Google 'music stands' and you'll quickly become overwhelmed by choice. But we're here to help you narrow your search. Unless you're a conductor, jazz performer or a musician that needs any extra functionality added into your music stand (like microphone booms or lights), the choice is pretty simple. Here are some of the best music stands on the market for the average orchestral or recital musician.
The best music stands
RAT Performer 3 Stand
RATstands are a highly trusted music stand brand, but it's worth noting their stands aren't the cheapest. That said, you're getting a sturdy, reliable music stand that should last you for your entire career as a performer. Unlike many other music stands on the market, the RAT Performer 3 stand doesn't have knobs or levers – it is held together and made adjustable with its friction locks. If you have multiple stands, there are trolleys available that mean you can carry your RAT stands around in a compact manner. Plus, you can buy an additional lip for your stand to hold pencils, erasers or even small instruments.
Cahaya Portable Music Stand CY0204
This is a great option if you're not wanting to break the bank with your music stand purchase. The tripod legs mean that it can pack down really small and fit in its accompanying carry bag without taking up room or getting in the way. This is a great option for those who carry their stands around a lot – or for those who might not have bags of space at home to store such items. The top sheet music shelf is also removable. A good option for young players.
Manhasset Symphony Stand
The Manhasset Symphony Stand has been a solid choice for schools and orchestras for many years – for a reason. It's got an adjustable shelf, and the height adjusts from 28 to 48 inches. It's a no-frills option, but is great for holding heavy sets of music without compromising stability. If you're wanting to make a more daring choice with your music stand, the Manhasset Symphony Stand is available in five colours: black, blue, (a rather daring) purple, red and white. It's not a bargain music stand, but it'll stand the test of time.
Donner Sheet Music Stand DMS-1
The DMS-1 is a portable music stand that has a lot going for it in tems of handy add-ons. Unlike many other sturdy stands with full bookplates, the DMS-1 has a foldable bookplate that can be collapsed to half its size to fit in the carrying bag. It's highly adjustable as well, with a flexible height adjustment from 20.5 to 48.5 inches, and the bookplate adjusts 90 degrees. Included in your purchase is a set of music stand lights (and USB charging cable), a music sheet clip and an additional support leg which can be placed under the detached bookplate to use it as a desktop stand for separate use. As music stands go, this is a versatile offering.
Music stands: what to look for
Mobility
Do you need to transport your music stand from place to place, or do you simply need something that will sit tight in your practice room and doesn't need to go anywhere? This will determine what type of music stand you're looking for.
The next question you must ask yourself is: if you are going to transport the music stand, how small do you need it to pack down? While many music stands are transportable, only some are foldable. Of the foldable variety, there are many flimsy options – so make sure your foldable music stand is sturdy enough to support your heaviest scores so you don't have an embarrassing moment in a concert.
Stability
This is arguably the most important thing to look for in a music stand. After all, what's the point in a music stand if it can't support your music? This is easy enough to test: try out a number of different scores, and practice flicking through the pages as you would in a rehearsal or performance.
It's also worth noting at this point that many people now use iPads and tablets to read music, and many traditional music stands haven't adapted to this shift in technology. You may find you actually only need a small music stand to support your iPad or tablet. Whatever you decide, it's doubly important that it keeps your iPad or tablet in place, because you certainly don't want hundreds of dollars worth of technology clattering to the floor.
If you are using an iPad or tablet during performance, you might want to try a score-reading app rather than just using a basic PDF. We've rounded up the best score-reading apps for musicians on the market. To add to the experience, there's also a whole world of new tech on the market: check out our round-up of the best page-turning Bluetooth pedals to try out.
Durability
This is tied to the stability issue, but your music stand needs to stand (excuse the pun) the test of time. What materials is it made of? Do the fastenings and hardware look durable? Your music stand will most likely be travelling with you, whether it's in your bag or in the back of your car. It needs to be able to be bashed around a bit without looking too worse for wear. You don't want audiences distracted by your battered old music stand, do you?
It's also safest to go for a black music stand. Other more jazzy colours are on the market, but black will last you throughout your entire musical career.
Adaptability
The flexibility of your music stand is very important. Does the top section shift forwards and backwards easily to give you a better view of your music? Is the stem adaptable so you can use it when you're both standing and seated? The height options in your music stand are very important. These are the basic requirements of any music stand.
