Attention Sax Players with Bad Backs !

A Standing Height Sax Stand.

We’ve just taken delivery of some new Sax Stands that can be adjusted for height. The sax is stored safely on a secure folding tripod base, at anything up to playing height for anyone up to about six feet tall. It can be used for alto or tenor sax.

Anyone with back problems could benefit from a stand like this – either by playing with the sax on the stand, or by not having to keep bending down to a conventional stand.

And it costs less than twenty pounds !

Takemitsu Shocker !

Thursday evening saw us selling CDs in the Apex, Bury St Edmunds. The event was a fairly well-attended piano recital by Noriko Ogawa.

It's a shame the hall wasn't completely full, because her performance was wonderful. The Mozart and Beethoven would each have justified the entrance money on their own, but in the second half, this tiny, twinkling, utterly charming lady absolutely thundered through the Liszt B minor sonata, exploring the heights and depths of emotions, extremes of power and delicacy, and the absolute summit of virtuosity.  It just didn't seem physically possible.

After the performance, Miss Ogawa was kind enough to come and sign copies of the CDs that we sold, and meet the audience. First question - "do you work out at a gym? Surely you must do special exercises?" I cannot reveal the answer, because I didn't hear it, but I bet she spends more time practicing the piano than she does at the gym.

We were surprised that we sold all the copies we had of her recording of the complete piano music of Toru Takemitsu, who doesn't often feature on "Desert Island Discs".   She opened the second half with his "Rain Tree Sketch II", and it was a captivating, utterly beautiful sound world. It was so beguiling that we sold out and took orders for more.

The other sell-out was of her box set of the complete piano music of Debussy. Six CDs by a world-class artist for the price of two!

We have a number of her CDs at special prices on offer until March 16th, including her latest release of Mozart Sonatas.

Unfortunately all the signed ones have gone, but the music is utterly beautiful !

Brilliant New PA System

Barnes & Mullins has just announced the release of two new products from Chinese PA manufacturer, Musik Yang.

The new MYamp MY100 is a lightweight vertical line array consisting of eight 3" Audio Piston speakers. The unit's features include a high-efficiency power amp providing 220 watts RMS of Class-D power; two hybrid XLR-1/4" inputs; switchable pantom power for condenser mics; -10dB switchable gain pad on each channel and folding stand and padded nylon carry bag. The MY100 weighs in at approximately 25 pounds and retails for £339.
The MY101 subwoofer is a compact, 100-watt powered sub. The unit features an adjustable gain control. adjustable low-pass crossover from 200Hz to 500Hz and comes with a mounting pole (for the MY100) and padded carry bag. The sub retails for £199.

An ideal compact PA - we have one in stock  for you to try with your favourite microphone or instrument.

Copyright Licence to save schools time and money

As I’m sure you are aware, the photocopying of printed has been a thorny problem within schools.


Music publishing is one of the few industries that does not currently issue licences to authorise the currently illegal activity of photocopying. The law is widely misunderstood, and commonly broken.

The Music Publishers Association has decided to develop a Schools Printed Music Licence. The licence authorises the making of copies or practical arrangements of printed sheet music for use in schools. It has clearly defined parameters and has been designed to legitimise current activity whilst protecting composers’ and authors’ rights.

Needless to say there are limitations to the right to photocopy:

-There is an overall prohibition on using the licence to substitute for purchase of a publication

-Schools must own a copy of any publication they copy

-Copies can only be used for school purposes and must not be used for individual or group instrumental or vocal teaching

-Borrowed or hired publications may not be copied

-Only members of staff may make copies

-Choral leaflets may not be copied

-Only 10% of the items in anthologies, albums and multi movement vocal scores can be copied

-Publishers may exclude publications if they wish

The licence is in the experienced hands of the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) who have administered educational licences for nearly 30 years. The Schools Printed Music Licence will complement their existing portfolio of licences and comes into effect on 1 April 2013

The licence has already been purchased centrally by the Department for Education for all state supported schools in England thereby leaving school departmental budgets intact and allowing schools to continue purchasing sheet music. We understand that Academies are also covered by this licence, but for the avoidance of doubt, it might be best to confirm this!

Schools will be encouraged to continue purchasing music legitimately whilst new resources currently being developed by the MPA will explain to all users of printed music that photocopying and otherwise reproducing scores is illegal without an appropriate licence.

Andy Sheppard’s Saxophone Massive

Do you want to play alongside Andy Sheppard and huge numbers of other saxophonists on the opening night of the 2013 Bury Festival?

It doesn’t matter whether you are 7 or 77 or whether you have been playing for just a  few weeks or whether you are a seasoned professional, or whether you play soprano, alto, tenor or baritone…..you are all welcome.

If yes, then you will be part of Andy Sheppard’s Saxophone Massive of hopefully over 100 saxophonists all playing together on the opening night of the Festival (Thurs 16 May 2013).  If you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult (preferably someone who will also be able to join in as a saxophonist).

Since its first outing in Bristol in 2006, the Saxophone Massive has now appeared at the London Jazz Festival as well as Norwich, Leeds, France, Norway and Switzerland.  A documentary was made by the Festival in Norwich which will give you more of an idea and you can watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8_Z69FeBo

If you think you might like to take part then please register your interest by emailing Michelle at info@buryfestival.co.uk with your name and email address and put Saxophone Massive in the subject field.  Alternatively, you can call her on 01284 758101.  

Digital Piano Bargain of the Century !

OK, so the century's only a dozen years in, but we haven't seen anything better than this so far.

A full sized, 88-note keyboard, with Scaled Hammer Action for authentic Grand Piano feel, an incredibly realistic piano sound, in a traditional cabinet, all for £499-99.

Anyone looking for a good -quality piano, particularly parents of young learners, need look no further than the Celviano AP-220. It never needs tuning, doesn't mind the heat or the cold, and can be easily moved about by two normally fit adults without undue exertion! It can be played at unsocial hours using headphones, and has a range of voices and digital effects including transposition, pitch tuning, metronome, recording, duet mode, and, believe it or not, 16 different temperaments.

Most importantly, it's a decent piano at an absolute bargain price. Order yours now - they'll probably all be gone by Christmas!

The Famous P- Bone !

Yes, it's here at last, in stock at Balaam's Music, the famous plastic trombone, the P-Bone !

It really works like a traditional Brass trombone, it's a fantastic, fun instrument, and it's a lot more resistant to everyday wear and tear than your average 'bone. Immensely appealing to the kid in all of us, it's also being taken on as an instrument for whole class learning at KS2.

Pitched in Bb, and available in six different colours, it's yours for just £119.

find out more at www.pbone.co.uk