Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
REVIEW
THE
VOL. LXXX1I. No. 5
Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Jan. 30,1926
g-le Copies 10 Cents
$2.00 Per Tear
Chamber Adopts Plan for Instruction
in Music Among the Schools
Recommendations of Advisory Committee of the Bureau for the Advancement of Music Adopted at Meeting
of Directors in New York—Merchants and Manufacturers' Associations Support Policy That
Would Simplify Entertainment Features at the Associations' National Meetings
T
HE features of the directors' meeting of
the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, which was held January 22, were
adoption of a definite plan to promote instru-
mental instruction in the public schools, includ-
ing group piano instruction, and adoption of a
different policy with respect to conventions,
which, it is hoped, will make the coming "An-
niversary Convention" in June more of a busi-
ness convention than has been the case in the
last few years and of more practical value to
the associations and to the industry.
The four adopted recommendations received
from the advisory committee of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music with rc-
sp-jct to promoting group instrumental instruc-
tion for children were, briefly:
1. Publication of a pamphlet describing the
d fferent systems of piano class teaching for use
by educational authorities and private piano
teachers.
2. Work with conservatories and music de-
partments in colleges and normal schools to
organize normal classes for teachers of group
methods.
3. Educational articles on the subject to be
prepared for use of organs of such clubs as the
Eederated Women's Clubs, music clubs and for
music supervisors' journals and educational
magazines in general, as well as musical papers.
4. Endeavor to convince the Music Super-
visors' National Conference of the desirability
of tliis work as a definite objective.
In addition to the above recommendations,
which are in accordance with the recommenda-
tions of the director of the National Bureau for
the Advancement of Music as to a proper and
effective way for that organization to take hole"!
of this idea, the committee further recommend-
ed that an entirely separate campaign be under-
taken by and in the name of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants to sell the idea to
the dealers themselves, to the end that they be-
come interested in organizing piano classes in
their stores, which, if properly done, should be
successful from an educational standpoint and
interest public school officials, as has' actually
been done already in a number of cities.
Miessner Discusses Group Piano Instruction
W. Otto Miessner, whose work in developing
methods of group piano instruction are weli
known in the trade, was present at the' meeting
and described to the directors the character of
the instruction known as "group instruction
and told of the success of various cities in the
country, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Denver,
Dallas and New Orleans. He emphasized the
fact that important as may be the market for
E. R. Jacobson
President, Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce
pianos from professionals and educated music
lovers, nevertheless the real future of the in-
dustry from a volume standpoint rests with the
development and desire for pianos in the homes
of the masses, and this, in turn, depends very
largely upon the desire and ability of children
to play the piano. While the discussions have
related primarily to piano instruction, never-
theless the plan is to promote all instrumental
instruction in the schools. In fact, more has
already been done with small instruments than
with the piano.
Urge Simplified Convention
Representing the -music dealers, President
Weiserti of the National Association of Music
Merchants, made a plea for a-more simple form
of convention, with more attention to business,
saying that we.^ould not long continue to in-
crease the amount of entertainment each year
and that the convention would soon become an
orgy if it had not already reached that stage.
He said that there was so much entertainment
that convention delegates were tired out, be-
wildered and failed to get full benefit from the
convention. His stand was energetically sec-
onded by President De Rochemont, of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association, and
after discussion the board voted favorably upon
the suggestions, and decided to designate the
convention as "the Anniversary Convention."
While the details will not be developed for sev-
eral weeks, nevertheless it is expected that con-
vention sessions will all be held in the morn-
ings and afternoons will be devoted exclusively
to exhibits in an endeavor to make the conven-
tion a business one, both from the standpoint
of the association meeting and as a market.
Strong arguments by Parham Werlein, secre-
tary of the National Association of Music Mer-
chants, that the convention open with a big joint
meeting of all associations, under the auspices
of the Chamber—a mass meeting—at which ali
branches of the industry would be shown the*r
un.fication of interest and the importance of
the Chamber to all its member associations was
very favorably received, and it is probable that
the next convention will open with such a
massed meeting.
Atwater Kenjt Co. Joins Chamber
Atwater Kent Mfg. Co., Philadelphia, manu-
facturer of. radio apparatus, and Conway Se-
curities Co., of Boston, were elected to indi-
vidual membership in the Chamber.
Reports were received concerning the Sesqui-
centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, scheduled
to open in June, for which musical instrument
manufacturers, as well as all other manufac-
turers, are being solicited for exhibition space.
At present the outlook for a successful exposi-
tion is not over bright. There has been con-
siderable local friction in Philadelphia and ap-
parent difficulty in financing. It is understood
that some important industries, through their
trade associations, have decided not to exhibit.
It is now so near the scheduled date of opening
that doubt is expressed over the ability to get
the grounds and buildings ready. Therefore,
the board instructed the staff to keep in as
close touch with developments as possible and
to notify the trade of the present situation and
to suggest communication with the Chamber be-
fore exposition space is engaged.
(Continued on page 4)