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Black Cat Music once again displayed their comprehensive range of education and performance equipment at the ABTT Theatre Show held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London on June 10th and 11th.

Products displayed included music stands and lights, posture chairs, choral risers, staging equipment and theatre products and staff were on hand to discuss and demonstrate products. Copies of Black Cat Music#44;s new comprehensive price list and catalogue were available from the stand.

The Black Cat Acoustics division is a professional noise control company with an experienced and friendly team offering a complete range of acoustic products. Enquiries are welcomed for the design, supply and installation of high performance acoustic equipment as a total package, or to find economic solutions to individual problem areas within existing buildings.

Black Cat Music have just published their 2009/10 Music Education and Performance Equipment catalogue, ready for the start of the new academic year. Many new products have been added to last year’s catalogue and the ranges of music stands and chairs have been extended, plus new additions to the acoustics range.

Packed full of everything needed by music departments, the new catalogue provides a useful single reference source for all types of equipment, from music stands and music folders to chairs and staging. Showcasing one of the most comprehensive ranges available of music and performance equipment available for schools, colleges and universities, conveniently brought together in one easy-to-use price list and catalogue, products can be ordered by mailing the enclosed order form, or by e-mail, Freephone or fax. The catalogue is also available online where purchases can be made using a secure server, 24 hours a day.

Education establishments joining the Education Discount Programme not only enjoy 5% off all standard purchases, but also receive advance notification of Black Cat Music’s special promotion offers each month. The new catalogue is available from Black Cat Music, or online.

Black Cat Music has recently introduced a new Virtual Acoustic Environment (VAE) Studio System that now permits easy and affordable installation of proven VAE technology into music studios and practice rooms.

Virtual Acoustic Environment practice rooms were developed by Wenger Corporation as the next generation of teaching and practice tools for music education and feature record/playback capabilities and simulation of nine virtual acoustical environments. The new VAE Studio System incorporates the same feature-rich specification that now allows easy and affordable installation into private teaching studios or existing built-in practice rooms to create an integrated learning and assessment environment for music education.

VAE features a built-in recording and listening environment, active acoustics for “virtual reality” simulations and guaranteed sound isolation. There are nine choices of ‘performance spaces’, ranging from practice to arena. With the integrated digital record/playback capability, teachers can evaluate an individual student’s instrumental or vocal performance. The VAE records up to nine sessions with a 60-minute total recording time. Audio transfer of audition or competition recordings is possible through the built-in USB connection in standard stereo .wav format (44.1 kHz, 16-bit). Accompaniment music may also be transferred to the VAE via the USB connection. By selecting from the nine active-acoustic settings, musicians can learn how to optimise their performance in different environments. Benefits include accelerated development of critical listening skills; improved articulation, dynamics and timing; and a more enjoyable practice session. When practice is fun, students will practice longer. VAE settings include Baroque room, recital halls, auditoria, cathedral and arena.

New to the Black Cat Music catalogue of musician’s chairs is the ergonomically designed Tempo chair.

Designed with musicians in mind, it enables correct lumbar support to encourage good posture, enabling musicians to remain comfortable even after hours of playing. The lumbar support in the middle of the back also encourages full and unrestricted breathing by creating the conditions necessary for proper posture, that in turn promotes maximum opening of airways: a feature that wind players will appreciate. The black finish powder-coated tubular steel frame supports a flat upholstered seat, permitting a range of positions and angles in relation to the back, while the waterfall front section of the seat prevents restriction of blood supply in the lower legs.

Mechanical adjustments for seat height from 39cm to 52cm in both front and back pairs of legs allow selective adjustment in the length of the legs. Alternatively, each pair of legs can be adjusted individually, enabling varying degrees of seat tilt, which can be achieved quickly and quietly without putting the instrument down. Orientation of the legs permits a series of six chairs to be stacked one above the other. A trolley is also available for transport and storage.

Newly introduced by Black Cat Music is the AcoustiCabinet that, by enhancing room acoustics, permits in-room storage while providing a suitable environment for music practice.

