximum use. We also have some work with an outside community organisation called ‘More Music in Morecombe’ who are now hiring them out on a Tuesday night, so we are getting use in the evenings as well, not just in the daytimes.” The opportunity for other local musicians to hire the facilities is also important for the college within the community.

The rooms, from MusicPracticeRooms.com , use a prefabricated panel design that is affordable, easy to install and allows rooms to be custom configured to suit available space. “We are very happy having them here,” continued Pete French. “After the college had planned how we were going to use the existing space they built in the floor plinth in what was the old lecture theatre and got the maximum use of space available. Black Cat Music then came up and erected the music practice rooms in a pretty short period of time, last summer. The service we got from Black Cat was absolutely spot on,” said Pete. “The music practice rooms have changed the whole nature of the course, because they are so sound-proofed. Before we had a big echoing lecture theatre, now we have three contained spaces. The students love them and yes, they work very effectively.”

“We found out about MusicPracticeRoms.com on the Internet. We got prices from several other possibilities, some of which were a lot more than Black Cat Music, which came out the best in terms of overall cost.” Information and technical specifications for Music Practice Rooms can be found at MusicPracticeRooms.com or by contacting MPR on 0844 846 9740 for a free consultation.

During March Black Cat Music is offering an additional 5% discount on the top selling Mighty Bright Duet 2 music stand lights. Dual LEDs provide smooth illumination across two sheets of music and the good news is these light bulbs never need replacement. Cool to touch and battery powered with no trailing wires, they are very safe to use.

Utilising two fully adjustable LED head units, the Duet 2 can evenly light two pages of music thanks to optical grade lenses that avoid any hot spots. The new Duet 2 is twice as bright as the previous model and offers four selectable light levels. Sensor switch operation allows, one, or both LEDs to be turned on with just a gentle tap. An extra strong clip attaches the Duet 2 to any music stand and with two flexible arms, the lighting heads can be fully adjusted as required, or bent to a compact position for ease of storage.

Three AAA size batteries offer up to 20 hours continuous operation. Alternatively an optional AC adaptor additionally allows a series of Duet 2 units to be connected together for lighting control for band or orchestral users.

Full details of this offer are published on the Black Cat Music web site.

Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are looking forward with anticipation to the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition 2012 which takes place this Sunday 11th March at The Stag Community Theatre in Sevenoaks. The event starts at 10.30 am, concluding with Presentations at about 5.45 pm.

Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger said, “ We are delighted to have the opportunity to be involved with the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition and wish all the participants the very best of luck for what we a sure will be a wonderful musical occasion for both performers and audience.”

Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year is a competition open to instrumentalists aged 21 years and under and with a minimum Grade 8. The final heats of the competition take place on Sunday when the Sevenoaks District Arts Council presents the winner with a Silver Memorial Medal in memory of June Clements who founded the competition in 1995.

Tonbridge based Black Cat Music supplies a comprehensive range of equipment for music, performance, practice and theatre including music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders. In addition there is a range of theatre products embracing staging, tiered audience seating, make-up stations, costume racks and instrument storage cabinets. MusicPracticeRooms.com supplies sound-isolating, modular Music Practice Rooms for schools, recording studios and for home use. MusicPracticeRooms.com is proud to offer superb acoustic performance at an affordable price, enabling musicians to rehearse and perform in controlled acoustic environments.

Black Cat Music would like to congratulate Lana Trimmer for winning the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year competition 2012. Lana is a highly talented violinist from Clifton College, Bristol. Our congratulations also to all the competitors, who achieved a superb standard of performance in the competition.

