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How to Make a Desktop Music Stand

A music stand is essential equipment for amateur and professional musicians alike. Most music stands are designed to stand on the floor and are constructed with long telescopic legs. In cramped quarters, where there is no room for a floor stand, musicians may prefer setting their sheet music upon a table top or desk. In these cases, you can save a few dollars by constructing a sturdy wooden desktop music stand with a few readily available tools and materials.

Things You'll Need

  • wood, 1/2 inch thick, 16 by 30 inches
  • Tape measure
  • Straight edge
  • Pencil
  • Saw
  • Sandpaper, 220 grit
  • Wood glue or white glue
  • Drill
  • Drill bit, 7/64th inch
  • Wood screws, 1 5/8 inch
  • Wood screws, 7/8 inch
  • Screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut 4 pieces of 1/2 inch wood, a 16 by 12 inch rectangle, a 16 by 9 inch rectangle, a 16 by 1 inch rectangle and a 12 by 10 by 6.6 inch right triangle (with the 90 degree angle between the 10 and 6.6 inch sides). Smooth all edges with sandpaper.

    • 2

      Set the 16 by 12 inch piece of wood in front of you with the 16 inch edge running from side to side. Mark a vertical line in the center of the wood, 8 inches from both the left and right edges.

    • 3

      Apply a small bead of glue to the mark you just drew. Press the 12 inch side of the triangle against this line. Turn these two pieces over without changing their alignment, with the help of an assistant if necessary.

    • 4

      Drill about 4 holes through the front of the 16 by 12 inch wood, into the edge of the triangular wood. The front is the side that you did not mark. Drive 1 5/8 inch screws into these holes.

    • 5

      Apply a bead of glue to one face of the 16 by 1 inch wood. Set the 16 by 9 inch wood in front of you with the 16 inch edge running from side to side. Set the glued edge of the 16 by 1 inch wood on top of the 16 by 9 inch wood along the top edge closest to you.

    • 6

      Turn these two pieces over without changing their alignment, with the help of an assistant if necessary. Drill about 4 holes through the 16 by 12 inch wood, into the 16 by 1 inch wood, taking care not to drill all the way through the wood. Drive 7/8 inch screws into these holes.

    • 7

      Turn the wood over so that the 1 inch piece of wood is on top, on the edge nearest you. Mark a horizontal line across the wood from left to right, 6.6 inches from the back of the wood. Mark a vertical line in the center of the wood, above the line you just drew, 8 inches from both the left and right edges.

    • 8

      Apply glue to the marks you just drew. Press the wood piece that you constructed earlier against these T-shaped marks, with the front side of the stand facing you. Turn the entire assembly over without changing the alignment, with the help of an assistant if necessary.

    • 9

      Drill about 9 holes through the bottom wood piece, into the edges of the other 2 pieces of wood. Drive 1 5/8 inch screws into these holes. Turn the music stand over.

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