Upright music stand too low

[kliewe]

I have a Kawaii upright that I'm quite happy with, but I do find the sheet music sits too low for me.

On a grand piano, the music stand is close to eye level, but on an upright it's only a few inches higher than your hands.

I've been thinking of rigging up some sort of system that will let me place the sheet music at eye level, but first I wonder if anyone out there has already solved this problem? 

Is there a product that can raise the level of the sheet music stand on an upright piano?

[richard black]

Is there a product that can raise the level of the sheet music stand on an upright piano?

I think you'll find it's called a brick.

Or sit lower - sounds as if you're sitting ridiculously high, which is never a good idea at the best of times.

[quantum]

I found similar problems when playing on uprights.  Often there is no real flat surface which supports the back of your books, just a ledge.  Often times the ledge is not that long and has trouble supporting more than one book. 

If you are good at carpentry you could make something that sits on the current stand.  Plexi glass could also work. 

[lhorwinkle]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but ...

I've seen advertised a music stand, similar to the standard type used by string/brass/woodwind players. But ... instead of resting atop a post, it's cantilevered on a horizontal arm. Its floor-stand could be placed behind or beside the piano, with the arm reaching over to an appropriate position in front of the player.

[This might work with a smaller upright (spinet, studio) but not with the taller, full-size uprights.]

[Bob]

Yes, I've seen that stand too.  I was just thinking of that.  I think it's really expensive though -- Maybe $150.  But nice looking of course. 

Maybe a book stand would work.

I've rigged up pieces of cardboard. 

I remember looking into it a lot a long time ago.  I think I ended up photocopying the music so it was larger. 

[Bob]

Maybe something like this....
https://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/S.A.-Richards-PropIt-Portable-Tabletop-Music-Stand?sku=450135

I didn't find that stand on an arm. 

Some of the more movable ones look interesting.   They look like flatscreen tv holders.
https://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/f1/49/c8/76458163-300x300-0-0_Stagg+Stand+Stagg+MUS+ARM+2+Large+Music+Stand+with.jpg

[rick langmaack]

Hi, i am a piano technician and i have never seen a product intended to raise the music on an upright piano. You might try a long block of wood placed right where the music books now sit. This would raise them up a little. My advice would be to not attach anything permanately or modify your piano in any way - but try to just place something under the music. Maybe you could carve out the wood into a shape so that the books don't slide off of it.
Good luck. - Rick

[kliewe]

I think I've solved my problem, sort of.

Nowadays with so much music available as printable PDFs, I can find most pieces I want in PDF format.

I print the music on fairly stiff paper, and then three-hole punch it. I keep the printed music in a 3-ring binder. When it's time to play it, I place it in the binder one hole higher than normal. (i.e. the bottom hole of the sheet music matching the middle ring of the binder).  Now the music sits several inches higher and it works fine. The paper has to be fairly stiff to prevent flopping down.

This doesn't help me with music already printed into books, but I'm finding that I rely less and less on those old music books.