Fifteen year old Lana began learning the violin with Bristol Suzuki at the age of 3 and, at 7, won a place at the RCM Junior Department to study with Marius Bedeschi, and did very well in the Hugh Bean Competition. Continuing studies at Guildhall SMD, Lana also gained success in a competition in Italy. At Clifton College she obtained Grade 8 Distinction aged 10 but then changed to viola! In 2009 Lana took up the violin again, with Mr Bedeschi and has enjoyed successes - winning the King Thelma Award at Bath, the ‘overall best performer’ in South Glamorgan and in 2011 winning both the Bristol Rotary and Bath Young Musician of the Year competitions. She loves fashion and shopping!

Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger said, “ We are delighted to have had the opportunity to be involved with the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition.

Black Cat Music, manufacturers of a comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment, announce the launch of a new web site to coincide with the newly released 2006-7 catalogue.

Showcasing a broad range of ancillary equipment ideally suited for school and college music requirements, as well as professional orchestras, the new site at www.blackcatmusic.co.uk includes music stands, chairs, storage and staging. The site also presents useful specialist equipment such as personalised music folders, conductor’s equipment, piano accessories, classroom and music technology furniture, staging, risers and theatre products.

Full product specifications can be downloaded and items purchased online by means of school purchase orders or credit cards. Orders for all catalogue items can also be placed by fax or using a freephone number. All UK-based schools and colleges can also benefit from registering with the Black Cat Music Education discount programme.

Copies of Black Cat’s new 2006-7 education catalogue can be requested online or direct from the company.

Black Cat Music has introduced a new price list catalogue for 2007 offering a comprehensive range of affordably priced music performance equipment.

Copies of this new price list are available on request in print or CD versions. Links from the CD to the web site www.blackcatmusic.co.uk provide access to further information such as downloadable data sheets and the facility to purchase products online. With a full line of musical accessory equipment including music stands, music folders, music chairs, storage, conductor’s equipment, piano accessories, staging, risers and acoustic shells, the Black Cat range provides a wide selection of products conveniently available from a single source. The new price list should prove of particular value to orchestras, bands, choirs, theatre companies and individual musicians.

Black Cat Music education and performance equipment will be on show later this month at the Music Masters’ and Mistresses’ Association’s annual conference. A range of products, including music stands and staging equipment, will be displayed and staff will be on hand to discuss and demonstrate products. Copies of Black Cat Music’s new comprehensive price list and catalogue will be available from the stand.

According to the MMA, ‘The 2007 Conference (11-13 May) at Bedford has Composition as a main theme (Bedford is one of the few schools now to have a composer-in-residence) and marks the 60th birthday year of the composer Paul Patterson (a former composer-in-residence at Bedford). Building a Music School (Bedford's new £3.1 million building was opened by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in March 2006) and the demands of Higher Education are also on the agenda.’

Joining the Federation of Music Services’ conference at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club (May 18th – 20th) will be a display of music education and performance equipment by Black Cat Music.

Unified under a conference theme of ‘Maintaining the Momentum’, delegates will be able to break out from the busy conference schedule and examine for themselves a range of products from the extensive Black Cat range including music stands and staging equipment. Copies of Black Cat Music’s new comprehensive catalogue will be available from the stand.

The conference will address ‘the key issue of how we carry children and young people from the initial excitement of their first contact with music through to a long term commitment.’

Black Cat Music education and performance equipment will be on show at the ABTT Theatre Show to be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London on June 13th and 14th.

A range of products including music stands and staging equipment will be displayed and staff will be on hand to discuss and demonstrate products. Copies of Black Cat Music’s new comprehensive price list and catalogue will be available from the stand.

Black Cat Acoutics are a professional noise control company with an experienced and friendly team offering a complete range of acoustic products. Enquiries are welcomed for the design, supply and installation of high performance acoustic equipment as a total package, or to find economic solutions to individual problem areas within existing buildings.

During May, Black Cat Music present at the Music Masters' and Mistresses' Association's annual conference held at Bedford and the Federation of Music Services' conference at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club.

A range of products, including music stands and staging equipment, were displayed with staff were on hand to discuss and demonstrate products, including an impromptu performance by Timothy Batchelar on our stand at the MMA.