While there is no single characteristic that distinguishes a conductor’s stand from a musician’s stand, the one commonality that conductor’s stands seem to share is that they are much stronger (and very often larger) than traditional music stands. normal. Additional strength and size can be incorporated into a mount in a number of different ways.

A bigger and stronger tray

Since conductors typically have to manage many more pages of music at a time than musicians, it makes sense for conductors’ stands to have larger trays (the part of the stand that holds the music). Since sheet music comes in all sizes, these larger trays can be wider, taller, or both. A typical size is a double-width tray to facilitate folding of sheet music books.

These trays can also be made larger by adding a double shelf (the shelf is the part of the tray that prevents sheet music from falling to the floor). A stand with a double shelf, one a couple of inches below the other, creates a kind of mini-compartment that’s especially handy for a driver because they can use it to store things like poles, pencils, and other accessories without getting in the way. with the sheet music on the top shelf.

In addition, it is also common for driver trays to be made with stronger or thicker materials because they will have to support more weight. A good example of this is the opera director’s music stand. With this design, the tray is three-dimensional with raised edges. Consequently, musical scores cannot slide off any edge and are much more secure. The tray of an opera stand also often has lighting built into the tray itself, so there’s no need to worry about dropping an attached lighting fixture.

Stronger and multiple axes

The main support mechanism of a music stand is the axis, which connects the tray to the base (the part that touches the floor). To support the increased weight of music a conductor needs, the shaft is often stronger as well. For example, this can be achieved by making the shaft thicker and/or made of stronger materials. Other conductors’ stand designs include stands with dual spindles, sometimes including a connecting crossbar for added strength, and stands that do not use the standard post-shaped spindle, but instead have rectangular-shaped spindles that offer four corners. support up. and down.

A separate feature of the axles on these stands is that they have much greater height adjustment, as a driver will often be standing on a raised platform while steering. However, this perk doesn’t come with all the endorsements from directors, and a potential buyer should be sure to check it out.

Basics with greater stability

In keeping with the same theme, the base of a conductor’s stand is usually much stronger and more stable than a regular stand. One style involves the combination of a double shaft along with a connecting bar between the two bases. Another style ditches the typical three-legged base in favor of a platform design. This makes tipping the stand almost impossible. Still other styles include the use of a four-legged base or a modified three-legged base with a much lower and wider leg span. This also makes tipping much less likely.

Conductor’s Sheet Music Stand Cost

Finally, as you can imagine, along with all the added strength and stability, there are two consequences to consider.

One is that a conductor’s stand will typically weigh more than a standard musician’s stand and potentially be less easy to transport. The other consideration is that naturally things that are bigger and stronger are also more expensive. Without going into the use of special materials, an overall approximate cost of a conductor’s music stand will be about fifty percent more than double the cost of a counterpart regular sheet music stand made by the same manufacturer. (Some models cost even more.) That may sound like a premium, but most drivers find the quality and added benefits well worth the cost. In fact, many musicians use smaller conductor’s stands because of their greater strength and stability, as well as the handy added features like a double shelf or extra-wide tray.