pouches for music?

Date: June 18, 2010

I am looking to move away from folders in rehearsal to zippered pouches. The folders I have been using have significantly decreased in quality and increased in price, and the pouch offers more durability for less than half the cost.

Unfortunately I have only found one source for zippered pouches, at the Container Store (searchable on Google). I am sure there are other pouches out there, and am wondering what you use and where you get them.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Garrett Lathe

Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota

Sartell High School Choirs

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Bill Paisner on June 19, 2010 9:47am

You might want to consider that with the music loose in pouches, the actual handling of the music scores will significantly increase, as opposed to the music being held in folders by strings or 3-hole clasps. If the music is part of your chorale library, it will not last as long.

Bill Paisner

Director, Southwest Women's Chorus

John Howell on June 19, 2010 11:42am

Garrett: I'm wondering what kind of folders you're using that aren't durable. Our community orchestra just got some top-of-the-line orchestra folders (a littel under $10 each after shopping around on line), and they are VERY sturdy. The ones used by our community band have lasted for years under constant use.

But ANYTHING that keeps the music out of backpacks is a Good Thing! Seems to me that pouches might end up in backpacks, whereas if folders do, they're stiff enough to protect the music.

All the best,

John

donald patriquin on June 20, 2010 2:31pm

I do not know what brand of folder you have been using, but I can heartily recommend "The Black Folder" (http://musicfolder.com/) now available internationally. I have been using these folders for my music for many years and they hold up extremely well. There are several different styles, some of which combine hole-punched music with non-punched octavos, and the newer ones lie very flat and may be held up easily with one hand.

Garrett Lathe on June 21, 2010 11:18am

I've been using Humes & Berg (sorry for disparaging you online)... Our folder storage will not fit the larger folders.

I would love to use "The Black Folder," but 1) our budget won't allow, and 2) they won't fit. My hope is that using the black folders I have for concerts and the music pouches for rehearsals will be the most cost effective way to run things. Still haven't found anyone aside from the Container Store (containerstore.com).

Anyone else have a source?

Thomas Mustachio on June 26, 2010 8:02am

I can't speak to the quality of this company's product. They manufacture the choral folders sold by a well known national music company. They carry pouches of all sizes - with zippers and without. They even sell nap mats!

http://marloplastics.com/plastic_pouch_overview.htm

Good luck!

Tom

Wendy Traeger on June 26, 2010 6:10pm

We have had tremendous issues with maintaining the "safety" of music when it is not in a folder. It gets lost in a backpack, lost in a locker, etc. THey somehow never maangae to lose a folder in their backpacks. I have my folders from Gamble Music. Yes, they can tend to be pricey, but I have found that the durable choral folios are the best way to go. I would rather spend the pennies there and not have to replace music every tmie you turn around. Good luck on your hunt.

Wendy

Director of CHoirs

East High School

Mount CArmel Lutheran Church

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