Music Trade Review

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JANUARY 30,
1926
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Merchants' Ass'n Plans to Charter State Bodies in Future—(Continued from page 4)
advocated by National Merchants' Association.
W. Otto Miessner, of Milwaukee, whose plan
of class instruction has demonstrated the possi-
bilities of introducing piano class instruction in
the grade schools, was introduced to the meet-
ing.
Travelers Will Help
At the noonday luncheon during the Wednes-
day session George W. Allen, of the Milton
Piano Co., who has accepted the appointment
of general chairman of the traveling commis-
sioners, spoke enthusiastically on behalf of the
piano travelers and manufacturers, pledging
their co-operation in furthering the plan of pro-
motion of the Association.
At the Thursday meeting the delegates re-
ceived a report of the resolutions committee by
Howard Beasley, chairman, and adopted his
recommendation to reaffirm the position of the
Association approving the principle of resale
price control, now before Congress in the Kelly
Bill.
Secretary Werlein reported, as chairman of
the membership committee, that its members,
E. Paul Hamilton and Milton Weil, were to
meet the following morning at the Association
headquarters in the Chamber offices, to approve
plans for developing the membership interest
and the new charter plans. An active campaign
to inform the trade of Association work will be
undertaken at once.
A letter from the first vice-president, Edward
H. Uhl, of Los Angeles, was read by President
Weisert, after which the various association del-
egates were called upon for statements.
R. J. Von Fossen, of Beardstown, 111., presi-
dent of the Illinois Music Merchants' Associa-
tion, said he had visited the National headquar-
ters, at 45 West Forty-fifth street, earlier in the
week and was much impressed with the organi-
zation work, particularly that of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music.
Credit Bureau Endorsed
During a discussion of the work of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, Alfred L.
Smith, general manager, was called upon to ex-
plain the workings of the credit bureau of the
Chamber. He told how it provided only for
an exchange of facts and did no injustice to
the honest music merchant, in reality clearing
the way for honest competition by exposing
trickery and deception. He mentioned a specific
case in which destructive competition had been
removed. Following a discussion, in which Mr.
Glynn, of the New York Piano Merchants' As-
sociation, and Mr. Muehlhauser, Mr. Hyre and
Mr. Goosman, of the Ohio delegation, partici-
pated, a motion by Mr. Watkin was passed to
endorse the Chamber operation of the credit
bureau as an asset to the honest, efficient mu-
sic merchant.
President Bayley, of the Michigan Associa-
tion, spoke a word of endorsement for the credit
work and then told of his experience in organ-
izing this new State body last November. He
announced plans for a four-day convention in
Detroit, August 17-20, at the new Book-Cadillac
Hotel. He said that Michigan was ready to ap-
play for a charter in the National Association
under the new by-laws, having anticipated ac-
tion in that direction during the organization
meeting.
President Muehlhauser, of the Ohio Associa-
tion, which is the oldest and strongest in the
country, told of plans for the State convention
in Columbus, September 13, 14 and 15. He
asked Mr. Hyre, secretary of his Association,
to read a prepared statement by the Ohio dele-
gates, which contained a number of suggestions
already incorporated in the National Associa-
tion's plans through the new by-laws. Mr.
Muehlhauser also spoke for the Cleveland As-
sociation, which he represented as a delegate.
The president of the New York Association,
Mr. Glynn, outlined the accomplishments and
activities of that organization.
For Simplified Convention Program
During the noonday luncheon Thursday
President Weisert stated his desire to have the
1926 convention, in New York in June, take the
simplest form possible. He proposed leaving
the afternoons open for delegates to visit among
themselves and in the various exhibits. He sug-
gested registration Monday morning of con-
vention week, as usual, with a noonday luncheon
of all bodies affiliated with the Chamber, and
business sessions of the music merchants Tues-
day, Wednesday and Thursday forenoons. He
proposed that a dinner be held Thursday eve-
ing, instead of the usual elaborate banquet of
the National Association of Music Merchants.
