Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
News Number
THE
VOL. 88. No. 5
REVIEW
Published Weekly. Federated Business Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington A?e., New York, N. Y. Feb. 2, 1929
10 Cent*
Year
The Richest Child Is Poor IVithout Musical Training !
By MRS. L. L. WILSON, Hamilton, Montana
Prize Slogan in Music Contest
Announced by Chamber
Award of $1,000 Goes to Piano Teacher of Hamilton, Mont., on
Unanimous Decision of Judges—120,000 Entries
Received From All Parts of World
"The Richest Child Is Poor Without Musical Training!"
Here you have the new slogan of the Music Industries. It was the unanimous choice of the
judges in the $1,000 prize contest, conducted through the offices of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce last Fall.
It is now the property of every manufacturer, jobber, dealer and organization within the entire
range of music and the music business, and according to the original thought behind the contest
immediate steps will be taken for its nation-wide exploitation.
Mrs. Linnie Lewis Wilson, of 247 State street,
Hamilton, Montana, mother of two grown to me that this slogan embodies that idea better
daughters and a teacher of piano, is the creator than any other submitted."
of the slogan and winner of the prize money. The
Real drama enters the awarding of the prize
winning slogan was picked from approximately to Mrs. Wilson. The check for $1,000 reached
120,000 entries which came from every State in her in time to ca,re for a mortgage on her home,
the union, from people in all walks of life, and and part of the money will be used to continue
in nearly a score of languages. The judges the education of her daughters. Mrs. Wilson's
were S. L. Rothafel ("Roxy"), nationally known story of her struggles to bring up her family
motion picture impresario and authority on and to teach good music in her neighborhood is
music; Frank Presbrey, head of the advertising clearly told in her letter acknowledging the
agency bearing his name and a t n international good news: She writes:
authority on advertising slogans, and Prof.
"I am just a struggling teacher of piano, and
George R. Agnew, head of the Department of an-artist who almost mortgaged her soul for
Marketing of New York University.
art, and as I really had hardly expected to win
Prof. Agnew indicates the consensus of the a contest where so many would compete I was
judges in his statement concerning the award amazed and delighted when I was given the
telegram that announced the fact that I am
of the prize money to Mrs. Wilson.
"There is one thing to be said as to why I winner of the National Music Slogan Contest.
prefer, 'The Richest Child is Poor Without
"I thank those who offered it with all my
Musical Training,'" he wrote to the Slogan heart. I had thirteen years' training in music
Contest Committee. "In order to appreciate the
from the best teachers in our home town, finish-
beauty of the stars, a little knowledge of as- ing at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.,
tronomy is necessary; a little study of botany where I took piano lessons and studied har-
greatly increases the appreciation of one who mony. I have been organist in the Congrega-
loves flowers: So with music. I believe real tional, Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches and
appreciation of music can come only to those certainly love the church work.
who know something of the technique by which
"I have taught in the public schools and have
it is produced. And the man or woman who is learned the value of musical training there and
not able to appreciate music in its true sense teaching my own two daughters and many
is shut out of life's richest pleasures. It seems others.
"I have music classes here and in Darby,
Cowallis and Stevensville, so am doing my bit
in my small corner to help the good work.
"My pupils' recital programs, I think, prove
my zeal for the best class of music. In solo
work they have included The Erl King by Schu-
bert, Ballade op. 47 by Chopin, Rustle of Spring
by Linding, Whispering Winds by Wollenhaupt,
William Tell, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and
many others. The rendering of these programs
has been approved by good musicians.
"My own daughters have appeared in these
recitals here from 1916 until 1928 inclusive.
"The older of the two entered the MacPhail
School of Music in Minneapolis in September,
1927, and studied pipe organ there until June
30, 1928, when she was obliged to discontinue
her work there on account of lack of funds, but
is in Valley City, N. D., where she can continue
her practice on a pipe organ in a theatre belong-
ing to the father of a friend and earn a living
at another kind of work. She wishes to become
a spotlight pipe organist.
"The other daughter is teaching school and
has helped her sister when at MacPhail. She
has not graduated from Normal School yet and
must save for that purpose or she cannot con-
tinue her work.
"My husband has held public positions of
trust and been in a milling and commission
business, but lost heavily during the war, hence
the struggle.
"This amount will help my daughter with her
studies, also will relieve a mortgage on our
home.
"Again thanking you sincerely,
"Linnie Lewis Wilson."
History of the Contest
The music industry has long sought a slogan,
general use of which by all branches of the
business would stir public consciousness and
tend to further the interest of the country in
the playing of musical instruments as a popular
pastime. The idea was first suggested by
{Concluded on page 4)