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A sheet music stand is a pretty straightforward piece of equipment, so there aren’t a ton of detailed qualifications for what makes a good one. Basically, you need something wide and deep enough to hold all of your music (whether as sheets or in a songbook) and perhaps an iPad. Likewise, it also needs to be sturdy enough to withstand a good deal of weight without falling from where you’ve adjusted it for height.
The best music stands are all adjustable to some degree, so we took into consideration how user-friendly the adjustable function was. For example, many stands adjust from the back, which can be awkward, while others use a front-facing knob which some find more convenient. We love the convenience of friction-based adjustment mechanisms, but these can sometimes be unreliable. We like stands that can be adjusted to both seated and standing height and which have a wide tilting range to better customize the perfect angle. Though lightweight stands are preferred for the simple reason that they’re much easier to carry around, a stand that is too lightweight can indicate a lack of quality. Either way, you’ll want a music stand with a sturdy base that prevents shifting — and prevents your sheet music from spilling all over the floor.
