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Trent College install music practice room for percussion

Black Cat Music has recently installed a music practice room at Trent College for use as a dedicated percussion room in their existing music school. This new facility now allows the percussion teacher to hold lessons without disturbing other music lessons taking place in the rest of the music building.

Director of Music, Steven Henderson said, “Music at Trent College is growing and changing quickly. Arriving as Director of Music this year, I have brought a new approach to Ensembles and to the organisation of the Music School. Our percussion department have ambition but were held back by how much their ensemble rehearsals affected everyone else. Our new dedicated percussion room from Black Cat Music was assembled quickly and fitted within our existing building, so the percussionists were soon able to start more demanding work in a space all of their own. The previous problems of rehearsal space and sound disruption were improved straight away.”

Trent College is delighted with the sound isolating qualities of the new room, a view shared by many others who have invested in music practice rooms. At 6m x 4.8m the new structure is the largest single sound isolation room Black Cat Music has installed so far in what has become a rapidly expanding estate that already spans the length and breadth of the country. In the North West, Lancaster and Morecambe College discovered that by installing three music practice rooms, the college was able to make much more effective use of the space available to the music department. Head of Music Pete French explained, “The music practice rooms are being used every day. We are very happy having them.” Meanwhile, on the South coast, Youth Development Worker James Brill was delighted with the two music practice rooms that were installed at Hollington Youth Centre, Hastings, East Sussex. “We offer young people the chance to engage in music. My main concern was noise pollution and complaints from the neighbours and community.” James added, “Now we have absolutely no problems with the sound. The sound-proofing is absolutely second to none – fantastic.”

Black Cat Music’s sound-isolating music practice rooms offer a solution that controls noise at source, providing an ideal rehearsal space for musicians and singers. The modular design allows for a wide range of sizes to accommodate musicians from a solo singer to a choir or a band. The rooms can be relocated, if and when major changes in use and allocation of space are planned. For comfort and to create a pleasant environment, the rooms are supplied fitted with integral lighting and fan-assisted ventilation. Thanks to balanced internal acoustics they also make excellent recording studios with high sound quality. Teachers and students can now practise within controlled conditions whilst minimising the impact upon those going about their day-to-day activities.



Black Cat Music enjoy NAME Conference

Returning from the NAME National Conference 2012 at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire last weekend, marketing manager Alice Dagger said, "It was great to meet some familiar and some new faces in music education. I managed to attend a couple of talks and learnt a lot about how music educationalists are working together nationwide to give young people the best possible musical education." Black Cat Music’s Brigitte Downs added, "We thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. Many thanks to all who were involved in organising the conference."

The NAME National Conference 2012, “Crossing Frontiers in Music Education” aimed at music teaching professionals, opened Friday 5th October at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordshire. Training, development and critical debate were on the agenda at a time the organisers describe as one of “dramatic change.”



Huge savings on offer in Black Cat Music stock clearance sale

As Black Cat Music clears warehouse space to make room for the new season’s music education and performance equipment products, there are big savings on offer for a wide range of items.

With savings of up to 75%, now is a great time to visit the Black Cat Music web site and buy a bargain. Currently products on offer include many different types of chairs, instrument storage and racks, music stands and lights, risers, staging, costume racks and many more high quality products.

The Black Cat Music ‘Autumn Clearance Sale’ is open now but stocks are limited so buyers are advised to get online quickly to take advantage of this rare opportunity to own these useful items.



Black Cat Music are off to NAME Conference

Alice Dagger and Brigitte Downs of Black Cat Music are looking forward to exhibiting at the NAME National Conference 2012 which takes place at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire this weekend on the 5th and 6th October.

Conference delegates are invited to drop by the Black Cat Music exhibition stand where examples from their comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment will be on display and collect their ‘NAME Conference Discount voucher.’

The NAME National Conference 2012, “Crossing Frontiers in Music Education” aimed at music teaching professionals, opens Friday 5th October at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordshire. Training, development and critical debate are on the agenda at a time the organisers describe as one of “dramatic change” – a conference “that all music educators need to attend.”



Back to School discount on Classic 50 music stands

During September, Black Cat Music is offering 10% discount on their best selling Classic 50 music stands. Quantity discount breaks allow purchase prices as low as £36.00. Schools and colleges looking to equip for the new academic year with new music stands designed for robust and regular handling can take advantage of this great offer throughout September.

Already a top seller, the popular 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. To learn more watch the Classic 50 put through its paces at YouTube.com Full details on the September offer can be found on the Black Cat Music web site.



