Too much music...not enough stand/s

October 9, 2013 at 02:19 PM · I picked up a stand tray on the way home from work last night. It's not very big, but holds enough items that I use every practice session to be handy and help keep things organized.

I ordered the mic stand accessory (sheet music holder) too. Hopefully it proves as useful...

October 9, 2013 at 04:19 PM · I have a shelf next to me that I keep my instrument on, and I have a couple of those stackable file trays that I load my relevant music onto. Then the stand usually just has one or two things on it. Would something like that work for you? Use the top file tray for accessories/pencils/etc.?

October 9, 2013 at 04:35 PM · You need an Orthodox Chanter's Stand. They rotate at the top and are always holding a ton of liturgical books, etc.

October 9, 2013 at 04:38 PM · Kathryn: That might be a possibility! Thanks for the suggestion!

Seraphim: If you can find me one of those...cheap...I'll give it a try too! :D

October 10, 2013 at 02:00 AM · What Kathryn said. You need to declutter the stand. You can buy a cheap pencil holder from Shar that attaches to the stand and holds your pencil. But, mostly, you need to find other places to put some of the music and other accessories. You can also buy a stand with a ledge underneath that can hold the pencil and some of the small accessories (e.g., metrotuner, mute).

October 10, 2013 at 01:01 PM · Well...the little shelf now holds the pencil, tuner, etc., so it's not on the stand itself or lost on my desk. That actually makes a bigger difference than expected...I had an in-depth practice on both instruments last night...so I think I'm good there...

Bonus: It also holds the bow when I need to put it down for a second.

Now I still need to organize the music I'm actively working on without having it all fall off...(books, sheet music, orchestral music, etc.)

The file holders might yet work...I'll have to try...but I need to access stuff without having to move back and forth too much while I'm standing (violin) or having to get up while I'm sitting (bassoon)...and hopefully only needing to use one hand...

...and no...not wanting to go the tablet route. I like my paper (annoying as it may be)...

October 11, 2013 at 12:59 PM · Hi N.A

You could always get your brother, or someone else's brother to make you one of these. It's a music stand with the top made out of lattice which concertinas in or out as needed. Mine is permanently open, it holds 7 pages lengthwise but plenty more stacked on top. The screws used as a 'shelf' for the pages is an interesting touch. It was all my brothers' idea as I was constantly complaining I had a flimsy music stand. Not what I expected but as it turns out, very useful indeed!

October 11, 2013 at 01:56 PM · Millie! What a brilliant concept! Your brother could patent it!

Now...if I could only find a handy brother...

October 11, 2013 at 04:28 PM ·

October 11, 2013 at 06:09 PM · It can get complicated...lol.

October 11, 2013 at 08:43 PM · I have a little cubby where I keep current music I'm working on. A magazine file can work for this, too.

October 12, 2013 at 07:44 AM · I also play violin and viola. In addition I have two children who also play the violin. All of us use the same stand. And we use the piano and the piano chair to pile up music on......

Currently looking for a grand piano to increase storage capacity ;-)

October 12, 2013 at 02:13 PM · What I want to do though...is have the books/music open (to the appropriate piece) ON the stand/s...and just be able to move from one piece to the other easily as I practice...

The file holders are great for storage...but I'd still have to put instruments down, or get up...to use it...

I do like the idea of a grand piano though. I don't play well enough to warrant one...but I can always use my piano-playing daughter as an excuse (maybe she'll come home more oten to visit if I do...lol)...

I should see if I can post a picture of my practice space...that would help...

October 12, 2013 at 02:18 PM · This does not help for books, but I have found that if you photocopy your loose sheet music onto 11X17 paper then hole punch it and put it into a binder it stands up so much better. Then you just fold each page in half when you are not using it and everything stays neat in the binder.

Obviously this works best with music that is only 4 pages long. :)

I also have stopped losing that last page of a piece this way too.

October 12, 2013 at 04:01 PM · I put some music in binders...I suppose I could put all of it in too...wouldn't be that much effort (I'm inherently lazy to boot...lol).

I took a picture...but I don't know if it helps...

October 12, 2013 at 05:40 PM · The way you have things arranged, I'd say get a desktop music stand and put it on the floor in front of your other stand. Alternatively, get a conductor's / Director's stand. They are longer, have a built in tray, and a pocket behind the bench to store music.

October 13, 2013 at 04:46 AM · I actually have a little storage bench that my violin sits on, and that is where my two cubbies for current music are, as well as some storage for other violin-related stuff (strings, shoulder rests, extra rosin, cleaning clothes, etc. )

October 14, 2013 at 06:26 PM · Before you start, set up your music, open, in the order you plan to practice it, but next to your case, or in a stack on the floor, not on the stand--keep that 'open'. It's NOT hard to close a book, put it down, pick up the next thing,even holding your instrument.

In addition to less physical mess, it's psychologically good to have an uncluttered practice environment--less stress-making.

Further, it encourages you *think* about the shape of the particular practice time; you can--away from the instrument--focus on the elements in each piece that you want to attend to at the moment.

October 25, 2013 at 03:57 PM · I picked up the extra [microphone stand] music holder attachment the other day...and set it up. And it has (along with the little tray I bought earlier) solved 90% of the issues.

I have one more idea to try out that might also help keep stuff off the floor (it's actually harder for me than it might be for someone else to stack stuff up conveniently on the floor and still have easy access...)...so that might take care of the other 10%.

Thank you everyone for your ideas! It sure helps to hear them!

November 5, 2013 at 02:45 PM · I know you probably have it all figured out by now, but I was going to suggest The Manhasset Directors Stand. It has a great place in back to store music.

November 6, 2013 at 04:26 PM · good idea! :D I had thought about that too...but I already had stands and didn't want to buy another...

Part of my problem is related to the two instruments and trying to minimize the mucking about part of practicing.

If I ever revamp my space, I might do it differently though. When I first set it up I didn't have two such different instruments on the go...