You don’t need to be a musician to understand that a music stand’s chief requirements should be to stay standing up and hold the music. If you have ever used a music stand, then you will know that most can be relied upon to do neither. What many stands can do really quite well is fold up small – yet this remains by far their least used function.

As an amateur musician who plays in a brass band, I’m no stranger to seeing music stands performing badly: sheets of music wafting to the floor, stands sent crashing down by the merest touch. I was prompted to see if I could do better.

• One handed height adjustment – a simple push or pull puts (and keeps) the music where you want it.

• A generous music desk – hold your sheet music, tablet, phone and even your instrument securely.

• More storage – valve oil, mutes, more sheet music and other things which vie for space on the music stand can all be accommodated in a hammock underneath.

• Secure the music – the music rest is made from perforated steel, magnets keep your ‘paperwork’ in place.

• Out of the way – pick the stand up and it will fold flat and can be hung on the back of a door or slid under a sofa or bed.