Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1911 Vol. 53 N. 26

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
them while playing, actually look to our eyes.
the original scores. Such things as the phrasing
The Two View-Points.
lines, the expression lines and so on, found in one
It will not be denied that most people play the And the rest is comparably easy.
Roll-Reading Not Difficult.
form or another on most rolls, are or should be
player-piano pretty badly, to put the matter in as
There is certainly nothing stupendously difficult
familiar to all. So, as concerns these last matters,
mild a way as possible. Among the various reasons
in what we have suggested. It is true that the
we need not worry very much. Almost everybody
that may be assigned as explanatory of this fact
has or can get information about them. But the
I doubt whether it has often occurred to include actual name of the note represented by any given
actual reading of the roll itself is a different mat-
that of the treatment generally accorded to the perforation may be unknown to us. But that is
music roll by those who sell and use it. Put- not an important matter. The really important ter altogether. And before we close this discus-
thing is that we are learning music first by the ear sion it will be well to point out very briefly just
ting aside absolutely the mechanical functions of
and second by the eye (through the roll.) when we
why a familiarity with the arrangement of per-
the roll and treating it merely as the musical
use the player-piano; whereas the ordinary music
forations on a roll is a valuable accomplishment
medium which we use when we want to render
student generally learns through the eye first and for the player-pianist.
this, that or the other piece of music, we have to
the ear last, if ever he learns through the latter
ask ourselves precisely what we propose to do with
Advantages of Roll Reading.
this sheet of paper when we have it before us. at all. We need not care whether the precise
name of a perforation—as it would be written on
We can do one of two things. We can either
What is the use? That is the cry of every-
treat it as merely a mechanical controller of the a score—or whether the exact spelling of a chord body. And there is little sense in talking about
be absolutely clear to us. What we do need to
player action or as a guide to the interpretation
the necessity of doing this or that thing unless
of the music through our eyes. If we employ know is that a certain perforation represents a
one is prepared to show what use it is. In the
certain sound which we can recognize and that a
the first conception we shall not become good
present case, fortunately, there is little difficulty
player-pianists at any time. If we employ the lat- certain group of perforations stand for certain
in doing this. The player-pianist who can read
sounds. These things we can learn to read from
ter we shall so become, provided that the latter
his roll is a master of the situation. He is able
the roll, and when we do so learn we have gone a to interpret his music strictly according to his own
can be employed at all. And the thing which has
to be settled in the present talk is whether we can long way toward becoming masters of the player-
feeling and temperament. Until he does acquire
read the roll, and what good it will do us if we piano.
this power he is the slave of his instrument, not
can.
its master. Any player mechanism whatever, so
Signs and Markings.
long as it will operate at all, can be played well
Some Fundamental Ideas.
The various signs, markings and expressive in-
One good thing about the whole matter is that
dications on music rolls are not very difficult to and musically if one has full control of it. And
the biggest step to be taken in gaining that con-
as soon as we show that a roll can be read we
understand, and not very complex anyway. Music
trol has been taken when one has learned to read
simultaneously and by the same effort show the
roll catalogs generally contain lists of such indi-
advantages of reading it. That simplifies + .he
cations with explanatory notes thereon. And if the roll so that the meaning and construction of
whole thing greatly, as we shall see. Here is the not this, then it is a very simple thing to ask the music is apparent at a glance. This is by no
means an impossible feat. It is not even very
main proposition. All music is built up out of a some musician what the various conventional
difficult. It requires a little patience, a little com-
scale of tones. These tones must be combined
words and signs mean. For the signs on music
mon sense. And that is all.
in pleasing sequence in order to make what we
rolls are nearly all copied from those found on
call a tune or melody. These tunes or melodies
must be continually repeated in order that the
ear may recognize and appreciate them. And,
moreover, the tunes themselves must have definite
form and content, must have a regular recognize- Of the Problems Which Piano Merchants Have to Face When Engaged in Selling Player-Pianos
able shape, as it were, since a mere succession of
That of Upkeep is Exceedingly Important—How to Keep the Purchaser of a Player-Piano
tones without some shape to it would not make
Happy, Contented and in a Non-Complaining Condition of Mind Worth Considering.
a melody at all. And, lastly, the tunes must be
The man on the firing-line, who finds himself investment is larger. He must sell at almost double
supported and enriched by the addition of other
tones running parallel with them in such a way square up against the proposition of marketing the price of a similar graded straight piano. Yet
as to furnish a foundation or, as we call it, an player-pianos to a public often hostile, more often he finds it hard to get payments in proportion.
