Blog

Customers In Action - The British Association of Barbershop Singers

19 Dec 2014

You probably didn't know that there was such a thing as a British Association of Barbershop Singers.

Well there is, and we now because they are our customer.

You would also be forgiven for not knowing that there are annual competitions, well there are.

And here are IC Quartet, the winners from 2012.

We use this spot on our blog on Friday to showcase the brilliant work of our customers.

This video serves to demonstrate the depth and breadth of music, and how we support it. We hope you enjoy this video as much as we did. If you have something that you would like us to showcase on our blog let us know.

New motorised banners transform acoustic environments in seconds

16 Dec 2014

New and available from Black Cat Music, are Wenger Corporation’s range of Transform Motorised Acoustical Banners.

Offering the benefits of variable acoustics for performing arts spaces such as theatres, concert halls, auditoriums, churches and sports arena, Transform Motorised Acoustical Banners can quickly be set to improve the acoustic environment and enhance the listening experience of the audience.

The addition of Transform Motorized Acoustical Banners to the performance space allows the control of levels of sound absorption and reflection to be adjusted within a matter of seconds. Each banner, which deploys quickly and quietly, includes adjustable spacing options, both for distance away from the wall and between the two fabric layers. Control can be integrated with various proprietary intelligent control systems.

Test results demonstrate a significant reduction in reverberation time over a wide range of high and low frequencies. By setting the spacing separation gap between fabric layers and distance from the wall, the degree of absorption can be controlled. Banners come retracted within laminated wood enclosures supplied with wall fixing brackets and can be deployed within seconds when called for. There are options on choice of banner materials for performance criteria and optionally banners can be digitally printed for aesthetic reasons if required.

Delivered fully assembled and tested, Transform Motorised Acoustical Banners carry a 3-year warranty.

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Inspirational Monday - An old swing for a brand new song!

15 Dec 2014

This appears to be a new trend that we are very much in favour of, giving new songs some classical treatment.

We admit that we are largely classicists and it isn't until this song was given a swing By Scott Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox featuring Kate Davis that it came to our attention at all.

And then we released how brilliant it is.

Perhaps it serves us right for being such muso snobs but we think the Double Bass solo really adds something!

We hope this video has given you a little inspiration on your Monday.

Customers In Action - Brighton College Swing Band, having a beautiful day!

12 Dec 2014

OK, so we understand that even those with the most positive of outlooks would struggle to describe today as beautiful.

But, when you see young people having this much fun it almost doesn't matter how dreary the weather is, this warms the cockles.

Another reminder of why we love working in, and supporting, music education and music excellence.

And the music education professional in this video deserves special mention, he is clearly having a Beautiful Day!

We use this spot on our blog on a Friday morning to showcase the brilliant work that our customers are doing. If you have something that you would like us to share, just let us know.

Music folders look magnificent at festive events

10 Dec 2014

With music events for the Christmas season in full swing, many choirs and music ensembles throughout the country are performing with their smart new music folders from Black Cat Music.

Jemma van der Byl, Director of Music at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate told Black Cat, “Folders all received on time for our rehearsal and Carol service. Thank you so much for your swift and efficient service. Just what we needed!”

Elsewhere, Fellow and Director of Music, Simon Whalley at Keble College, Oxford reports, “Just a quick note to thank you and the team for getting the folders to us for the end of last week. We sang from them on Sunday evening at a very big service here and they looked magnificent!”

Imagine the visual impact at your Christmas concerts that can be 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.

Customers In Action - Guildhall School of Music

5 Dec 2014

We love this. When we see young people talking with such energy, enthusiasm and passion about music it is a fantastic reminder of why we all love working in music education. And we agree, Jazz is like a language. We use our Friday blog to showcase the brilliant work of our customers. If you have something that you would like us to share let us know.

Black Friday announcement: offer on LED music stand lights will run up to New Year

28 Nov 2014

It’s Black Friday news from Black Cat Music! The current 10 per cent discount on LED music stand lights will continue until New Year’s Eve.

Black Cat Music’s popular dual-headed, bright white LED light simply clips on to any music stand to provide even illumination of sheet music. The standard version is battery powered, so no trailing wires to trip over in the orchestra pit. The adjustable twin goose-neck lighting heads pack the illuminating power of 4 bright white LEDs that thanks to economic operation give extra long battery life. Supplied complete with 3 x AAA batteries the stand light is ready to use straight out of the box. But if you want to plug in, there is an alternative option of using the included USB power cable supplied in the pack. Ideal for rehearsal or performance these LED music stand lights are bright, light and versatile and very affordably priced.

Inspirational Mondays - Do Schools Kill Creativity?

1 Dec 2014

If you have never seen this video of Sir Ken Robinson talking about the way that creativity is prioritised in Education you need to take 20 minutes to see it today.
We are with Sir Ken, we think creativity is the most important aspect of education, which is why we are so happy to support music education.
We hope that you have an inspired Monday and we will have something for you again next Monday.

New hands-free device ‘turns’ digital music pages

28 Nov 2014

Black Cat Music has introduced a helpful wireless device for turning digital pages of music on tablets and computers, hands-free.

For musicians who have adopted screen based digital music scores on their i-Pad or tablet devices, from Wenger comes a foot pedal operated device for ‘turning’ pages both forward and back. Using secure Bluetooth connectivity, the need for a wired connection is eliminated and therefore there are no wires to trip over. Containing an internal rechargeable battery which gives an impressive 100 hours of operation between charges, the device is ‘paired’ to the tablet or PC and it’s ready to go.

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Music Education Expo conference programme announced

26 Nov 2014

Black Cat Acoustics will be presenting a ‘solving noise problems’ session in the just announced conference programme at Music Education Expo.

Scheduled to start at 10.30 am in Seminar Theatre 2 on March 13th 2015, acoustic specialists from sponsors Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com will talk through common noise problems experienced in schools and how they can be remedied. The session also promises to demonstrate how thanks to recent developments in sound isolating rooms, their new Express version can be assembled rapidly using only a few basic tools.

And if the prospect of this important learning experience is not enough, Black Cat Music is providing a free breakfast! Music Education Expo is the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for music teachers. Hosted in four conference theatres, the 2015 conference programme will feature more than 50 high-quality professional development sessions designed for primary, secondary and instrumental/vocal music teachers. The event takes place at The Barbican, London on 12th an 13th March 2015.

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