Darren Lynch

Hit me with your best Schott!


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International music publisher Schott Music has had a presence in London since 1835 and has been at their iconic Great Marlborough Street address since 1908. Uniquely for a company best known for sheet music, it offers spaces for hire for practice or teaching, a fabulous resource for central London.

Recently Schott added two new spaces in the form of Black Cat Acoustics’ Studiobricks Pro sound isolation booths each with a piano and suitable for up to two musicians or a musician and teacher. Black Cat had to customise the standard booths to fit into the spaces with a lower-than-normal ceiling height but the result (as the photos show) look amazing.

Following the installation by Black Cat’s own acoustics team, the staff at their Kent office had another surprise, Schott have a tradition of naming their practice areas after famous composers that were published by them, so, what were Schott going to call these new spaces?

Schott elected to name the two rooms after Australian born Percy Grainger and Liverpudlian Steve Martland, two distinct and interesting choices.

Andrew Dunbar-Nasmith of Schott said about the new spaces “We are so pleased with the design and performance of the Studiobricks booths and these two areas are an important addition to our spaces”.

There’s still time to take advantage of our Fantastic July Special Offer


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It’s not too late to take advantage of our July Special Offer, Black Cat Music is offering an amazing 15% discount on their best-selling Classic 50 Music Stand by Wenger.

The ever popular Classic 50 Music Stand is a wobble-free, elegant and lightweight stand with no fiddly knobs or screws. It is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formulation of advanced polymers, offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. The scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments.

Single stand prices start from £47.21 each or take advantage of quantity discount breaks allowing purchase prices from as low as £40.13 each when purchased in quantities of 100 or more.

Full details of this monthly offer, as well as future offers, can be found at https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/

Black Cat Music Exhibit at the One Voice Conference

Black Cat Music were delighted to both sponsor and exhibit at the first ever One Voice Conference which took place in Dockland Riverside, London, on the 27-28th April. The One Voice Conference was the perfect opportunity for Voice Over Professionals from around the word, to come together and attend a wide range of Key Talks and Workshops, as well as attend the One Voice Awards.

Black Cat brought our Studiobricks One VO Edition booth to the exhibition which was set up as a live and fully functioning voice over recording booth. This meant that delegates could use and take home the complete user experience. A Lewitt 440 microphone was installed and recording system set up on the VO addition package which we were very happy to receive such positive feedback for. We were fully booked on our schedule even before we arrived, and the extra slots in-between were fully attended by the amazing talent who had last minute work come in and needed to send off auditions or professional grade work at very short notice.

Black Cat Music was happy to be able to ensure that voice over artists didn’t miss out on any working opportunity as they could pop in, arrange a time and work whilst receiving vital training and workshops.

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Peter Citriano who’s work can be heard worldwide from his work on shows such as America's Got Talent, The Emmy Awards, The Grammys, Hollywood Game Night and many more. He used our booth for some work that he sent off then and there.

We were also overjoyed to receive such a wonderful live endorsement from such a highly esteemed talent as Peter Dixon who recorded the attached video.

We thoroughly enjoyed the hugely varied and diverse amount of talent that the Voice Over industry provides and were extremely pleased that the Awards Ceremony was such a success. We really look forward to working with the Gravy for the Brain Team and the One Voice Conference in the future!

Black Cat Music is the exclusive UK distributor for Studiobricks sound-isolation booths. For more information please visit us at https://www.acousticabins.com/ alternatively Tel: 01892 619719 or email at sales@blackcatmusic.com.


Black Cat Music to Exhibit at the ISBA Annual Conference 2018

The Black Cat team are excited to be exhibiting at the Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA) Annual Conference at The Brighton Centre, on the 9th and 10th May.

The 2-day conference is the perfect opportunity for Bursars and Senior Management Staff from member schools to partake in a range of seminars, workshops and to browse the products and services of over 140 exhibitors.

Black Cat Music will be amongst many other trusted brands that will be visited over the two days and will be exhibiting an extensive range of music performance equipment, including music stands, orchestra seating, choir and band folders, instrument storage cabinets, conductor's equipment, staging and tiered choral risers.

Black Cat is proud to be the exclusive distributor for Wenger Corporation in the UK (and Master Distributor in Europe). Wenger is world-renowned for the quality and longevity of its equipment, which comes with a minimum five-year warranty. Black Cat can also help with acoustic problems, offering solutions from sound-isolating music practice rooms to acoustic treatments for classrooms and full-stage acoustic shells.

Black Cat Music to Exhibit at the February Music & Drama Education Expo

The two-day Expo, which takes place on the 22nd and 23rd February at London Olympia, will offer the chance for people to attend over 75 seminars, workshops and debates. It also makes the ideal occasion to network with over 2,500 of their peers, teachers and music educationalists, whilst browsing the hundreds of exhibitor’s services.