"accompaniment." These notions, of definite shape just plain indifferent, has a problem to solve that He must take pianos in trade nearly always. All
sometimes appeals because of its complexity. In of these things present difficulties of their own.
or form, of repetition and of accompaniment, are
the basis of musical form, at least so far as we past issues of the Player Section the editorial voice But none of them match up with the upkeep prob-
are at present concerned. The elements of rhythm has been raised more than once, in reproof, in lem for difficulty and trouble making possibilities.
admonition, and sometimes in irony, when the sins
we need hardly consider at present.
For the fact is that the hardest part of player-
Now, since music is made of tunes, and tunes of the dealer as an exploiter of the player-piano piano selling is to keep the instruments sold. The
have some definite shape, it follows that the per- constituted the sermon theme. But, one must never big task is to keep the purchaser of the player-
forations on a music roll, which, so far as we forget that there are two sides to every question, piano happy, contented and in a non-complaining
In short, to repeat what
are concerned, represent the same thing as the and that it is a poor rule which will not work both condition of mind.
notes on a printed score, must also group them- ways. If the piano merchant fails to take to the we have already said, the maintenance of the sale
selves together in ways recognizable by the eye, player, if he tells us that he has trouble with it, is the big thing.
But why should there be all this difficulty? What
in order that the tunes which they represent may that neither he nor his public are really enthusi-
be played by the pneumatic mechanism. And so astic about it, then we may as well make up our is there that makes it so hard to keep a player-
it follows that just as soon as one takes the trouble minds that there is some fire below all this smoke. piano sold? Simply this, that the upkeep expense,
Of the various elements contained in, and to- and the possibility of trouble arising at any or all
to examine any roll while playing it one observes
that the grouping of the tones which form any gether constituting, the problem which the piano times, are about a thousand times greater in the
tune or melody comes to be readily recognizable merchant has to face when engaged in selling the case of a player than with a straight piano. That
in the grouping of the corresponding perforations. player-piano, that of upkeep is exceedingly im- is the big trouble.
And as soon as one gets that idea one can also portant. It is so very vital, in fact, that one may
Now, the reason for upkeep expense being great
easily recognize the perforations which represent well ask whether it is not after all the one really is that the player-piano always has been, and ap-
the same tune, no matter how often they be re- burning question. The matter of the high prices parently always will, remain a mystery to very
peated. And if a tune be subjected even to modifi- which players must command, the matter of the many people. In consequence of this, and of the'
cation in the course of a piece, the general group- terms on which they must be sold, of the exchange further fact that salesmen themselves very often
ing of the perforations will nearly always show us, or trade-in nuisance, of the relatively large invest- do not take the trouble to explain to customers
in advance, when the tune is again being brought ment required to obtain a stock of these instru- either the necessity for reasonable care or the
forward. And exactly the same thing is true of the ments; all these things, though important in them- methods of manipulation required to give good
accompaniments. 1 hese, too, can be recognized in selves, are less important than the matter of main- musical results, it comes about complaints are con-
precisely the same way. One simply has to observe tenance.
tinually being received which otherwise would never
how the perforations that correspond to certain
As we remarked above, the piano merchant who be heard of. And when we add to this fact, the
definite parts or sections of the piece, as we hear sells player-pianos has a complex problem. His
(Continued on Page 10.)
SOMETHING OF THE UPKEEP PROBLEM.
The Master Player-Piano
is now equipped with an
AUTOMATIC TRACKING DEVICE
Which guarantees absolutely correct tracking of even the most imperfect music rolls
W I N T E R & CO., 220 Southern Boulevard, New York City
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW/
lastly, the tuner will familiarize himself with the
playing of the instrument, especially by studying
"The Player-Pianist," published from this office, he
further fact that very few men in the piano busi-
will gain a great deal more command over the con-
ness throughout this country are as yet well in-
fidence of his customers and a great increase in
formed on the regulation, repair, playing and care
his own general expertness.
of the player-piano, it follows that the mainte-
We repeat that the piano tuner is the logica'
nance of these instruments in a satisfactory condi-
man to select when one undertakes to develop a
tion is rendered doubly difficult, and therefore pro-
player-man for outside work. And any piano
portionately expensive. Or, to put the matter in
merchant who has the interests of his business a 1
another way, it is doubly disadvantageous to at-
heart will make it one of his first concerns to do
tempt the care- of instruments systematically when
this. Player factories are always glad to receive
a large proportion of the complaints are ill-founded,
tuners as guests for the purpose of acquainting
and while all of them must be looked after by
them with the mechanism and care of the player.
men who often are ill-fitted for their work.
But the merchant should not imagine that he can
Now, if we come to analyze the nature of the
do this sort of thing successfully unless he al'r
(COPYRIGHT)
complaints which the owners of player-pianos com-
uses a little judgment. If a man is going to do
monly make, we shall find that one large class, as
the work of both tuner and player-man, he should
indicated above, may be sought and found in ig-
be compensated accordingly when he has become
norance; and in nothing else. This is not to say,
expert. It is true that, taking the general run
or even suggest, that ill-founded complaints in the
of employed tuners by and large, they receive
piano business are confined to player-pianos. But
about all they earn. But when a tuner has become
it is to say that in the case of straight pianos the
an expert player-man, whether through the initia-
army of tuners is, as a general thing, pretty well
tive of the employer or not, he should be encour-
[HE above is the title of a book which will
informed as to the conditions that will be encoun-
aged by material appreciation, and then he will
interest every owner of a player-piano.
tered, and the methods to be used for remedying
be all the more valuable.
them, while in the case of the player-piano, no such
It is carefully compiled and is a mine
This problem of ours, then, comes down to sys-
familiarity can be said to exist.
of information for the student.
tematic care of the player-piano in the customer's
That, then, is the first big difficulty; unfamiliar-
home. First, this is to be done through educat-
ity with the points of the mechanism, both on the It is the only volume ever put forth which deals ing the customer, and second by seeing to it that
exhaustively
with
the
many
problems
which
the
part of the public and of the trade.
expert care is given to the instrument for as long
The second big difficulty lies in the nature of the player-pianist and student have to overcome.
anyway as would be the case in free tuning of an
mechanism itself. With all the understanding and It is designed to afford a complete guide to music ordinary piano. In order that such care may be
sympathy in the world, one cannot prevent a play- appreciation, player technic, music roll reading, given properly, it is desirable that the same man
er mechanism from becoming clogged with dust etc.
who anyway will have to keep the piano part of
and dirt, or from requiring oil on its motor, o
It contains many useful suggestions which will be the instrument in tune should be educated to an
from squeaking, or from losing its air-tightness. made apparent to every observer.
understanding of the player mechanism also. In
These things are inevitable, and must necessarily
other words, upkeep expense cannot be reduced to
Specially
drawn
illustrations
add
to
its
attractive-
be developed as the instrument goes through the
what it should be if two men must always be reck-
stress and strain of use. And since the public, ness and dealers will find they can handle it to oned with as necessary for the due care of the
advantage to dispose of among their customers,
as a general thing, knows less than nothing about
for, it is of direct use to everyone who owns a player-piano. Tuners must be taught to be player-
these matters, it follows that the piano merchant
player-piano or who contemplates the purchase of men. And not until every piano merchant insists
must make up his mind to train men in the art r
on this will he be able to put his player department
one.
caring for the player mechanism on the one hand,
in proper shape to take care of the maintenance
while he must equally be resigned to public com- It is original in make-up, splendidly bound in problem economically and well. Moreover, be it
cloth, gilt top, and contains nearly one hundred
plaint, on the other hand.
remembered that the effect on the customer of hav-
In fact, the whole problem comes to this: the and fifty pages.
ing the bother and annoyance of special men call-
public will always complain; without good reason Single copies will be sent to any address in the ing all the while to look after little matters of
very often, and with good reason quite often. Up- United States upon receipt of $1.00.
repair or regulation is very bad.
keep, therefore, becomes a matter of systematically
Player factories and schools of piano tuning are
Foreign subscriptions 15c. additional.
dealing with these complaints. And this in turn,
recognizing the necessity of dealing with this prob-
resolves itself into the methodical treatment of all Special discounts will be made in quantity lots.
lem of creating player experts. The piano mei •
player-pianos, at regular intervals, by experts.
