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The Music Trade Review
12
Baltimore Music Dealer Finds Old Time
Teacher's Passing Has Effect on Sales
Disappearance of That Type Has Been at Basis of Falling Off in Demand for Uprights, He States
—Local Holiday Trade Reported in Good Volume
D A L T I M O R E , M D , December 27.—Is the
passing of the old-time music teacher, prin-
cipally of German extraction, responsible for the
slump in sales of upright pianos the past few
years?
Quite a number of music dealers here believe
that the high prices now charged by music
teachers for the past few years have seriously
affected the sales of upright pianos. In com-
menting on this situation o'ne prominent deal-
er said:
"There is no doubt in my mind that the pass-
ing of the old-time German music teacher who
went from door to door soliciting customers and
gave music lessons at the homes of his patrons
has had an effect on the sale of upright pianos.
And I base this opinion on facts and figures. In
looking over my books, for years past, I found
that I had paid as high as $1,000 a year as
commission to music teachers on sales of up-
right pianos. These old-time music teachers
charged, on an average, only 50 cents an hour
for teaching, while the minimum charge to-day
is $1.00 an hour. In addition music teachers,
in years gone by, would make personal solicita-
tion for pupils by going to the homes instead of
advertising as they do now. In this way they
often made prospects for us in homes where
they had no pianos, by interesting the parents
in the advantages of a musical education for the
children.
"At one time there were quite a number of
these teachers, both men and women, and deal-
ers allowed them a commission on sales which
were made directly or indirectly through them.
"Being trained musicians they were able to
make a convincing talk on the advantages of
children being instructed in music and in this
way were responsible for many sales which
otherwise would not have been made.
"This has all been changed, however, since
the war. To-day there is hardly a competent
music teacher in Baltimore who will take pupils
for less than $1.00 an hour, and from that on
tip to $3 an hour. This naturally makes it im-
possible for a large number of the middle class
to give their children a musical education out-
side of the bare rudiments taught in the schools,
as the prices charged by the teachers are pro-
hibitive to thousands of wage earners. An-
other feature of present-day conditions which
has seriously affected the business is that only
a few of the teachers to-day are willing to go
to the homes of their patrons and give lessons,
which naturally prevents a number of young
children from taking lessons as parents are un-
willing to let them travel alone and haven't the
time to go with them themselves. All this has
had a reaction.
"This situation, of course, does not apply to
the wealthy who have automobiles and servants
to take care of the children, but there are
thousands of the so-called middle class who
would gladly purchase a piano and give their
children a musical education if the music teach-
ers' charges were not so prohibitive."
Christmas business in pianos staged a won-
derful come-back this year, and according to
proprietors of several establishments, was one
of the best in years. High-priced instruments
sold the best, with grands leading, and repro-
ducing grands also sold in a very good sales
volume.
One of the surprises of Christmas business
this year was the demand in one or two stores
for player pianos, the proprietor of one store
stating that sales of players the last ten days
of the holiday season has been greater than in
any period for a number of years.
Sales of uprights were not up to the average,
but business generally, as far as dollars and
cents volume is concerned, held its own with
previous years, equaling last December, which
was a good business, month. As usual "last-
minute" sales proved the deciding factor and no
doubt brought business for the year to a par
with 1925.
Sales of talking machines and radios broke
records in practically all stores and total
volume of Christmas sales greatly exceeded that
of any other year since the record-breaking
business which was done at the peak of war
time prosperity when it was not a case of
price but simply delivering the goods.
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J
N EW YO RK
JANUARY 1, 1927
Specht Units to Make
Over Two Hundred Records
Organization Controlled by Popular Orchestra
Leader Has Elaborate Program Laid Out for
Next Year for Exclusive Columbia Records
More than two hundred recordings will be
made, by units controlled by Paul Specht, for
the Columbia Phonograph Co., in the United
States and England, during the coming year.
The Specht recordings will include both con-
cert and dance numbers. The Paul Specht
Orchestra now playing at Twin Oaks restaurant
in New York will make a series of thirty-six
recordings including a number of novelty num-
bers for the Columbia concert list. The initial
record will be the popular Specht arrangement
of "Scenes from the South." The Georgians,
a Hot Blues unit of seven pieces, will make
eleven recordings of popular jazz music.
In England band units controlled by this en-
terprising musician will record some hundred
and fifty numbers for the Columbia Grapho-
phone Company, Limited, of that country.
The Review Acknowledges
Trade's Holiday Greetings
The Review takes pleasure in acknowledging
and reciprocating the many expressions of
good wishes from members of the trade, for
the holiday season and for the coming year.
Among those from whom timely messages
were received may be included the following:
W. C. Heaton, Auto Pneumatic Action Co.; Otto
F. Trefz, Jr., Charles E. Byrne, Steger & Sons
Piano Mfg. Co.; Matt J. Kennedy; Arthur L.
Wessell, Wessell, Nickel & Gross; J. Fischer
& Bro.; Julius C Witmark, M. Witmark &
Son; Standard Action Co.; Wm. Tonk & Bro.;
Rexford C. Hyre; A. M. Koch, Music Trade
Indicator; A. W. Poole, Poole Piano Co.; E.
Paul Hamilton, L. Bamberger & Co.; C. M.
Tremaine, National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music; Miller Music Publishing Co.;
Chas. M. Stieff, Inc.; Continental Piano Co.;
H. Edgar French, Jesse French & Sons Piano
Co.; Bogart Piano Co.; Atwater Kent Mfg.
Co.; Decker & Son, Inc.; Peter F. Meyer,
Piano Trade Magazine; M. Steinert & Sons;
Brinkerhoff Piano Co.; George W. Allen, Mil-
ton Piano Co.; Edward S. Werolin, American
Piano Co.; Lucy Goldsmith Shore; Philip W.
Oetling & Son, Inc.; Willis & Co., Ltd.; Christ-
man Piano Co.; Ernest Urchs, Steinway & Sons;
Rose Valley Co., Inc.; E. F. Bitner, Leo Feist,
Inc.; L. G. Batten, Century Music Publishing
Co.; W. Deane Preston, Jr., B. F. Wood Music
Co.; W. L. Byrnes, Inc.; M. Hohner, Inc.;
Herbert E. Lawrence, Standard Pneumatic Ac-
tion Co.; C. V. Buttelman; Carl B. Shinkman;
Buescher Band Instrument Co.; Miller Piano
Co., Coatesville, Pa.; R. N. Wilson, Waltham
Piano Co.; Edward E. Vidaud, Brambach
Piano Co.; Frederick Sunderman, Gulbransen
Music Roll Corp.; B. Roy Hunt, B. R. Hunt
Mfg. Co.; P. E. Conroy, Conroy Piano Co.;
Gust. Ad. Anderson; the Fairbanks Co.; Frank
B. Sohl, Githens-Sohl Corp.; Waverly Musical
Products Co., Inc.; Progressive Musical Supply
Corp.; Frank Campbell, Gibson, Inc.; Edward
J. Biel; C. G. Conn, Inc.; Henry Pedler & Co.,
Inc., J. J. Morgan; F. A. Wessell, Pianostyle
Music Co., Inc., and A. Merriam.
Plan to Enlarge Scope of
Court of Customs Appeals
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 27.—Legislation
changing the name of the United States Court
of Customs Appeals to the United States Court
of Patent, Trade Mark and Customs Appeals
has been introduced in Congress bv Senator
Metcalf, of Rhode Island.