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THE
REVIEW
[1UJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLIV. No. 1 8 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman BUI at 1 Madison Ave., New York, May 4, 1907
INSURANCE FOR PIANO MEN.
The Adoption of a Mutual Insurance Among
Piano Men Discussed by a Manufacturer—
Says That Cheapness Is Not Entirely the Es-
sential But Quality.
Discussing the matter of high and increasing
insurance rates with The Review recently a
prominent Harlem piano manufacturer broached
the subject of mutual insurance among piano
manufacturers, a plan that has operated success-
fully in a number of trades. He said:
"I think the matter is an extremely interesting
one, that the trade should take up carefully, and
it seems to me to be a movement designed to
benefit the trade as a whole.
"Nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the
fact that any insurance must be judged by its
quality solely. If it can be relied upon, it is
good insurance. But no business man will for a
minute listen to any argument of 'cheapness'
where there is any doubt of the 'quality' of in-
surance. The matter may be placed in the
question, 'Does it insure?'
"Experience in other lines, say, hardware or
lumber, would seem to indicate that it is not only
to be depended upon, but wholly satisfactory.
"Whether the same methods would apply to
the piano trade, one that is in many respects pe-
culiar to itself, is a matter for consideration. It
is obvious that the prime requisite must be hon-
esty in management—and the personnel of the
men who carry the plan into effect is of the ut-
most importance. In this respect it is like any
other kind of insurance.
"As for ourselves, we are funy and well in-
sured. On the other hand, we try to adopt every
precaution against the fire devil that the inge-
nuity of man can devise. Everything we can
think of is done to make insurance needless; but
we all know Burns' saying, 'The best laid plans
o' mice and men,' etc."
city that could be remedied by earnest work on
the part of such an association.
ANOTHER MEDA^FROM E. G. BROWN.
The Bayonne Piano
Medal to the High
Brown Medal This
lence in German or
Dealer Donates Second
School of That City—
Year Will be for Excel-
Mathematics.
Last year E. G. Brown, the well-known piano
man of Bayonne, N. J., gave a handsome gold
medal to the student who wrote the best essay on
"The Influence of Music." This was won by
Ruth Allison Miller. Now again Mr. Brown
comes to the front with another medal to be
awarded to some bright, young Bayonnean. Supt.
James H. Christie has decided that, as music is
not included in the high school curriculum, that
this prize be awarded this season for mathemat-
ics or German. He will announce shortly which
of these branches is to carry the day.
CULTIVATE A RHYTHMIC SENSE.
The Newest Wrinkle in Musical Instruction Is
Rhythmic
Gymnastics—Marching
Is the
Basis of the System.
Rhythmic gymnastics form the newest wrinkle
in musical instruction. These exercises, taken
as a preliminary to the study of music, are de-
signed to impart the instinct of time and meas-
ure in which teachers say, the majority of boys
and girls, men and women, even those who have
correct ears for pitch, are lacking. The in-
ventor of the scheme is Jacques Dalcroze, pro-
fessor in the Conservatory of Geneva. Concern-
ing the invention we read the following:
"Marching is the basis of the system. Every
motion of the foot corresponds with a written
note. The professor plays the measure, the
pupil moves his feet in time to it. When the
measure is so slow that the whole time cannot
be consumed in making a step to each note,
MAYOR BELL AFTER THE GRAFTERS.
movements of the arms or body are added to fill
John J. Bell, mayor of Port Huron, Mich., and out the full period of the musical beat.
"Thus the form of melody is corporealized in
piano dealer at other times, has stirred up a big
sensation in that city by his efforts to weed out the learner. At first compliance with the time of
the gangs of "grafters" who are preying on the the music is a conscious operation, then it be-
city treasury. He recently suspended the three comes unconscious or mechanical, and at last in-
members of the board of assessments, all promi- stinctive; then the pupil has reached the point
nent business men, on the charge of manipulat- where musical notes naturally array themselves
ing the assessments for their own benefit. As according to beats, bars and measures, and will
can be imagined, his act caused a big stir, and spontaneously be played or sung in rhythm. In-
an investigation of the books of the accused men dependence of movement in the different limbs
is cultivated in advanced classes by teaching the
is now under way.
pupils to beat a different time with each hand,
as, for instance, a slow march with the right and
HEINZMANN & CORBETT OPEN.
a quick waltz with the left, or by teaching the
Heinzmann & Corbett, formerly in the employ pupils to beat with the hand a different measure
of E. G. Brown, the piano dealer of Bayonne, from that to which they may be walking or danc-
N. J., have opened warerooms of their own in ing. Incidentally the system develops personal
grace in a much higher degree than ordinary
that city.
gymnastics, which, as a rule, are mere exertions
of force without regard to regularity of move-
AIM TO FORM ASSOCIATION.
ment. The rhythmic spirit of Mr. Dalcroze's ex-
Efforts are being made by H. O. Friedrichs, ercises is simply wonderful.
manager of the Toledo, 0.. branch of the Smith
Paderewski says it is necessary for a profes-
& Nixon Piano Co., to form an association among
the piano dealers in that city. There are many sional pianist to practice at least four hours a
matters in violation of good trade ethics in the day.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Increase—Exports for the Month Are Much
Larger—Player
Shipments
Make
Fine
Record—The Figures in Detail Furnish Some
Interesting Particulars to Our Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, May 1, 1907.
The summary of exports arid imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month of
March, 1907, the latest period for which it has
been compiled, has just been issued by the Bu-
reau of Statistics of the Department of Com-
merce and Labor. The figures relating to musi-
cal merchandise, including pianos, organs, piano
players and miscellaneous "small goods" in the
musical field are as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
during March amounted to $127,213, as com-
pared with $127,755 worth which were imported
the same month of 1906. The nine months'
total, ending March, shows importations valued
at $1,083,005, as against $975,094 worth of musi-
cal instruments imported during the same period
of 1906. This gives an increase in imports for
the nine months ending March of $107,911.
The import figures for the nine months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1905, $979,-
577; 1906, $975,094; 1907, $1,083,005.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for March, 1907, amounted to $293,296,
as compared with $284,508 for the same month of
the previous year. The nine months' exporta-
tion of musical instruments amounted to $2,361,-
545, as against $2,417,837 for the same period in
1906. This shows a decrease in exports for the
nine months ending March of $56,292.
The export figures for the nine months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1905, $2,444,-
578; 1906, $2,417,837; 1907, $2,361,545.
Of the aggregate exportations in March there
were 1,042 organs valued at $95,726, as compared
with 1,385 organs in 1906, valued at $84,587. The
nine months' total shows that we exported 9,901
organs, valued at $678,296, as against 10,191 or-
gans, valued at $716,788, for the same period in
1906, and 9,893, valued at $719,229 for the same
period in 1905.
In March, 1907, we exported 321 pianos, valued
at $70,365, as against 237 pianos, valued at $52,-
830, in March, 1906. The nine months' total ex-
ports show 2,868 pianos, valued at $648,790, as
compared with 2,112., valued at $482,849, exported
in the same period in 1906, and 1,681, valued at
$386,128, for the same period in 1905.
Of the aggregate exportations in March there
were 226 piano players, valued at $60,086. For
the nine months' period, 1,851 of these Instru-
ments, valued at $421,961, were sent abroad.
The value of "all other Instruments and parts
thereof" sent abroad during March, 1907, amount-
ed to $67,119, in the same month of 1906 the
value was estimated at $76,932.
The total exports for the nine months under
this heading foot up $612,498, as against $621,603
exported during the same period of 1906, and
$697,202 exported during the same period In
1905. This shows a decrease of $9,105,