Developed in conjunction with acoustic consultants, the AcoustiCabinet is the result of research that has produced a new kind of instrument storage cabinet. The unique and distinctive ‘Waterfall’ curved grille doors have been designed to provide resonance resistance, minimise the room’s cubic volume loss and reduce vibration. Furthermore, the cabinets are faced with acoustically absorptive materials that eliminates direct reflection while absorbing both high and low frequencies. The AcoustiCabinet storage solution enables efficient use of space by allowing music rehearsals to take place in the same room without compromise on acoustic response.

Black Cat Music can supply AcoustiCabinet in a number of standard colour combinations.

Whether storing music, equipment or theatrical garments and props, the new GearBoss shelving from Black Cat Music offers a flexible and durable solution.

GearBoss Shelving systems can be configured to meet the needs of each location and, as those needs change, the flexibility of moving shelves quickly and without tools is designed to facilitate this. The cantilever design ensures that space can be optimised, keeping the floor open and free from supports and uprights. Additional shelves and options for hanging bars and lock boxes can be added at any time. Work surfaces can be added to create repair benches, pass-through stations and even desks if required.

GearBoss Shelving will help protect investment in equipment, while keeping storage areas organised and accessible.

Black Cat Music is extending the configuration options for their Versalite staging system with the introduction of round and pie-shaped platform components.

Versalite is an advanced, ultra-flexible system that can be specified in stage or seated riser versions and can easily be configured into multilevel stages. This all-in-one system doesn't compromise on strength, durability, or ease of set-up, thanks to its heavy-duty construction comprising decks constructed of solid 19mm exterior-grade plywood. The durable phenolic surface won't curl or peel and is designed to help prevent tripping. Furthermore Versalite is extremely quiet, with no moving parts to rattle during a performance. It can be configured with up to four decks and options include skirting, stairs, and guard rails.

New from Black Cat Music are two new special purpose music stands – the K&M Sound Insulation Stand and the K&M extendable Conductor’s Stand .

For symphony orchestras seeking compliance with the European Union Noise Directive, then the K&M Sound Insulation Stand could prove helpful. A concave Plexiglass shield provides hearing protection for the musician stationed in front of other performers. The shield's practical prismatic 'V-block' connector makes it quick and easy to connect to the stand, which can be used on both sides, depending on requirements. A tripod arrangement ensures stability for this well constructed stand that is designed for a long product life. Height is adjustable from 90cm to 140cm.

Also added to the wide range of stands is the Extendable Conductor’s Stand, which is suitable for mobile or stationary use. Pull-out music racks on both sides extend desk dimensions from 57cm to 87.5cm x 35.5cm and are made from wood finished in black or natural beech. The stand upright is made of black powder-coated steel tubes, is quick and easy to set up and fold up and, with just two parts, is convenient to transport. Height is adjustable from 69 cm to 116 cm.

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When Havering Sixth Form College relocated their Wenger Modular Practice Room during the summer holidays, Black Cat Acoustics were called in to manage and implement the move.

Although it had been installed and in regular use for several years the Wenger Modular Practice Room was found to be in good condition. The Black Cat Acoustics team carefully dismantled the room and re-installed it in a new building. Being a self-contained structure designed with the possibility of relocation in mind, this only required wiring of the control panel to activate ventilation, lighting and electrical sockets within the room.

The Wenger Modular Practice Room is sound isolated, allowing musical lessons to be held without disturbing neighbouring classes. The rooms are available in different size options, from individual use up to a size sufficient to accommodate 15 performers. Complete with integral lighting and wiring installed to maintain the sound isolation integrity and ventilation providing a complete air change every two minutes, the rooms are truly self-contained.

During the summer break, Black Cat Music’s contracting team installed six sets of instrument storage cabinets at Bournville School.

Black Cat Music advised the school on the most suitable layout for the cabinets, paying due regard to a health and safety concern to avoid the potential to obstruct a thoroughfare across the back of the stage. As the stage is used for a multitude of purposes, sometimes even having a trampoline on it, it was important not to obstruct walkways. Following an on-site review, recommendations to reposition the cabinets from the original plan were accepted. This then allowed Black Cat’s installation team to turn some of the cabinets round and site them back to back with doors opening in line, rather than across the walkway, and the remaining cabinets positioned at the side of the stage. Another example, not only of the flexibility of Black Cat’s products, but also of the ability of installation staff in dealing with problems on-site!