Music Trade Review

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52
Musical Merchandise Section of The Music Trade Review
Organizing the Band on Rural Main
Street Brings Sales to This Dealer
H E plan of organizing bands as a means
of creating a market for musical instru-
ments in small towns or the rural com-
munities has been developed with a degree of
success by the l'oppler Piano Co. of Grand
Forks, North Dakota. In most instances there
is a public need and desire for a band or or-
chestra, and this company has found that by
working up the idea and presenting it to the
members of the community an organization
can be built up to play musical instruments.
"In organizing a band in a rural community,
we always begin with a free conc&rt or pro-
gram in the community hall or school house,"
explains Elmer G. Uggen, of the Poppler Piano
Co. "Everyone in the entire community is in-
vited and as a rule there is a large attendance
of not only the children but also their parents.
"Our program consists of instrumental num-
bers by young players from other bands that
we have organized. This has the effect of en-
couraging the children who are present for the
players demonstrate \vha,t can be done with
proper training. Also to help sell this idea we
have short talks by influential local men and
women who are already in favor of having a
band and have been sold on the idea that there
is a real need for such an organization in their
community. When they have worked up inter-
est in forming a band, just before the last num-
ber, I give the plan of financing the band.
"We rent our used instruments at the rate
of $5.00 per month, allowing the rental to apply
on the purchase price. To each month's rental
is added from $1.50 to $2.00, depending on the
number in the band. This additional rental
charge is for the instructor and the music used,
and in this way we get about $50.00 per month
for each band for the director. In securing
bands in five or six towns for each director,
T
he receives between $250.00 or-$300.00 per
month regular salary besides his income from
private lessons. This arrangement secures
good band leaders as a small cost to the band.
"After this financing plan is explained in de-
tail, the program is completed, and those inter-
ested in playing are examined to see what in-
strument each one is best suited to use. Tests
are made with the hands, lips and teeth, which
are the outstanding factors in playing the in-
strument. At the same time arrangements arc
made to either sell or rent an instrument, and
as we always make a point of taking along a
complete set of instruments, whatever is se-
lected at the time is delivered on the spot. We
have found that the display of the instruments,
together with demonstrations, stimulate a de-
sire to play while the parents and children
have the complete plan of operation in mind
"At the first rehearsal band officers are elected
including the secretary, whose duty it is to col-
lect the rentals and tuition in advance each
month. Whenever possible we use the moving
picture, 'Young America,' put out by C. G.
Conn, Ltd., for the use of Conn dealers to
create interest. This plan has been successful
for us for we guarantee the instructions and
the used instruments, and C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
and the Pan-American Band Instrument Co.
guarantee the new instruments."
Incorporation papers have been issued by the
Secretary of State at Columbus to the Burk-
Smith Music Co., of Lancaster, O. The com-
pany will issue 250 shares of no par stock.
Incorporators are H. M. Smith, J. A. Burk
and W. H. Cuckler.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
Student Conductor Leads
Portland Band to Victory
Organization Directed by Seventeen-Year-Old
High School Lad Awarded First Prize in
Oregon Contest
PORTLAND, ORK., May 18.—The Jesscrson Hligh
School band, Eugene Linden conducting, took
first prize at the State high school band con-
test last Saturday in the Grant High School
auditorium. The victory was sensational, the
audience cheering and applauding wildly for
fully ten minutes after the band had played its
numbers. The band won the grand trophy with
a score of 92 2/3 out of a possible 100.
Linden and his Jessornians won first place in
the State high school contest conducted at Ore-
gon State college four weeks ago under aus-
pices of Kappa Kappa Psi, national music fra-
ternity, with Corvallis high school band a close
second.
Linden is an exceptional conductor, irrespec-
tive of his age. He is only 17. He obtained
marvelous effects and held the performers as
well as the audience completely in his grip
from the "warm up" introduction march to the
final chord of the final contest number.
Three bands appeared in Class B—Albany
high, conducted by W. T. Nichols, supervisor
of music scoring first with 88 2/9 points; three
bands also appeared in class C, Klamath Falls
band scoring first with 82 2/3 points.
Jesserson high by its victory Saturday, is en-
titled to go to Denver to compete in the na-
tional contest there, provided the governing
organization does not choose to thwart it by
barring a student conductor.
Details of the contest were handled by a
committee, headed by H. W. Stanchfield, man-
ager of the Musical merchandise department of
Sherman, Clay & Co. branch store located in
this citv.
For Greater Drum and Banjo Profits
Visit Room 261
Drake Hotel, Chicago
OU will find all the latest
Y display
Ludwig Banjo Models on
— all profit-builders,
too. Charles McNeil, Dean
of American Banjoists, will
be in constant attend-
ance. William F. Lud-
wig, president of Lud-
wig & Ludwig, will
also be there.
Visit Room 260
Drake Hotel, Chicago
W
ILLIAM F. LUDWIG
will be in personal charge
of the drum exhibit, eager to
welcome you to our room. All
of the Ludwig innovations—the
SUPER-SENSITIVE, N E W
ERA and the STANDARD
SENSITIVE drums will be
shown.
We'll Be Looking
for You at the
Convention
Ludwig & Ludwig
Drums and Banjos
'
1611 NORTH LINCOLN STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS