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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
and generous provision for art. Vice leads to drunkenness and degra-
dation of character, which is not only a loss to the community, but
contributes materially to high taxes. If that were explained to tax
payers who oppose municipal enterprises through fear of higher
taxes, I think they would be persuaded that, in the long run, publicly
subsidized music would be not an extravagance, but would be a
great economy."
KNOW YOUR COSTS
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
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tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
M«a*ftm4>nfa regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
leCDIllCai U e p a r n n e n i S
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dealt with, will be found in another section, of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
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Vol. LXXI
NEW YORK, JULY 3, 1920
No. 1
MUSIC AS A CIVILIZING FORCE
T
H E importance of music as a great civilizing force in the Nation
has unquestionably been brought to the closer attention of the
general public through the national campaign carried on by the
National Bureau for the Better Advancement of Music. To-day
we find in the magazines, in the newspapers and in the colleges
articles and discussions treating of the value of music from the
aesthetic and practical uplift viewpoints, and to-day in many munici-
palities the establishment of music conservatories or municipal
orchestras is being advocated so as to give the youth of the city
encouragement in cultivating the art of music in some form or
other.
At a dinner of prominent New Yorkers the other day sugges-
tions were made, which won the approval of the Mayor, who was
present, that the municipality as well as the State should lend its
aid to the cause of music by establishing a conservatory or a munici-
pal orchestra in New York City. All this, of course, means much
for the music industry, because the wider cultivation of a knowledge
of music must result in a greater demand for musical instruments.
The piano dealers should become active protagonists of this move-
ment. It should win their enthusiastic support, not only because it
may help them in their individual business, but because music is a
priceless asset to the community. It inculcates that art atmosphere,
that refinement that leads the people from sordid tastes and desires,
and opens a new world of usefulness and pleasure.
That noted philosopher and caustic writer, George Bernard
Thaw, in discussing the vital part music should play in these days of
reconstruction and social disturbance, points out that music is one of
the great panaceas, and that art, and especially the art of music, is a
natural outlet which should be encouraged. In an address recently
before the British Musical Society, Mr. Shaw urged popularization
of music whereunder every municipality would maintain "a compe-
tent symphony orchestra, so that no child in the country should be
brought up without having access to the best music."
j
"It is a matter of public importance," Shaw continued. "Towns
yould be healthier and public taxes lower if they had an abundant
JULY 3, 1920
T
HE necessity of having a proper appreciation and a thorough
understanding of the actual cost of doing business is constantly
being more strongly emphasized as market conditions shift and new
situations develop that make it incumbent on both manufacturer and
retailer to readjust prices, generally upward, for the purpose of self-
protection. Despite all that has been said and written on the subject
of cost accounting, there are still apparently many members of "the
trade, particularly retailers, who are content with general figures.
More than one merchant who has considered himself an up-to-
date business man has received the shock of his life when he has
secured accurate information regarding what it has been costing him
to carry on his business. Resting secure in the thought that his gross
profit was of generous size, he has neglected to learn exactly just
what part of that gross profit has gone back into the business each
year under the guise of operating expenses. Moreover, he has been
surprised to learn that certain departments fondly believed to be
money makers were being conducted at a loss, and that a readjust-
ment was necessary.
The time to learn about business costs is when business is good.
When the figures show that readjustment is necessary, to cut down
the overhead or to properly distribute the load, it is much easier to
make the change while business is going along smoothly. When the
reaction comes, if it does, there will be no time for such adjustments.
REGULAR TUNING A NECESSITY
T
HIS being the day of propaganda and slogans in the trade, a
successful piano tuner, R. C. Bishop, of Ada, Okla., urges very
logically that the slogan idea might be adopted for impressing upon
the piano-owning public the necessity of having their instruments
tuned regularly, and suggests the issuance by the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association of stickers bearing the message, "With-
out a doubt your piano should be tuned regularly, at least twice a
year."
It is the belief of Mr. Bishop that if such stickers were used by
the piano merchants as freely as they used the stickers urging the
public to "Give a thought to music," pianos throughout the country
would be kept in better shape and prove more satisfactory, not only
to the owners thereof, but to the neighbors who must perforce listen
to the tones of the instruments.
A number of manufacturers are at the present time co-operating
with the National Association of Piano Tuners by attaching to each
instrument shipped a card bearing advice and suggestions relative
to the proper care of the piano. These cards undoubtedly have an
excellent effect, but a sticker that would serve as a reminder to the
piano owner whenever he received a letter from the dealer, or tuner,
would unquestionably prove of value.
BACKING THE STAMP PLAN
P
IANO manufacturers of the country have apparently taken most
kindly to the official stamp plan for raising funds for the main-
tenance of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and its
several .departments. The response to the announcement that the
new combination stamps were ready has been prompt and generous,
and the manufacturers appear to feel that the stamp plan goes far
to equalize the share of the burden each must bear if the Chamber
of Commerce activities are to be maintained and expanded.
There is no question but that the stamp has some distinct advan-
tages. It eliminates the assessment plan which at best meant the
fixing of individual quotas on more or less of a guess-work basis and
calls upon the manufacturer for a subscription in direct proportion
to his output of instruments. Inasmuch as he can hope to reap
benefits from the music advancement campaign and other Chamber
of Commerce movements only in proportion to the output of his
factory, he is under the stamp plan paying only for that which he
can actually get.