Music Trade Review

Issue: 1932 Vol. 91 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
16
THE
MUSIC
A PIANO KINDERGARTEN FOR YOUNG
BEGINNERS LAUNCHED IN MILWAUKEE
PIANO kindergarten, originated by soon purchased a number of them, filling an
John \V. Schaum, Milwaukee pianist, entire room with the instruments, for his in-
and winner last summer in the struction purposes.
"The effect on the children was magical,"
national contest of the National Federa-
tion of Music Clubs at San Francisco, is at- said Mr. Schaum. "They made three times
tracting widespread interest in Milwaukee, as as much progress. In no time I was enabled
a medium for group instruction of children, even to teach them the keyboard harmony,
and of making them lovers of piano music at and then easily make the switch to the larger
adult piano. The secret was that all fears
an early age.
"I can see, I think, why many do not un- were removed, and then—as important—they
dertake the study of music, in fact why many were able to study music not as work, but as
play," Mr. Schaum said.
grownups in other fields hesitate to undertake
"More and more people are being stimulated
the big thing that calls them," Mr. Schaum
by hearing radio music to undertake making
said. "They are afraid.
"The laddie is afraid of the great piano their own music," Mr. Schaum said. Many
before him, with its booming tones and huge of his students are those who come to learn
keyboard, with all the keys to play and to play some piece like "Liebestraum" which
master," he pointed out. "He lives in a land they have heard over the air.
He starts them even with the jazz pieces
of giants—big people, big pianos, and so on.
The grownup magnifies the difficulties and they like, and in a short time they are off into
objections to a big work until he is paralyzed the easier classics. Mr. Schaum plans on going
on with his concert career and his teaching,
for performance, except of menial tasks."
Schaum believed this the big problem, and too. He recently appeared as guest artist with
upon seeing a small piano made for Columbia the Milwaukee Philharmonic in one of its
Sundav concerts.
University he wrote the manufacturer, and
A
HEWITT AND PRINZ JOIN
KIMBALL WHOLESALE STAFF
The W. W. Kimball Co. has just added to
its wholesale staff two prominent members of
the trade. Henry D. Hewitt, for many years
sales manager of the M. Schulz Co., and one
of the widely known and popular members
of the industry, is now general sales repre-
sentative for the Kimball piano, and is now
in the field with an ample territory.
Mr. Hewitt, a former president of the
Piano Club, and now second vice-president
of the Chicago Piano & Organ Association,
has traveled for years throughout the United
States, and numbers hundreds of dealers
among his personal friends, having endeared
himself to them by his intelligence, integrity
and energy.
In his connection with the Kimball house,
that noted company obtains a strong addition
to their wholesale sales force, and Mr. Hewitt
has a great opportunity for effective work.
E. M. Prinz, who for a number of years
has represented M. Schulz Co. in the north-
west, has also become a W. W. Kimball
traveler, and will continue to serve his old
territory in the northwest, where he has been
particularly successful and is widely and
favorably known.
ness to stage any remarkable revival. How-
ever, a survey of the market indicates that
there is still a good demand for rolls, and
we feel warranted in adding the Staffnote
unit to our other activities. As manufacturers
of organ rolls and playing mechanisms we
shall be in position to produce piano rolls
advantageously and economically."
All the Staffnote machinery and equipment
will be moved at once to the factory of
Roesler-Hunholz at 114-118 E. Scott street.
John Schmitt, former manager of the Staffnote
Corp., and designer of much of the Staffnote
machinery, will be retained by Roesler-
Hunholz, Inc., to take charge of the piano
roll division.
Roesler-Hunholz expect to have their new
releases ready for the market shortly after
March 1.
BUSINESS FIRST AT
RADIO TRADE SHOW
Business, without any time-wasting bally-
hoo, again will be the keynote of the annual
conclave of radio manufacturers, jobbers and
dealers in Chicago next May for the Eighth
Annual RMA Convention and Trade Show.
