Designing a new music stand

Firstly I hope this is the right place to post!

For my A2 design project i am going to redesign a folding music stand to make it intuitive for beginners to use and more useful for advanced musicians. This new design may possibly be spring loaded and unfold automatically, but i am at a very early stage at the moment.

To help me with the design and to find out what musicians want i have come up with a questionnaire! it would be very helpful if you could copy it into your reply and fill it in! Any other comments and suggestions are always welcome!


What kind of stand do you own? Solid Folding Both
If both; which do you prefer to use and why?
Which do you use most often and why?

How many years have you been playing an instrument?


How often do you use a folding music stand?
Daily several times a week weekly
several times a month monthly occasionally during the year yearly other, please explain

How easy do you find them to erect?
Very easy easy neither easy or difficult difficult very difficult impossible

When you first attempted to erect one how hard was it?
Very easy easy neither easy or difficult difficult very difficult impossible

Did you need someone to show you how or explain it?
Yes No

Do you feel folding music stands look stylish?
Yes No comments:

Do you find the clips to hold the music on are adequate?
Yes No
Please comment, How can they be improved?

Would you find a pencil clip on the stand helpful?
Yes No Comments:

Roughly how much did you pay for your folding stand?
£0-5 £6-10 £11-15 £15-20 £20-£25 £25-30

Have you had problems with durability?
Yes No Comments:

How long has your stand lasted?
__years Comments:

Any other comments or suggestions for improvements?

Thank you!

What kind of stand do you own? Folding but my school has solid
If both; which do you prefer to use and why? SOLID much sturdier and light doesn't shine through it and my music.
Which do you use most often and why? If given a choice it'd be solid

How many years have you been playing an instrument? 6

How often do you use a folding music stand? several times a week for practicing at home

How easy do you find them to erect? Extremely easy

When you first attempted to erect one how hard was it? Not difficult although occasionally the arms cross over each other and get stuck.

Did you need someone to show you how or explain it? No

Do you feel folding music stands look stylish? NOT AT ALL

Do you find the clips to hold the music on are adequate? NO

Please comment, How can they be improved? First off they are to small to hold anything more than a single sheet in place and they are also flimsy and do not hold the paper very securly without blocking half the music. Clips (not bars) at the top and bottom of the stand, or even just the top would work much better.

Would you find a pencil clip on the stand helpful? Yes although an extendable shelf for under the stand would be most convienent

Roughly how much did you pay for your folding stand? I'm not sure although I doubt it's much more than 30 US Dollars. sorry I don't know the exchange rate

Have you had problems with durability? Yes, the clip holding the stand to whatever height I want is starting to get flimsy and the stand will rotate and fall on occasion.

How long has your stand lasted? 6 Years

Any other comments or suggestions for improvements? Make something that stands sturdy. Most folding stands fall over so easily. Either a heavier material or better base would be great. Have you considered a complete tripod with a stand part on top?

You're Welcome!