If the book is found unsatisfactory by any pur- chant need then have no fear in taking up the mat-
It is customary to agree, when selling ordinary chaser upon receipt, the payment made for it will ter of getting such men. And tuners themselves are
pianos, that the services of a tuner shall be free be cheerfully refunded upon the return of the book coming more and more to see the necessity for
for one year. That is to say, the piano merchant to the publisher.
acquiring player knowledge, and more and more
finds that it pays him to look after the well-being
There is no source of information in the world are availing themselves of every opportunity to
of the instrument for at least twelve months.
regarding the player-piano which compares with get this knowledge as quickly and thoroughly a-
And, in first-class houses, the practice is often
this volume and every player-piano that is sold possible. Everywhere the situation looks more
followed of sending a tuner at regular intervals
and more encouraging.
should be accompanied by one of these books.
during the first year, simply for the sake of the
Lastly, however, it must be said that much of
THE PLAYER PIANIST IS the newest, most
piano itself. Now, why should not the same very
the difficulty encountered in solving the upkeep
sensible idea be carried out with the player-piano? up-to-date and the most useful contribution to problem is to be found with the stupidity or in-
the music trade literature of our times. This in-
Why not have an expert player-man visit the in-
difference of the public. This is a condition, not
strument every three months, let us say, and look stitution has become the recognized authority for a theory. We must face it. It would be a very
• over the valve chest generally, see that the pneumat- trade and technical literature in the player line. good thing if every piano house were to make a
ics are engaging with the piano action without un- Therefore, when we make a statement regarding rule that each salesman who sells a player-piano
due lost motion, oil the motor, time and regulate matters of this kind it usually carries weight and must see to it that the instrument, within twenty-
it, see that every note speaks quickly and well, and
we say unqualifiedly that our experience in con- four hours of its installation in the home, is care-
so on. Moreover, he will be instructed to inquire nection with musico-industrial affairs covering a fully demonstrated to each member of the family
of the family whether any member thereof experi- long period of years teaches us that this volume which Is to use it. An hour or two of such dem-
ences trouble in playing, and will suggest better
should be in the hands of everyone interested in onstration, with an intelligent man to do the work,
methods of using the control devices, ways to con- the player-piano.
will save many a dollar in running after future
serve energy in pedalling, and so on.
Money back every time to those who desire it. complaints. This is a very important matter, and
Now, it is perfectly plain that what has been
one which should most carefully be considered.
suggested above. is a most desirable thing to be
Systematization of the demonstrating, education
done. The only difficulty is to get men who can
of the public and the f uners, these are the means
do it. And yet this is not so difficult, after all,
which must be utilized if the cost of maintenance
as might at first be supposed. The fact is that al-
in the player business is satisfactorily and econom-
most any intelligent piano tuner, if you catch him
ically to be solved.
young enough, and send him to a player factory
for a few weeks, can there get all the information
The Kratz Piano Co., Akron, O., have incor-
about player mechanism that he needs. If also
porated with capital stock of $10,000, by Marie C.
he will read up on the subject, using the works
Kratz and others.
published in the Review's Technical Library, he
PUBLISHER
will gain much additional information as to prin-
Do you zuish to make five dollars? Then send
ciples; information of the greatest value to him,
your ideas upon leading trade topics, embodied in
which, however, can very seldom be gained from •
two hundred and fifty words, to The Review. You
dealing exclusively with factory mechanics. If,
will find full particulars elsewhere in this issue.
SOMETHING OF THE UPKEEP PROBLEM.
(Continued from page 9.)
THE
PLAYER
PIANIST
The Last Word on
the Player of To-day
ORDER YOUR COPY NOW
ONE DOLLAR
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
1 Madison Avenue - - - New York

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