The most business for dealers and jobbers
as well as manufacturers with a minimum
of time and expense is the basis of RMA
plans. Scheduled earlier than usual, May
PURCHASES STAFFNOTE
23-26, at the Stevens and Blackstone Hotels
PLAYER ROLL CORP.
in Chicago, the great annual industry gather-
The business of the Staffnote Player Roll ing has been shortened to four days. It is
Co., and The Staffnote Corp., Milwaukee, staged earlier to precede, with its display of
Wis., manufacturers of Staffnote and Playrite new radio, television and electrical products,
piano rolls, has just been purchased by the radio sales stimulation of the Republican
Roesler-Hunholz, Inc., also of Milwaukee. and Democratic presidential nominating con-
Roesler-Hunholz, Inc., are well known to the ventions which soon follow the trade show.
pipe organ trade as manufacturers of "Artis- For the first time it is expected that the
touch" reproducing organ units and organ political conventions will be televised as well
as broadcast. Display of the progress of
rolls.
In a recent interview Fred Roesler, presi- television also is a scheduled feature of the
trade show, affording an opportunity to job-
dent of Roesler-Hunholz, Inc., said:
"We are not expecting the piano roll busi- bers and dealers to view the latest television
TRADE
REVIEW,
March, 1932
as well as radio and electrical products of
RMA manufacturers. Admission to the trade
show, as usual, however, will be limited to
the trade. The public will not be admitted.
The official convention and trade show
hotels, the Stevens and Blackstone, already
have received advance reservations. Virtually
all prominent receiving set, tube, television,
refrigerator and other electrical manufac-
turers of the RMA have reserved exhibit
booths at the Stevens Hotel. A number have
increased their space reservations over last
year. Editors of the radio trade press will
be invited to conduct the drawings for trade
show space about March 15.
LEO J. ABERLE NOW WITH
WARD-BRODGE CO. STAFF
I.eo J. Aberle, former music instructor at
Palm Beach, Fla., has joined the staff of the
Ward-Brodge Music Co., Madison, Wis. Mr.
Aberle was formerly a member of the Wis-
consin School of Music faculty, before going
to Palm Beach. He teaches all forms of
stringed instruments. Broadcast* featuring
Mr. Aberle on various instruments are to be
presented over WIBA, Madison radio broad-
casting station.
THE REVIEW'S
WANT DIRECTORY
WANTED—Store managers and de-
partment managers for music, radio and
refrigerator stores. Address Box 3437,
Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington
Avenue, New York.
GOOD MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
MAN who is able to vigorously push the
business in city of about 100,000 popula-
tion, on percentage basis. Prefer one
who has had teaching experience. An
excellent opportunity. Write confiden-
tially. Box 3439, Music Trade Review,
420 Lexington Ave., New York.
RENT FREE to party who can oper-
ate sheet music department in city of
about 100,000. Please write us. Box
3438, Music Trade Review, 420 Lexing-
ton Avenue, New York.
POSITION WANTED—Salesmanager; IS years'
retail experience with Aeolian, Steinway and
American Piano Companies' lines in N. V*. C.
Clean record. Highest recommendations. Now on
coast.
Will go anywhere.
Address Box 3434,
Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New
York.
RADIO SERVICEMAN, PIANO TUNER and
REPAIRER, will buy half interest or a tuning
route. Prefer Western States. Address Box 3435,
Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New
York.
WILL RENT space in our music store for a
sheet music department—only one other such de-
partment in city of 300,000.
Excellent oppor-
tunity. Address Box 3427, Music Trade Review,
420 Lexington Ave., New York.
POSITION WANTED—Wholesale Representa-
tive, by man of 35. Can produce.
Willing to
accept compensation based on results.
Employed
now but have excellent reasons for changing.
Address Box 3430, Music Trade Review, 420
Lexington Ave., New York.
POSITION WANTED-Piano tuner, fully ex-
perienced. Age 42. Tuning, repairing, case re-
pairing and finishing. Pianist.
Available now
anywhere.
Single.
Address Box 3426, Music
Trade Review. 420 I.exineton Avenue. New York.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PIANO FACTORY and
PIANO SERVICING
DR. W M . BRAID WHITE
Technical Editor
More Thoughts on
TUNERS, TUNING
and the FUTURE
ing in equal temperament. So many or-
chestral players seem not to care for any
scale, and we hear so much out-of-tuneness."
WHY ARTISTIC TUNING IS DYING OUT
DR. WM. BRAID WHITE
AST month I undertook to say some-
thing about the science of tuning and
also about the future of tuning as an art.