The Black Cat Team looks forward to visiting Scotland

The Black Cat Team looks forward to exhibiting at the SAME (Scottish Association for Music Education) Conference at Stirling University later this week. The conference, hugely popular with music educationalists across Scotland, promises this year to 'Continue the musician's journey to excellence through music'. It is a highly informative resource for classroom teachers, and Black Cat is delighted to be involved.

Martin Loft and Teresa Rogers from the Black Cat team will be attending the conference at Stirling University. Teresa Rogers comments: "We very much look forward to the conference, which has a great reputation among Scottish music teachers. We also look forward to visiting Stirling and the University."

Black Cat Music will be displaying a large selection of its music education equipment which ranges from music stands and orchestra chairs to staging, choral risers and instrument storage solutions. Black Cat's sister company, Black Cat Acoustics, supplies and installs acoustic solutions for schools, universities and public buildings, including sound-isolating, modular Music Practice Rooms from MusicPracticeRooms.com - affordable, flexible solutions for school and university music departments.

Black Cat Music attended abcd Convention

Members of the Black Cat Music team returned enthused by their participation at the abcd Annual Convention which took place this year at Leeds Metropolitan University over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Martin Loft from Black Cat Music reported: 'The convention was a great success and it was a pleasure to meet so many talented choral conductors'. Exhibiting during the Annual Convention , Black Cat Music displayed products from the company’s Conductors Equipment series which includes stands, podiums, chairs – even a baton - plus a comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment.

abcd is the “UK’s only organisation devoted to supporting people who lead choirs.”



Black Cat Music to attend abcd Convention

Members of the Black Cat Music team are looking forward to attending the abcd Annual Convention which takes place at Leeds Metropolitan University, 24 – 26th August.

Exhibiting during the Bank Holiday weekend Convention, Black Cat Music will display products from the company’s Conductors Equipment series which includes stands, podiums, chairs – even a baton - plus a comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment.

As the “UK’s only organisation devoted to people who lead choirs,” the organisers say, “Our twenty-seventh Annual Convention takes us up to Yorkshire, where we last held Convention back in 2002, but to the new location of Leeds. Like Birmingham, Leeds has a long history of culture and specifically of choral music, and Convention will make the most of the Yorkshire choral connection.”



Club house noise problems quietened by Black Cat Acoustics

In 2011 Crowborough Rugby Club said farewell to the old club house that had served them since 1960 and quickly realised that there was a noise problem in their new building. Time to call in Black Cat Acoustics.

In the words of club Chairman and Commercial Director, Graham Callard, “The acoustices were terrible”. He continued, “We had some early parties and people could not hear themselves speak.” This prompted Crowborough Rugby Club to look for a solution and Black Cat Acoustics were recommended. Graham continued, “We set two criteria – the quality of the acoustic panels to do what they say they are going to do and of course the aesthetics. Black Cat Acoustics met both criteria and the people we worked with were excellent.” Describing the experience of engaging Black Cat Acoustics, Graham Callard said, “The survey was done very quickly, very professionally with good advice. The fitting was just superb. Dates were agreed in advance and delivered on time.”

Clearly delighted with the transformation of the ‘block and brick’ club house into an aesthetically and acoustically pleasing environment, Graham said, “It has made a tremendous difference. Before four people could not hold a conversation without the noise reverberating round the walls. Imagine a hundred people with music in the background – it would be deafening.” He went on to add that he had already recommended Black Cat Acoustics to another rugby club with similar problems. The full interview with Graham Callard can be viewed on YouTube.

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Information for editors
Black Cat Acoustics are a professional noise control company with an experienced and friendly team offering a complete range of acoustic products. Black Cat Acoustics can design, supply and install high performance acoustic equipment as a total package or find economic solutions to individual problem areas within existing buildings.

Black Cat Music are Platinum Sponsors of Music Education Expo

Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com are pleased to announce that they have signed up as Platinum Sponsors of the Music Education Expo 2013 event at London’s Barbican venue, 20/21 March 2013.

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a wide range of its music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment. 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.

When it comes to noise control problems Black Cat Music offers various standard and custom acoustic solutions including sound-isolating, modular Music Practice Rooms from MusicPracticeRooms.com. Visitors to Music Education Expo 2013 can discover more when Black Cat Music's sister company, Black Cat Acoustics conduct a seminar for music teachers during the conference part of the event. Talking to the theme of “Solving Your Acoustic Problems” this helpful seminar will discuss common problems facing music departments and discuss some practical solutions.

Described as “the largest gathering of music education professionals in the UK,” event 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.”

Finally, Black Cat Music has great pleasure in sponsoring an award at the inaugural Music Education Awards & Gala dinner on the evening of the 20th March in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room.