Music Trade Review

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Dealers' Executive Board Holds
New York Meeting
Question of Holding Convention Outside of New York and
Chicago Referred to Committee to Report in June—Pro-
motional and Membership Campaigns Reported on
W
r.
ESTABLISHED 1662
country. Miss Curtis outlined the accomplish-
ments and the possibilities of group instruction
as a means for placing a piano in every home,
and emphasized particularly the fact that it
would be necessary to look to the training of
teachers to carry on the work. She explained
that the private teacher who had devoted her-
self to instructing the individual was not fitted
to carry on group instruction successfully unless
she was specially trained for the work. The
speaker also declared in favor of the develop-
ment of some sort of keyboard that would give
a semblance of the real piano touch, and ; be
fitted to reproduce the chromatic scale so that
the pupils and teachers might have some idea
through the sense of hearing regarding the
ability of the pupil and the progress being made.
President Roberts next took occasion to
thank the representatives of the trade press for
the support that they had given and were giving
the Association affairs of the industry, and the
movements that had been launched with the
view to improving business conditions. He de-
clared that the trade press should have a real
place in the activities of the Association and be
urged to offer suggestions and, where necessary,
criticisms.
The final speaker was Alfred L. Smith, gen-
eral manager of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce, who outlined at some length the
problem offered by the instalment sales tax
feature of the Revenue Act, and how a number
of members of the industry had been compelled
to pay double taxes as a result of the interpre-
tation of the law by the Treasury Department.
He declared that unless the Finance Committee
of the Senate could be persuaded to change the
bill as at present constituted, the industry faced
the possibility of paying additional taxes of
from three to four million dollars or more. H e
declared that it was a matter in which every
(Continued on page 9)
L^UTER
ONE OF AMERICA*S~FINE
~-
C. J. Roberts
President, Merchants Association
NEWARK N. J.
PIANOS
UPRIGHTS
GRANDS
THE LAUTER-HUMANA
**2
ill
H E R E to meet seemed to be the principal matter of discussion at the mid-Winter meet-
ing of the Executive Board of the National Association of Music Merchants held at the
Hotel Commodore, New York, on Thursday. There was a distinct feeling that the mer-
chants should make it a point to meet in cities outside of New York and Chicago for the primary
purpose, as E. H. Uhl put it, of developing close contact with dealers in all localities, and
thus increasing interest and membership in the Association. Alexander McDonald also advo-
cated a change of scene with the suggestion
that conventions be held at some resort where of the committee making up the piano section
there would be no counter-attractions to draw of the Committee on Instrumental Affairs of
the Music Supervisors' National Conference, a
the members from the sessions.
The sum and substance of the discussion was report of which proceeding appears elsewhere
that the Executive Board reaffirmed the action in this issue of 'The Review.
William C. Hamilton, of Pittsburgh, presented
taken at the meeting of that body held in
Cleveland in September to the effect that, after his resignation as a member of the Executive
the 1928 convention in New York, the Asso- Board, which was accepted with regret, and a
ciation would meet in other cities. Washing- move will be made at the June convention to
ton and Atlantic City were suggested, and Mr. have him elected an honorary member of the
Uhl was strongly in favor of Colorado Springs. Advisory Board, which is made up of the Asso-
President Roberts appointed a committee con- ciation's past presidents. Mr. Hamilton sug-
sisting of Jay Grinnell, M. V. DeForeest, E. H. gested that W. Barry Hamilton, of the C. C.
Uhl and Alexander McDonald to study the Mellor Co., Pittsburgh, be appointed to fill his
matter and report back to the Association at unexpired term, and this action was taken by
the board.
the June convention.
• The Luncheon
Executive Secretary Delbert L. Loomis pre-
In order that no time might be lost in carry-
sented an extensive report on the Association's
promotion activities, which include encourage- ing on the meetings a special luncheon for the
ment of group piano instruction in the schools Executive Board of the Merchants' Association,
and in the warerooms of piano dealers, and attended by several guests, including members
also the conducting of piano-playing contests. of the trade press, was served in a room ad-
He also reported favorable progress in the joining the meeting room, during which a gen-
membership drive, and called attention to the eral round-table discussion was indulged in,
fact that although the members of the National principally regarding the efficacy of the group-
Piano Travelers' Association were enlisted in instruction plan in the promotion of piano sales.
The first speaker at the luncheon was Dr.
the movement, the best results had been at-
tained by a traveler for a phonograph company. Paul V. Winslow, who drew a graphic picture
He also stated that there were at the present of the harm done to the nerves and bodies of
time 779 active members of the National Asso- Americans through the general use of the alarm
ciation, 105 associate members and five honorary clock with its sharp rattle in the morning and
members, making a grand total of 889 members. the shock thus given with great regularity to
President Roberts reported the results of the the peaceful sleepers. The doctor suggested
meeting of the Committee on Music Advance- that it should be possible to devise some means
ment of the Music Industries Chamber of Com- for awakening the people of the nation with
merce and stated that a determined effort music or, at least, pleasing sounds that soothed
should be made to increase the scope of the rather than shocked. He told of friends who
work of the National Bureau for the Advance- had developed connections with phonographs
ment of Music. There was a general protest and radio apparatus in order to have them give
against any attempt that might be made to cur- the rising call musically.
The next speaker was Miss Helen Curtis, the
tail in any way the activities of this division
well-known exponent of group-piano instruction
of the Chamber of Commerce.
W. Otto Miessner told of the progress being and a member of the Piano Section of the Com-
made in group instruction, and outlined the mittee of Instrumental Affairs of the Music
early struggles of music supervisors to obtain Supervisors' National Conference, which is at
recognition from boards of education for the present working for the general establishment
essential character of music instruction in the of group-piano instruction as an accepted part
public schools. He also reported on the work of the curricula of the public schools of the
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