Piano Music Stand: Height, Lighting and Accessories
A good music stand puts the notes exactly where your eyes look for them, so all your attention stays on the playing. An acoustic piano has a built-in music desk, yet there are quite a few situations where a separate stand, a lamp or a small clip lifts your practice. In this guide we look at when a music stand fits, how to set its height and angle, how much light the page should have, and which accessories complete it.
When you need a separate music stand
On an upright or a grand piano the music desk is part of the instrument, holding the book open right above the keys. A separate stand comes in when a digital piano arrives without a music desk, in a teaching room where teacher and student read from the same pages, when playing in an ensemble beside other instruments, and when heading out to a lesson or rehearsal. A stand with a full desk holds folders and heavy books steadily, while a folding stand made of thin metal rods folds down small enough for a bag. Our folding music stand has a black iron frame on tripod legs, its height changes as needed, and small clips hold the page in place.
How high and at what angle to set the stand
The simple rule is to fit the stand to your body, not your body to the stand. Sit at the piano in your usual playing position, back upright and shoulders loose, and raise or lower the stand until the centre of the page is at eye level or slightly below. When playing seated, the bottom edge of the page sits just above the instrument, so reading never pulls your body forward. When choosing a stand, the figure to check is the height from the floor to the ledge the pages rest on, since that sets the reading height. For children who grow fast, checking the height every three months keeps a good posture. A slight tilt of the desk reduces glare and sharpens reading.
How much light the page needs
A page of music is full of small details: accidentals, fingering, dynamics and pencil notes. According to the standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), a vertical surface such as sheet music should get at least 500 lux, and the keyboard at least 300 lux. Even light across the whole width of the page beats one bright spot in the middle, especially when the book is open on two pages. Cool white light, around 5,000 kelvin and above, sharpens the contrast between notes and paper, while warm light suits evening practice. If you wear glasses, angle the light down toward the page so it does not reflect in the lenses. Our rechargeable music lamp clips onto the music desk or can stand on the piano lid, lights the full width of the page and lets you choose between white and warmer light and set the brightness.
Accessories that complete the stand
A metal music book clip holds a thick new book open and flat on the desk and keeps the pages whole. If you play from digital scores, attach a tablet holder to the stand for a tablet or phone from 4.6 to 10 inches that turns to any angle, and a wireless page-turner pedal connects by Bluetooth and turns the page with a tap of the foot. On the way to a lesson, our sheet music bag fits music books and A4 pages. Beside the desk there is room for a mechanical metronome too, and we wrote about choosing one in the piano metronome guide.
Zohar Pianos, Ben Atar 28
At our store and gallery at Ben Atar 28 you can play our pianos and see their music desks up close. The stand, the lamp and the other accessories can be ordered on the site. We are here for you, and we will gladly help you choose what suits your playing corner.
Links: Piano metronome · Piano bench · Digital piano · Connecting a digital piano to a computer
FAQ
How high should a music stand be?
So the centre of the page is at eye level or slightly below, in your usual playing position. When playing seated, the bottom edge of the page sits just above the instrument.
Do I need a music stand for an acoustic piano?
Upright and grand pianos have a built-in music desk. A separate stand is useful for a digital piano without one, a teaching room, ensemble playing and lessons away from home.
How much light does sheet music need?
According to IES standards, at least 500 lux on the sheet music and at least 300 lux on the keyboard, with even light across the full width of the page.
Can I read music from a tablet on the stand?
Yes. A tablet holder attaches to the stand and holds a tablet or phone at the angle you choose, and a wireless pedal turns the page without lifting your hands from the keys.