Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
6
The Music Trade Review
JANUARY, 1930
from the operas and arrangements from stand-
ard classics, and have learned to play in two-,
three- and four-part harmony. Some have ad-
vanced to the bass harmonica and many to the
chrominica.
Miscellaneous Musical Groups
The 175 meetings of ukulele orchestras have
developed a standard of ukulele playing which
includes performance of the melodic and har-
monic parts of standard compositions, and is
not confined to playing chord accompaniments
to popular songs.
Considerable interest has been shown in the
rhythm bands, or toy symphony orchestras,
which have been developed for small children.
A number of other kinds of musical activities
have been formed to meet the demand of local
conditions. There were 284 group meetings of
this nature during the year, with an attendance
of 7,352.
Listening to Music
Opportunity is given to playground patrons
to hear music in programs which are held at
Band rehearsals
97
intervals at various playgrounds. The rehear-
Singing groups
1057
sals of playground musical organizations are
Singing games
559
open to the public, many of whom attend to
hear those who follow music only as an avoca-
Harmonica bands
780
tion.
Miscellaneous musical groups
284
A series of "music stories" was presented over
Listening groups
401
two local radio stations during the past year,
Orchestras
485
and a course in harmonica playing was pre-
Rhythm bands
150
sented over another station. Regular weekly
radio programs, given by playground organiza-
Ukulele orchestras
175
tions, have been presented.
3988
No attempt has been made to develop profes-
In addition to the meetings of these groups,
sional musical organizations, nor to compete
which averaged 332 per month, 613,463 people
in the professional field. The aim has been
participated in musical activities conducted by
rather to develop more performers who would
the department at other than department-owned
in turn become intelligent appreciators of the
facilities. An audience of 591,317 heard pro-
highest types of musical endeavor in all its
grams given by departmental musical organiza-
varied branches.
tions, and 289,326 people heard incidental musi-
Use of Musical Instruments
cal programs not included in the above figure.
Children who are not afforded the opportu-
A total of 1,988,610 people either participated in
nity of piano practice at home are permitted to
or listened to recreational music of the depart-
use department instruments for this purpose.
ment, excluding those who were served in such
Several of the more unusual instruments in
other capacities as the provision of leadership,
the Playground Boys' Band are owned by the
the use of the official song book of the depart-
Department, and loaned to the players.
ment, advice service, speaking engagements
Musical programs, informal musical rehear-
filled by music division employes, and radio between children's and adult groups. The San sals, and recreational singing provide relaxation
Pedro Civic Orchestra gave three public con- at the municipal camps which are operated by
programs.
certs, playing standard classics and symphonic the Camp Division of the Department of Play-
Special Services
Advice service was given to 375 organizations, works. The Arroyo Seco Boys' Orchestra, ground and Recreation.
The Division of Industrial Recreation and the
representing agencies interested in recreational which meets weekly, combines physical and
musical activities, from 27 foreign countries, 38 musical recreation by dividing their time be- Division of Musical Activities have co-operated
States and local groups. Speaking engagements tween the gymnasium and the music room. The with numerous commercial and industrial estab-
have been filled by employes of the Division Echo Park Colored Orchestra is a typical ex- lishments in the formation of music groups and
before International, National, State and local ample of a racial group meeting for recreation in the advising of groups in existence.
organizations; and numerous articles on recrea- through musical development.
Consultation Service
Singing
tional music have been furnished for publica-
With the completion of the music room in
Singing has been encouraged with assembled the Exposition Park Community Clubhouse, a
tion to periodicals of national circulation. Em-
ployes of the division have held offices and groups, regardless of the purpose of the meet- schedule has been arranged whereby various
committee assignments in a score of semi-pub- ing, believing that there is no stronger bond of
employes of the Music Division are available
lic musical societies and associations, thereby fellowship and good will than the experience of
for consultation on musical matters.
This
contributing to the cause of musical develop- singing in groups. Forty-four thousand, nine service is available to playground directors and
hundred and thirty-two people participated in those interested in community and recreational
ment.
Leadership has been provided for 767 meet- group singing at playgrounds during the year, music organizations. Round-table discussions
ly
' .1— -i'•••:•• - -•*.-?i^^w.es and by the and approximately 250,000 in singing conducted are also scheduled for accompanists, music di-
conduct by the department at other places in and about rectors and volunteer leaders; and leadership
the city.
training groups are open to those desiring to
Operettas have been rehearsed and presented serve as leaders for amateur musical organiza-
at several playgrounds. The spirit of play pre- tions in the department.
is in all other musical activities,
Prepares Five-Year Program
je^joy of self-
The Music Division is preparing a tentative
^ambition
five-year program of activities as a goal for
ippear
future development and for concentration of
effort upon those program activities which will
best serve the municipality in a recreational and
cultural way. Following the formation of the
ntative program, a survey of musical organiza-
in Los Angeles will be conducted by the
[tment. It will be the purpose of the sur-
w where there is need for further
elopment and also to point out un-
ication of work by various agen-
working toward the same
Following the comple-
nsion of the five-year
;oposed plans of the
of time.
The Division of Musical Activities, with music
as a means to better citizenship, has placed
emphasis upon the performance of music. It
has been the purpose of the division to develop
performers rather than listeners, although op-
portunities to listen to music have not been
overlooked.
Following an organization period of approxi-
mately seventeen months, in which time 189
department musical organizations were formed,
the past year has brought forth only twenty-
nine new activities, although more than 410
groups, not coming within the jurisdiction of
the Division, have been assisted in organiza-
tion. Emphasis has been placed upon develop-
ment rather than organization during the year.
The attendance at musical activities which
met on Playground Department property, during
the past fiscal year, was 494,504; and there were
3,988 rehearsals or performances held at our
own playgrounds during the year, divided as
follows:
elect Hoover for South America, the Los
Angeles County Fair, the National Air Races,
the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, the
City Hall Exposition, the Shrine Hollywood
Bowl program, and the Electrical Pageant in
the Los Angeles Coliseum. At the invita-
tion of John Philip Sousa the band played
under his direction in the Shrine Civic Audi-
torium. During the year this organization
played before an estimated audience of more
than a half-million people.
A "circus band" has been organized to play
for the Playground Department circuses which
are held at playgrounds during the Summer
season.
Numerous neighborhood bands have been
organized. The Highland Park Community
Band, which meets at the Arroyo Seco Play-
ground; the Chinese Boys' Band, organized and
sponsored by the Apablasa Playground; and the
Watts Boys' Band are examples of this type of
organization which is encouraged and sponsored
by the Music Division.
Orchestras
There was an attendance of 6,105 people at
orchestras meeting at Playgrounds during the
year, the number being about equally divided
Here is a presentation
of what Los Angeles
has accomplished of-
ficially for the cause of
music that should be
brought to the attention
of the authorities of
every great city in the
country. It supplants
theories with facts and
offers a shining
ex-
* ample for other cities.