On Friday he proposed a general jollification,
or "travelers' field day," to include various
forms of recreation and entertainment usually
scheduled for the Travelers' Revue and the out-
ing held during past years. The suggestions
were approved by those in attendance and re-
ferred to the convention committee, in co-oper-
ation with other branches of the Chamber.
Membership Committee Plans
The membership committee of the Associa-
tion met Friday morning in the Association^
headquarters in the Chamber and outlined plans
for intensive work to be carried on until con-
vention time. Those present were Parham
Werlein, chairman; Milton Weil and E. l'aul
Hamilton, members of the committee, and
George W. Allen, general chairman of the new
organization of traveling commissioners.
Plans were made to issue several pieces of
literature, including an Association directory to
list the names of officers, committees and mem-
bers and the addresses of existing local associa-
tions and officers. Another booklet will be pre-
pared defining the work of the National ; "Asso-
ciation and describing the activities and ac-
complishments of the existing associations in
various States and cities throughout the country.
A leaflet will be issued, giving the names of
members of the trade who have qualified to
serve in the speakers' bureau and advising the
organizers of local associations that these speak-
ers can be arranged for at the expense of the
National Association through the New York
headquarters.
The assistance of manufacturers in the va-
rious branches of the music industries will be
enlisted to develop the traveling commissioner
and arouse interest among all dealers in the
new plan of organizing through chartered State
associations. The Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce was asked to send its Monthly Bul-
letin to all prospective members on a new list
to be compiled, as well as the present ones.
Advisory Committee of Music Bureau
Favors Class Piano Teaching
Full Report of the Advisory Committee of the National Bureau for the Advancement of Music Outlining
Plan for the Development of This Work—Report Gives Retails of How to Enlist All Bodies
in Campaign for This Development and Recommends Full Support From Industry
T
HE Advisory Committee of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music
met at the offices of the Bureau on Thurs-
day afternoon, January 21, for the particular
purpose of considering the matter of group in-
strumental instruction in the public schools, and
as a result of the session specific recommenda-
tions along that line were prepared for pre-
sentation to the Board of Directors of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
The report of the committee was comprehen-
sive and read in part:
"The teaching of the piano by the class
method is practical and an important project for
the Bureau to take up. Fortunately it is meet-
ing the approval of many educators and is in
line with the tendency of the times. It is not
an entirely new subject, for some of the leading
piano teachers in the past, including Leschet-
izky, held classes for their students, usually
groups of threes and fours, that one might learn
from the other. The importance to the piano
trade of the idea as now advocated is that the
classes are intended for beginners rather than
for those already proficient, with the possibility
of reaching thousands and hundreds of thou-
sands of children. The piano as a factor in
the child's education will be brought forcibly
to the attention of parents in all these homes.
A certain proportion of the children who begin
their study of the piano in the classes will be
influenced to continue it under individual in-
struction. In the meantime there is every indi-
cation that the piano classes from the viewpoint
of elementary work are entirely practical and
most desirable."
In preparation for the campaign the Bureau
gathered considerable data regarding piano
classes already established, and also gained
much information from W. Otto Miessner and
Hazel Gertrude Kinscella, who has been con-
ducting such classes for several years in va-
rious cities and has organized classes for teach-
ing. The junior department of the National
Federation of Music Clubs has also provided
much interesting information.
Systems Analyzed in Pamphlet
"The first step recommended for a general
campaign for the classes is the preparation of
a pamphlet based on the different systems of
piano-class teaching in use, with the purpose of
developing interest in the growth of the move-
ment. The pamphlet should contain an indica-
tion of sources for those seeking further infor-
mation and present as strong argument as pos-
sible to sell the idea to two different groups,
namely, the public school group, including
boards
of
education,
superintendents
of
schools and music supervisors, and, second, the
piano-teaching profession. The latter includes
conservatories and music departments in the
colleges and normal schools.
"Anticipating the publication of this booklet
the Bureau has already announced it in its new
list of literature, just off the press, giving the
following description of its contents:
"Piano Classes in Schools. Review of this
activity as carried on during the past few years
in a number of cities; aims and results; methods
of establishing and conducting the classes;
bibliography. Twelve-page pamphlet of informa-
(Continued on page 37)