music stand

Meaning

A music stand is a lightweight, adjustable frame or rack designed to hold sheets of music or songbooks in a reading position. Musicians use it during rehearsals and performances so they can read their music hands-free. It can be made of metal, wood, or plastic.

Examples

• Please put your sheet music on the music stand before we begin.

  Please put your sheet music on the music stand before we begin.

• The violinist adjusted the height of her music stand.

  The violinist adjusted the height of her music stand.

• We need to buy three more music stands for the school orchestra.

  We need to buy three more music stands for the school orchestra.

• He accidentally knocked over his music stand during the concert.

  He accidentally knocked over his music stand during the concert.

• Foldable music stands are very easy to carry to rehearsals.

  Foldable music stands are very easy to carry to rehearsals.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Put the notes on the music table.

  ✓ Put the sheet music on the music stand.

  A 'table' is a flat piece of furniture. The specific tall, adjustable frame for holding music sheets is called a 'music stand'.

• ✗ I need a stand of music for my guitar class.

  ✓ I need a music stand for my guitar class.

  The noun adjunct 'music' comes directly before 'stand' as a compound noun: 'music stand'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The conductor asked everyone to place their sheets on the ___.

  💡 An adjustable device used by musicians to hold paper sheets.

  Show answer

  music stand

• I can't play the flute and hold the paper, so I need a ___.

  💡 The metal rack that holds your sheet music.

  Show answer

  music stand