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The band promotion work carried on by the
Anderson-Soward Co., Dayton, Ohio, for the past
fourteen years has served to keep instrument
sales at a high level—How the work is carried on
of teeth are urged to play the cornet or small trumpets. Those
with thicker lips do better with the bass horn and trombone,
we suggest, and those with teeth that project over are given
clarinets or woodwinds. Of course the student can choose
the instrument he desires, but our idea is to adapt the instru-
ment to the child, wherever there is no preference.
"The instruments are rented on a monthly basis, saxophones
being rented for $5.00 a month and trumpets and clarinets
for $3.00. At the end of ninety days we* agree to allow 1 the
student at least seventy-five per cent of the rental he has paid
in if he wants to apply this on the purchase of a new instru-
ment. This offer is made providing the instrument he has been
using has been kept in good condition.
"We then divide the cornets up into one class, the wood-
winds into another, and the trombones into a third. By tak-
ing all the cornets in one class, we find that the quicker ones
help the slower ones. After a time we then divide them up
so that we get fourway harmony. The same thing is done
with the woodwinds and the trombones. Forty-five-minute
lessons are given to each group, and then we have a similar
period for them to play together. We thus spend four or
five hours at the school one day a week.
"At the end of ninety days we have the band give a concert
lasting about an hour and a half. The program may be varied
with vocal selections or the singing of a chorus, and some of
the students will be presented in solo parts. The soloists will
be chosen from among the best of the students.
"When the band idea is first presented to the students we
ask them, to tell their parents about it. Then we invite the
parents in at any time to attend practice meetings. And of
course they are invited for the concert. Work is assigned
for students to do at home, and parents are asked to sign the
grade cards stating that the child has done such and such
amount of practicing. When the parent sees that the child
can really play, the sale of the instrument is practically as-
sured."
In the city of Dayton Mr. Sheffer has organized a Boy
Scout band of 117
pieces, and has a jun-
ior Scout band made
up of boys still in
training.
Besides
these he has started a
newsboys' band, and
VERLE J. SHEFFER
has a junior boys'
band made up of students in his school. At the present time
he is organizing a junior boys' band in one of the local
churches, and plans to develop this field.
The Boy Scout band was formed after seven different un-
successful attempts had been made by previous organizers.
This band has given over eighty concerts and has had forty
banquets given in its honor by various groups.
All youngsters purchasing instruments at the Anderson-
Soward store are urged to get into one of the bands. Often
students will rent instruments and take lessons, and after they
learn to play they will purchase new instruments from the
store. The fact that they are playing in a band acts as a stim-
ulant to them, and convinces the parent of the youngster's real
desire to go on with his studies.
Lessons in Mr. Sheffer's school cost $1.00. Four rehearsals
are given each month, for which there is no charge, but each
student must attend at least three rehearsals. Students in the
rural schools are charged twenty-five cents a lesson, there
being no private lessons given.
The Anderson-Soward Co. is working out a similar plan
with fretted instruments, but has only started on it. Natu-
rally this work has not progressed far enough to make it pos-
sible to judge its success.
Mr. Sheffer sees music as the solution to many disciplinary
problems, and points out to teachers and parents that musical
training in the schools is one of the most effective means of
teaching moral discipline. It has been demonstrated that the
music students are brighter and better behaved than the non-
students.
BOY SCOUT BAND, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ORGANIZED BY ANDERSON-SOWARD CO.
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
September,
1931