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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.

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.

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.

Today is officially the first day of Spring and Black Cat Music is celebrating with a massive Spring Clean Sale. With Prices slashed by up to 75%, it’s simply Spring Price Madness! And it would be madness not to take advantage of these unrepeatable price bargains.

Selected top selling products from the Black Cat Music catalogue -  Music Stands, Risers, Chairs, Staging and Storage products – are all on offer, right now at give-away prices . Go to the  Black Cat Music web site.  to secure a great deal today. 

Or pick up the phone and discuss your requirements with our ultra-friendly sales team. And great news, the call is free on 0800 072 7799. But whatever you do, don’t delay, stocks are moving fast – and when it’s gone it’s gone!



https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/clearance-items.html

Throughout  England, the village hall along with the church, school, shop and pub is an important hub for rural communities. It is where people meet, play groups are organised, shows and concerts are staged, the scouts gather, dance classes rehearse, wedding receptions are held and a host of other events take place. Often the hall may have been originally constructed for a different use entirely and noise can be a big problem for many of the different groups using the facility.

Users will generally be aware that there is a noise  problem of some form, but may not be sure how to deal with it. Typical noise problems are  echoes, difficulty in hearing speech clearly, problems hearing sound on stage and noise originating within the building itself. This is where Black Cat Acoustics can help interpret the problems, then recommend and install solutions.

It is all in a day’s work for the team at Black Cat Acoustics, but we were delighted to receive an unprompted testimonial from a committee member for a village centre in Cambridge who told us, “We discovered Black Cat Acoustics via an Internet search and found their website extremely informative and easy to navigate. The service was brilliant. They came quickly to give us a free quote, which was completed and sent to us within two days! Fantastic. Really professional and personable people, from the initial telephone call to their offices and meeting their representative. Thank you Black Cat Acoustics!”

The Black Cat Music sponsored ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 2016 Music Teacher Awards evening was presented to the indefatigable Dame Fanny Waterman. And what a lifetime of inspiring a love of piano music Dame Fanny can claim, which at the age of 95 shows no sign of diminishing. As a music teacher her reputation for developing talented pupils is legendary, she created a popular series of teaching aids and was co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Leeds International Piano Competition.

Alice Dagger, Managing Director of sponsors Black Cat Music, (pictured here with Dame Fanny Waterman), said, “It was a great honour to sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was won by the wonderful Dame Fanny Waterman, who has inspired pianists for generations.” Alice continued, "It was also an honour to meet other awards-winners and nominees throughout the world of music education - from ‘Best School Music Department’ to ‘Best Musical Initiative’. It was a truly inspiring evening.  Congratulations to all involved.”

Alice Dagger, Managing Director of Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com said, “It was a great honour to sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was won by the wonderful Dame Fanny Waterman, who has inspired pianists for generations.

Alice continued, "It was also an honour to meet other awards-winners and nominees throughout the world of music education - from ‘Best School Music Department’ to ‘Best Musical Initiative’. It was a truly inspiring evening.  Congratulations to all involved.”

At Black Cat Music we are always pleased when our customers are delighted with the music equipment they buy from us.

Simone Kluge, on behalf of music group Villa Musenkuss e. V from Schkeuditz in Germany recently bought 40 Classic 50 Music Stands together with a large Move and Store Cart and sent some photographs of their music ensemble in action. It seems they are really appreciating their new equipment.

Responding to a request from the school’s Creative Arts Administrator, who asked, “We’ve just built a new performing arts centre, and the opening night of the first production – a panto – is imminent. It would be amazing to have the new chairs in the pit!” A speedy delivery of 45 Encore Chairs, 8 Encore Cello Chairs and 10 Encore Adjustable Stools and the orchestra were all set for the big day. And the verdict? “The players love the chairs, especially the cellists.”

 Ibstock Place School is described as “an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 4 to 18, providing a rich variety of opportunity in a friendly, supportive atmosphere with a strong family ethos.” By investing in the   Encore Chairs from Black Cat Music the school has recognized the benefit of the importance of good posture to musicians. 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. Encore chairs are designed to maintain the correct posture.

Informed musicians are aware that good posture is essential to minimise health problems and that playing wind, string or percussion instruments can lead to repetitive strain injuries. For players of wind instruments, a good posture, opens up the chest cavity allowing for good breathing. There are differences, sometimes significantly different, between sitting and standing postures. Musicians who have learned to play in one position may find it difficult to play in the other so both postures need to be exercised in order to strengthen the necessary muscles.

Black Cat Music’s Encore Chairs are designed to put students and musicians in the best possible position to promote easier breathing and a more natural range of motion while decreasing fatigue and discomfort.

If you were thinking of buying a set of music folders for your musicians or choir, then February is the time to take action. Black Cat Music are offering up to 30 per cent discount for the whole of the month.

Imagine the visual impact created by a set of smart new matching music folders to give a great identity to your orchestra, chorus, band or choir. The hard-wearing leatherette covers enhanced by hand stitching and brass-bound corners are sure of a long life protecting your music and keeping it together. Choose your style and size, whether for orchestra or choir, some with options such as expanding pockets or retaining strings, pencil pockets and windows.

And there is a choice of colour – Concert Black, Royal Blue or Cardinal Red. Check out the February deal now!