You just can't beat a good ol' fashioned black, three ringed binder from Wal Mart.    Cost effective, plentiful, and doesn't break the budget when lost.  The music contained therein notwithstanding... 

Remy,

I still believe one cannot beat the less than $3 ring binder from Staples as opposed to the exobitantly priced "choral" folder. Music stays in place and in good condition, there is no music left under the chairs, the music fits into a cabinet very well etc,etc,etc. OK! Spring for a $5 ring binder if you must and you still have spent less than half of the replacement cost of a folder. True, if you are performing an extended work the score doesn't fit into the fold BUT it IS its own folder. Maybe you need garish green for your school colors. There are a million colors of ring binders.

S

I would agree with the above posts.  I love the "The Black Folder," but for $25 or $30 each, they aren't very cost effective.  I ask my students to get 1/2 inch 3-ring binders.  I think anything bigger is difficult to manage.  If punching holes in music is not an option, you could certainly rig something up with rubber bands that would look professional at a distance.  My experience with the faux leather folders from the music stores is basically that you get what you pay for.

I direct a 75 voice community choir. Most of my members use a standard black 3 ring binder - it is cheap to purchase and easy to replace. We do not punch holes in our music because much of what we use is borrowed from local libraries. Rather than using rubber bands to hold the music in place, we purchase plastic magazine holders (you can order them from Staples, as well as other vendors) which do a pretty good job of holding the folios in place.

 

John RImkunas

Director, Gorham Community Chorus

Gorham, Maine

...and to add to my post, one year, many years ago, after nearly all the $10 choral folder were defunct after a year of not much use, I raided the colorful, light weight paper folders from the school storeroom which held up better than the choral folders. And may you deserve what you get if you decide on opting for the gold lettering. There can be no justification for buying choral folders if that cost is more than your entire music budget for two years.

S

This year we purchased "The Legacy Choral Folder" from JW Pepper at 11.95 each.  Not as fancy as "The Black Folder"....but it works and the kids are happy having them.

We purchased 100 of the "The Black Folder" for my two adult choirs (community and church) several years ago. They get a lot of use and still look like new. They are easy on the hands and backs of older choristers being self-supporting, unlike a 3-ring binder, and can accommodate any music form from single octavos to 3-hole punched (with the 3-ring insert) to a book such as Messiah, not to mention extra pockets and pencil holders. True, more expensive, but once bought, they are a joy to use time after time. 

 

Karen

www.kssingers.com

I have been using the same Gold embossed 'Black Folder' for well over a decade and it looks and acts just about as good as new. It is a quality item, and to boot it is made in North America (Vancouver), which should count as something considering the economic mess in both Canada and the USA. (Economic recovery begins at home with each of us– one small step at a time!)

The Black Folder has several advantages over cheaper, imported ring binders- a strap on the back that allows it to be carried with one hand and another on the front that keeps it open at just the right angle. It also has horizontal ‘strings’, which allow for easy insertion of music without having to puncture it, as well as the customary three rings. Newer versions contain pencil holders and side pockets- very useful I would think. Rigorous and well constructed, it also stands the test of time- at least mine has!   

There are rip-off ‘Black Folders’ (I heard the name was too general to obtain copyright) that are produced in China. These are apparently so similar they cannot be told apart from the real thing- right down to the name. No further comment!

I personally  like using the Choral Folder with straps as mentioned above, better than 3 ring binders.  The 3-ring bends backwards.  I have tried many through the years, and do like the Black Folder.  Did you know THE SYMPHONY SIPPER replaces the water bottle, and attaches directly onto the music folder?  It fits to any size folder.  Has anyone really tried it out to see how it works?  Vocal Health and comfort without raising that awkward bottle works better, and cannot be seen from the audience view.  

How about music folder solutions for children's choris?  We tried the binder thing for 5 years.  Binders are just too big and combersome for 8 year olds.

 

Vera

We've been using the Choralex Compact folder with the nylon strings for holding octavos. When the 3-ring adaptor is properly inserted, it works very well in holding loose leaf pages. They cost about $22.00 when purchased in bulk and they have lasted for years. If they're not abused they serve extremely well. They also look great, they're easy to hold and the choir loves them.

Hi Remy, there is another option that hasn't been mentioned and I'm going to add it as a topical comment, especially since we manufacture the better folders which people are talking about in this thread:

Yup, cheap black binders do the trick. For the 300+ singers each at USC and USM, at least, they worked fine. Get the 1-inch rings; the 1/2 inch ones tear your music. 

Teaching 19 years and have always used the 1 inch black binder. Some of my students take out the piece we are doing so that they don't have to hold the entire binder with all of their music, theory, sight-singing, etc. Others prefer to hold the entire thing.

 

Megan Wicks-Rudolph