Blog

When setting up a new music facility, spreading the costs of equipment over the following years can now be a welcome benefit thanks to the Structured Payment Options system recently announced by Black Cat Music.

We know how budgets are tight and also that compromising on quality by opting for the cheapest option can prove to be a false economy in the longer term. So Black Cat Music has come up with a scheme to spread payments over a period of up to five years. We use a government compliant operating lease, ensuring the purchase is within government guidelines which offers benefits for government funded schools and organisations. The scheme smooths out budgets and cash flow while allowing investment in music performance equipment that doesn’t compromise on quality.

The scheme also applies to independent schools and other non-government funded organisations. These education establishments will also appreciate the planned repayment benefits of a capital purchase of music education performance equipment, as a contribution to maintaining a healthy balance sheet. Repayments can be monthly, quarterly or annually over 1,2,3,4 or 5 years with VAT claimed back on all repayments. And with tax 100% allowable and with the acquisition ‘off balance sheet’ the scheme should prove of great interest to financial officers and bursars. What’s more, at the end of the Agreement, for one extra payment the equipment becomes fully owned. Terms and Conditions apply, these and further details can be read online.

When buying on behalf of a school or council it is often a customer preference to use the well-established Purchase Order system. But not everyone is aware that Purchase Orders can also be used to buy music education performance equipment online, from the Black Cat Music web site.

Customers purchasing on behalf of a State-funded or LEA-funded School, Academy, College, University or County Council can use an official Purchase Order number to buy online 24/7 at www.blackcatmusic.co.uk in just a couple of clicks. All you need to do is place the items you want to order into the Shopping Basket, 'Proceed to Checkout' and enter your Purchase Order at 'Step 6 - Payment Information'.

Once you have reviewed the order, there is a choice of sending a scanned copy by email for automatic processing to be invoiced to your billing address, or to complete the purchase offline. If you prefer to send in your Purchase Order by post just mail it to Black Cat Music, Bankside House, Vale Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SJ, or alternatively fax it to 01732 371556 or if you prefer, scan and email to sales@blackcatmusic.co.uk

Terms & Conditions apply to all qualifying State-funded/LEA-funded Schools, Academies, Colleges, Universities and County Councils, Purchase Orders are subject to credit account status and a £3,000 excluding VAT order limit applies to online purchase orders.

If you are interested in Cappella singing, then the Willyots Theatre, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire is the place to be on Sunday 9th June, when leading UK group The Magnets are in workshop.

Molly Morley of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers told Black Cat Music that tickets for the event being organised by ‘Sing a Cappella’ can be booked online at www.singacappella.org .

The Magnets are the UK’s most popular cappella group, with a huge following across the world. “We’re very excited to bring you an unprecedented opportunity to peek behind the scenes at this extraordinary singing group and learn the secrets of their success and the practices and pitfalls of singing a cappella at the highest level.” The organisers told Alice Dagger, marketing manager of Black Cat Music.

The workshop, for both groups and individual singers, will offer a variety of choices of coaching opportunities for groups, sessions with The Magnets for those not with a group, sessions on vocal percussion and singing Magnets Songs.

If you are looking for something traditional in the way of music stands, perhaps to be in tune with the era of music you play, or as a gift a musician will appreciate, then look no further than the Black Cat Music range of period style wooden music stands.

Recently, a French customer Remi Serny opted for the Victorian Music Stand and was so delighted to receive the delivery, wrote saying. “It is beautiful, thank you very much!” Thank you Remi for drawing attention to our range of inexpensive, period style wooden music stands. Made to the highest standard from solid rosewood, they are replicas of traditional music stands which, for over a century, have been popular with musicians and antique collectors alike.

There is still time to take advantage of our May package deal of a 10 per cent discount for purchasers of ten Classic 50s complete with a compatible small Move and Store Cart, which ends Friday night.

The Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formula 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. The small move and Store Cart provides easy, stable transport and compact storage for ten Classic 50 Music Stands.

Full details of how to participate in this offer are published on the Black Cat Music web site.

Platinum Sponsors of the inaugural Music Education Expo, Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com are once again taking a lead in signing up for the 2014 show to be held at London’s Barbican venue, 7/8th February.

Although it’s early days yet, Black Cat Music are planning to exhibit a wide range of its music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment at the show. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world.

Described as “the largest gathering of music education professionals in the UK,” organisers Rhinegold promise, “The UK’s most comprehensive music education event. Comprising a major exhibition, a dynamic educational programme and exceptional networking opportunities. This two-day event offers music educational professionals a highly rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.”