My words were prompted by two very
interesting letters which I had received from
working tuners, one of whom was interested
in a technical explanation while the other
found himself moved to utter an acute opinion
upon the future of the tuning art. I have
now been privileged to receive a written com-
mentary upon this article from Dr. Dayton
C. Miller, of the Case School of Applied Sci-
ence at Cleveland, who, as everyone knows,
is one of the most distinguished scientific men
of his age and by all odds the greatest living
authority upon the science of musical sounds.
His letter is so interesting that it must form
the text of my remarks for this month.
I had said that the necessity for an artificial
division of the octave into twelve parts ac-
cording to a constant ratio of increment from
tone to tone is unfortunate, seeing that it de-
prives us of the soothing and delightful con-
cords which we hear when intervals are
sounded in their pure relations. Dr. Miller
comments upon this in the following words:
"You have very clearly set forth the neces-
sity for the tempered scale, and what it is.
When I looked for something to comment on,
I could find only one word—the word 'un-
fortunately,' in reference to the difference be-
tween pure intonation and equal temperament.
I was going to say that perhaps this is
'fortunate.' In experimenting with our forks
tuned in pure intonations, the chords are, as
you say, very soothing and sweet, but they
soon pall on the ear, and I am glad to hear
again the intervals in equal temperament.
But, on second thought, I conclude you are
right in speaking of it as 'unfortunate.' It
seems to be difficult to secure accurate tun-
L
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
I reproduce this part of Dr. Miller's letter
because it exposes a set of facts well worth
our attention. I think that most experienced
artist tuners will agree with Dr. Miller in
preferring tempered to just intervals and
chords. The latter are extremely beautiful
but it is undoubtedly true that they lack the
bite and snap which the tempered intonation
imparts. On a matter of this kind opinions,
of course, are likely to differ, but it is prob-
able that most persons have not had the op-
portunity to hear music played in just intona-
tion and so cannot form opinions based upon
definite experience. This is an unfortunate
state of affairs. As Dr. Miller justly ob-
serves, it is difficult to secure accurate tuning
in equal temperament. This difficulty exists
simply and solely because it has never been
the business of educational authority to impart
to the inhabitants of the land any knowledge
whatever about tone, tone relations or the
musical scale. Naturally, then, the profession-
al tuner of those musical instruments, like
the pianoforte and the organ, which must be
tuned, if at all, by an expert, have never
been under a definite necessity always to do
their best work. In fact, artistic-minded
tuners have usually had only the conscious-
ness of work well done to sustain them in
their endeavors, since the great majority of
those who have employed their services have
been quite incapable of rendering any just
opinion upon their accuracy or skill.
It is quite correct to say that to tune ac-
curately in equal temperament is difficult.
Now the entire structure of musical branches,
from the making of pianofortes to the com-
position of symphonic works for the grand
orchestra, is based upon the equal tempera-
ment. For this furnishes the practical frame-
work within which most musical instruments
must be designed and musical compositions
enclosed. I have often in the past taken oc-
casion to say that if I had my way the skill
and the knowledge of musical scientists should
be devoted to the task of constructing a new
musical aesthetic based upon instruments
capable of giving just intonation without at
REVIEW,
March, 1932
the same time losing their practicability.
Nevertheless, it is not very likely that any
such state of affairs will soon be brought
about. The equal temperament is not only
extremely convenient, but now deeply rooted
in the ideas of the musical world, so that its
extirpation would be a matter of the utmost
difficulty, even supposing, what is not likely,
that all should agree upon the need or the
desirability of such a process. What there-
fore we have to think about in a practical
way is how we may preserve the art of tun-
ing in equal temperament, and the wonderful
skill that the best of the tuners of the last
generation seemed to be able always to dis-
pose.
IF TUNING GOES, MUSIC GOES
',
For if we do not preserve the art, the pros-
pect of music must be at the best doubtful.
It will be impossible to maintain properly the
performance of music unless we at the same
time can preserve the necessary musical
technology. It is, of course, conceivable that
some mechanism for effecting and maintaining
the relative frequency values of the tonal ele-
ments in musical instruments may some day be
perfected. But this is not likely to happen
soon, and even so, the difficulty would only
be pushed a step backward. For the art of
tuning, as an effective part of the structure
of music, rests in the end upon public ap-
preciation. The tones which make up the
scale of music must in musical instruments
Estate
of
BUCKSKIN
1049—3rd St.
NORTH BERGEN, N. J.
Tel.: 7—4367
17

Download Page 16: PDF File | Image

Download Page 17 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.