Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Vesey Walker Expands
Small Goods Business
MILWAUKEE, \\ IS., December 27.—Vesey Walker,
widely known musical' merchandise man and
bandmaster, has announced that he has incor-
porated his firm with a capitalization of $2(),00U,
and that he will move from his present location
on the second Boor at 310 Wisconsin avenue, to
new quarters which he has taken with
O'Connor-Lazar, the beautiful new showrooms
which have been arranged for the home of the
Baldwin, at Broadway and Mason street.
Mr. Walker has been conducting his business
under the name of the Vesey Walker Music
Shoppe, but following his incorporation the
name of the band instrument shop will go
under Vesey Walker, Inc.
Mr. Walker has been appointed agent lor the
Bucscher line in Milwaukee.
In commenting on his new move, Mr. Walker
believes that the location on Broadway in
"Music Row'' will be helplul in merchandising,
and in the promotion of high-grade goods.
Two New Departments for
So. California Music Co.
Los ANGELES, CAL., December 26.—The Southern
California Music Co. has installed two new
departments recently—a QRS motion picture
camera department and a Savage Health Motor
department. Both are under Scott Williamson,
manager of the Band & Orchestra & Stringed
Instruments Department, on the fourth floor.
Special salesmen are used to demonstrate, and,
due to the fact that both instruments are noise-
less—or, should we say, soundless, they can
be practically in the same room, only curtained
off from one another.
Classes for Harmonica
Instruction in Pueblo
PUEBLO, COLO., December 26.—Several classes for
harmonica instruction have been formed at the
Steel "Y" auditorium here with E. G. Barrow,
social secretary, in charge. Classes have been
formed for both boys and girls and a class for
parents of these same children has also been
organized, meeting every other Tuesday night.
Local boys and girls have been receiving in-
struction in harmonica playing for some time,
and at the last State fair both individual and
group harmonica prizes were won by Steel "Y. v
BACON
BANJOS
Reviewing Progress of the Year
in the Fretted Instrument Field
By Alfred F. Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer, American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists
and Guitarists
It would be well for us to go back over the
past twelve months to analyze our progress in
bringing the fretted instruments to the fore;
has its progress been normal or aggressive; is
its music on a better basis; are its teachers
better musicians, and have we encouraged more
students into our fold than ever before? One
thing is certain—fretted instruments and their
music are still very much in evidence with us,
and the spirit of this New Year will indeed be
very musical.
It takes all kinds of peoples to make this
world of ours; we should not convey or feel
ill toward those who do not see our viewpoint,
even if at times, in self-defense, we have to
voice our opinions rather strongly to convey
an opposite viewpoint. So let us bury the
hatchet for the time being and devote a little
time to reminiscence.
Because of the highly trained serious and
active players, critics, directors and teachers,
bent on educating the public to the higher con-
ceptions of the dignity of our fretted instru-
ment art, we can justly say that we have been
extremely aggressive these past twelve months
or more. For the simple reason that better
playing means encouragement for others, that
the teacher is in effect a missionary in the field
of music. The influence and importance of the
music teacher in our progress cannot be over-
estimated.
We are insistent and the Government makes
it obligatory, that the normal child shall attend
school. Through his academic years he is
taught the fundamentals of music and its ap-
preciation, and at the end of that time he should
know whether he wishes to continue this study
through his own initiative. How does this con-
cern us in the fretted instrument art?
Through our own aggressiveness we caused
netted instrument groups to be formed in
these public schools; we have organized our
own studio orchestras and bands, and we have
in general planted the fretted instrument seed
so deeply in this fertile field of younger stu-
dents that the efforts of the fretted instrument
fraternity has not been aggressive in vain.
The changing attitude on the part of the gen-
eral public is responsible for the greater at-
tendance at recitals; the greater evidence of
I'retted instruments on the stage, in the Vita-
phone and on phonograph records. Of greater
influence within this past year has been the
big percentage of fretted instrument radio pro-
grams.
Whether all of this music is of the proper
kind and most beneficial may be open to ques-
tion—but one thing is certain; our music pub
Ushers have taken a stronger and more sincere
interest in our art than ever before. Not only
those who are devoted solely to our particular
instrument but those publishers who never be-
iore considered us have realized the growing
influence and popularity of fretted instruments.
Is it not also convincing by the attitude taken
by the manufacturers that our art has pro-
gressed? A few years ago who would have
thought of paying hundreds of dollars for a
banjo! The manufacturers have spent much
of their time, patience and money to perfect
instruments worthy of our finest performers.
In summing up all that has been said, is it
not true that fretted instruments have through
their own aggressive supporters gained a
prominent position in the musical appreciation
of this country?
Club Donates Musical
Instruments to School
MASSILLON, O., December 26.—The instrumental
music department of the Massillon public
schools will become enriched to the extent of
four violins and four horn instruments because
of the kindness of members of the Exchange
Club.
Hearing about the need of instruments in the
department, members of the club started a fund
recently to purchase them. The instruments
are placed in the hands of students who are
musically inclined but, because of lack of
finances, cannot purchase the necessary equip-
ment. The donated musical instruments will
become the permanent property of the school
department.
The Hart Music Stores, Inc., 2611 Indiana
avenue, Chicago, has been incorporated to deal
in musical instruments, radios, cameras, etc.
The incorporators are Kdward Graff, Tda Silver-
man, Murray Miller.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
GRETSCH
for
Played by Leading
Musicians and Orchestras
Trade
Mark
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
Sold by
Representative
MUMIC Merchants
The Fred Gretsch Mffc Ca
BACON BANJO CO., Inc.
6O Broadway Bn>oklyn,NX
GROTON, CONN.
14