As a flute player performing publicly, whether, in front of a small crowd of ten or a huge gathering of ten thousand people, the very last thing you want to happen is to mess up the performance due to poor choice of a music stand. Hundreds of hours of practice gone to waste just because you chose a low-grade flute music stand that could not hold up to the weight of the music book or can easily be toppled by just a slight nudge.
Do not make the mistake of undermining the quality of the accessories you select for your precious and expensive instrument. Some musicians would be so picky with the care and maintenance of the flute but could not spare enough time and money to look for a sturdy music stand. It has to be as solid and sturdy as your instrument case. Remember that your music sheets need to rest somewhere that offers stability so you can focus on playing the flute instead of getting distracted by fiddling on it during performances.
Things to Consider When Buying A Flute Music Stand
The right material, appropriate length, and width, mobility, flexibility, and durability are the major things that you need to look into before buying a music stand for your flute. Not all music stands are created the same. A flute player has some requirements that a violinist or a guitar player may not need. It is essential that these considerations be met, so every performance would turn out great.
Length and Width
Size does matter when it comes to the flute music stand. Never purchase anything without trying it out first. A flute player can perform sitting down or in a standing position. If you choose to just sit during the whole performance, the height will not be an issue, but standing is an option, and the music stand needs to reach a required height. Find a stand that offers a leg length of more than half the height of the middle support pole. When it comes to the width, a wider bookplate is a must to avoid cramping on the given space. Flipping pages is a natural occurrence during the performance, so make sure to have a music sheet clip.
Mobility
If traveling is part of your grind, then make sure it is collapsible. The flute music stand must be easy to set up and disassemble to avoid wasting time. This feature is a non-issue for those who will only use it permanently at home or a practice room.
Design Flexibility
Choose a music stand with a flexible design, such as being able to adjust it in different angles depending on the need. Bending it backward, forward, or downward should be an option.
Durability
Whether it would be brought around in different music halls and concert venues or just permanently fixed in a practice studio, it has to be strong enough to carry the weight of the music sheets. It would be unsightly if there are markings on it, such as dents or rounds of tape affixed to its legs.
Top 4 Flute Music Stands
Let us look into four of our most recommended flute music stands.
1) Hamilton KB90 Traveler II Portable Music Stand
Key Features: 26″ to 47.5″ in height, large 20″ bookplate size with 2 ¼ inches platform holder.
The Hamilton KB90 Traveler II Portable Music Stand has an all-black professional look perfect for live performances. With a large bookplate, it can confidently carry music sheets of all sizes along with a deep platform holder. The height can only adjust to two height points, which is great for sitting or for standing positions, and can be used not only by adults but also by children’s instrument players.
It comes with a heavy-duty carrying bag with two separate zippered compartments that can accommodate the bookplate and the collapsible tripod base. That is suitable for those musicians who travel a lot. The music stand underwent a superior coated finish.
2) Moukey Folding Sheet Music Stand 19.6" X 13.2" MMS-2
Key Features: 32 to 60ins in height, large (19.6″ x 13.2″) bookplate size, 1.75ins book holder thickness, adjustable angle of 180°, lightweight.
This music stand is an upgraded version of the MMS-1 with a longer stand that is adjustable for sitting or standing position with height options from 23 to 62 inches using a locking clutch in three different points. The bookplate also was improved from just strips of metal to a full plate with small holes on it to confidently hold any size of the music sheets/book with a thickness of 1.75 inches. It is adjustable in different angles accommodating the flute player’s preferred angle.
The loading capacity of the Moukey Folding Sheet Music Stand 19.6″ X 13.2″ MMS-2 is enough to bear the heavyweight of music digital devices such as laptop or tablets. It is made of high-grade materials such as thick tubular steel and uses strong rubberized foot pads to hold the music stand with superior stability. The stand comes with other essential accessories, including a carrying bag, music sheet clip holder, and music stand light along with a USB cable to power it up.
3) Maestro Music Note Stand APL1281
Key features: 32ins – 58.7ins in height, adjustable 19″ x 13.5″ bookplate, metal spring arm music clips, 2″ holding platform.
The Maestro Music Note Stand APL1281 is a high-quality collapsible music stand that offers a large bookplate that can be tilted to the player’s preferred angle. It also comes with spring arm extension clips on both sides of the bookplate to hold the music sheets firmly. Having a pole or rod with three different adjustable height points makes it suitable for children and adult instrument players, whether sitting or standing during performances.
The holes in the bookplate make the music stand lighter without compromising its durability. It also has rubberized feet along with sturdy and stable legs for a tripod. It can easily be set up with no complicated instructions and also conveniently folds up in no time. This music stand is perfect for any traveling musician going from one venue to another.
4) Sheet Music Stand Lunies Highest 63"
Key features: 32ins – 63ins in height, adjustable bookplate from 0° – 90°, steel tube with .06″ thickness, loading capacity of 5 kg.
The Sheet Music Stand Lunies is one of the highest music stands as it can elongate up to 63 inches and has three adjustable points in the pole. It can easily be used by both children and adults while sitting or standing. Having an adjustable book plate from 0° – 90° to adapt to the player’s angle preference is a welcome feature instead of the player adjusting to the stand along with the book clip that can hold the music sheet firmly without leaving a mark due to its special spring. With its loading capacity of 5 kg, it can carry the burden of a thick music book or any digital music device, including laptop or tablet.
To ensure durability, heavy-duty materials were used to make the stand such as thickened tube steel with up to 0.06″ of thickness and anti-scratch built-in slider to keep a smooth pole or rod. It also underwent an excellent coating process to give a smooth finish.
This easy‑to‑fold music stand comes with a waterproof carrying bag, a book clip, and LED clip light along with USB charge cable.
Other Top-rated Flute Music Stands
Users & Buyers' Guide: Proper Way To Use the Flute Music Stand
Basically, there are three ways to use the flute music stand. With solo stage performances, the proper etiquette is to not use a music stand. Memorizing the music is a must, but if it is not possible, then place the stand about three feet away so you can still perform with your head up.
If the stand is for practicing at the studio or at home, slide the music stand way up leveling it to your face since there is no audience yet to take into consideration.
When performing or rehearsing with an ensemble, it is recommended to lower the music stand a bit so the audience can have a clear look from your chest up.
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