Black Cat Music will be amongst many other trusted international brands that will be visited over the two days and will be exhibiting an extensive range of music performance equipment, including music stands, orchestra seating, choir and band folders, instrument storage cabinets, conductor's equipment, staging and tiered choral risers.

Black Cat is proud to be the exclusive distributor for Wenger Corporation in the UK (and Master Distributor in Europe). Wenger is world-renowned for the quality and longevity of its equipment, which comes with a minimum five-year warranty. Black Cat can also help with acoustic problems, offering solutions from sound-isolating music practice rooms to acoustic treatments for classrooms and full-stage acoustic shells.

If you are attending the Expo, why not come and visit us on stand B16.

Black Cat Music exhibit at the Music Mark Annual Conference 2017


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Black Cat Music were pleased to exhibit at last week’s Music Mark Annual Conference in Kenilworth. The theme of this year’s 2-day conference was Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity, and was the perfect opportunity for attendees to take part in a wide range of talks, workshops and visit exhibitor stalls.

On show at the Black Cat stand were the ever-popular music and performance products ranging from Wenger music stands and music posture seating to staging, conductor’s equipment, choir and band folders. Black Cat Music and Acoustics’ Sales Executives, Brigitte Downs and Justin Bird, were in position and on hand to give their expert advice.

Reporting on the conference, Justin Bird Sales Executive said: "As always, it was lovely to see a number familiar faces, but also to meet so many other professionals within music education. The Free Conductors Baton Offer was as popular as ever and I hope that the Music Mark Annual Conference was enjoyed by everyone who attended."

Black Cat Music exhibit at the Music and Drama Education Expo Manchester


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Black Cat Music were pleased to exhibit at last week’s Music and Drama Education Expo in Manchester. The Expo was a perfect opportunity for music and drama teachers from around the world to take part in networking, workshops and to view a wide range exhibitors’ stalls.

On show at the Black Cat stand were the ever-popular music and performance products ranging from Wenger music stands and music posture seating to staging, conductor’s equipment, choir and band folders. Black Cat Music and Acoustics’ managing director, Alice Dagger and sales executive, Brigitte Downs, were in position and on hand to give their expert advice.

Sales Exec Brigitte Downs added: "It was great to see lots of old friends and meet a number of new music teachers and to offer advice on Black Cat's range of top quality music education and performance equipment. As always, our conductor’s batons offer proved to be as popular as ever."

Black Cat Music exhibit at the SAME 21st Conference 2017


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Black Cat Music was delighted to exhibit at the Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME) Conference on the 7th and 8th September 2017 in Stirling, Scotland. The two-day conference held at Stirling University, attracts delegates from all over Scotland within Music Education. The conference includes professional presentations, hands on training, and the chance to meet a wide range of exhibitors and stallholders.

On show at the Black Cat stand were the ever-popular music and performance products ranging from Wenger music stands, a selection of seating, choir and band folders. Black Cat Music and Acoustics’ Senior Sales Executive, Brigitte Downs, was on hand to give sound advice on all their top selling products.

Reporting on the conference, Brigitte Downs said “I very much enjoyed meeting the people at the heart of Music Education in Scotland, and thank them for their warm welcome. I hope that SAME’s 21st Conference was a success for everyone involved”.

A standing ovation of a discount on Classic 50 Music Stands


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Black Cat Music is offering a stunning 10% discount on their best-selling Classic 50 Music Stand up until October 20th 2017. Single stand prices start from £49.25 each, or take advantage of quantity discount breaks allowing purchase prices as low as £44.06 each when purchased in quantities of 60 or more.

The ever popular Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use, thanks to a formulation of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. Its elegant design makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments.

As well as this fantastic offer, we are also promoting a 10% discount on the Large Move and Store cart and Encore Chair. The Move and Store cart provides easy transport and storage for all your music stands and holds 18 Bravos, 20 Classic 50s, 22 Roughnecks or 22 Prefaces. The Encore Chair is a well-researched and developed chair, offering comfort and support to the musician. With its curved 'waterfall' edge and slender back, musicians sustain a more upright and poised position.

Full details of these offers can be found at https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/

Count down to Music Education Expo 2016

Black Cat Music and sister company MusicPracticeRooms.com are once again Platinum co-sponsors of Music Education Expo in 2016 and we look forward to seeing you at the show.

This year there is a change of venue with Music Education Expo moving to Olympia for the two day exhibition and conference event taking place on the 25th and 26th February 2016.

Billed as 'The Oscars of the music education world’ by event organisers, Rhinegold, Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are sponsors of the Life Time Achievement Award. The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence ceremony takes place at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel, Knightsbridge this year.