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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
candy store type will gradually become
smaller. It is even possible that the de-
velopment of broadcasting will affect the
number of the pianofortes used in concert
work. But: and here is to my mind the
gravamen of the whole question: I do not
believe for a moment that the number of
private pianofortes actually used, and there-
fore in need of periodic tuning, will decrease
at all.
Several years ago when speculations such
as these were not even thought of, the Na-
tional Association of Piano Tuners made a
survey of conditions in the tuning field.
They came to the conclusion that the prob-
able average elapsed time between tunings
was not less than three years among piano-
fortes of every kind, taking into consideration
all kinds both of instruments and of their
places. There never was, in all probability,
a golden age of piano tuning. There never
was a time when tuning could be had mere-
ly by putting out a sign and waiting for
it to come to one. It is true that twenty-five
years ago a tuner out in the country, who
had a whole county to himself, might in
favorable circumstances make a very good
living; but this fact was due far more to
the scarcity of good tuners than to the abun-
dance of pianoforte owners anxious to have
their instruments put and kept in tune and
good repair.
What, on the other hand, is quite certain
is that since the popularity of the player-
piano began definitely to wane, tuners have
been gradually losing what was their most
fruitful source of revenue. Earnings in
future will come from straight tuning, action
regulating, tone regulating and repairing 2
and not from the much simpler tasks of
putting player actions into order. In a word,
the tuner of the future will have to be an
artist, in tuning, in toning and in mechanics.
Therefore in all probability the supply of
tuners will tend to decrease, since all the
modern trend is away from the disagreeable
necessity of learning through hard application
and strenuous effort the technique of a dif-
ficult art of which the practice is not likely
BADGER BRAND
PLATES
May,
tune?" and the answer is distinctly uncon-
ventional, albeit strictly accurate. I believe
that this pamphlet, in which, by the way,
I have no pecuniary interest whatever, fur-
nishes a most useful piece of advertising
literature. Mr. Poarch can tell Mr. Bowen
all about that side of it. And he can give
him too some very useful and practical in-
formation on the business side of tuning,
which he thoroughly understands and has
mastered.
I believe in newspaper advertising and
in properly written personal letters. So lit-
tle is known by even the most intelligent
layman about the mechanism and construc-
tion of the piano that it is necessary to be
ADVERTISING
extremely elementary in talking about these
Mr. Bowen wants my advice on the matter matters. Moreover, tone quality and tone
of advertising. I am all for it; provided accord are often hopelessly mixed up in the
it be properly thought out and carried out. minds even of musical amateurs who love
In the first place the point must be made music sincerely and are devoted to the piano-
that the only fruitful appeal is to musicians forte. In this matter of educating the public
and to musical amateurs. None others need I think that C. M. Tremaine, director of
be considered any longer, save that occa- the National Bureau for the Advancement
sionally an owner of a player-piano or some- of Music, 45 West 45th street, New York,
one else of the kind will come to the net can also furnish valuable hints and helps
if one fishes often and persistently enough. to an aspiring tuner. The cooperation and
But the main appeal henceforth must be to friendship of the leading music teachers is
the musically intelligent. Persistent adver- usually highly desirable. I am reminded,
tising to this class will certainly bring busi- too, that Steinway & Sons, 109 West 57th
street, New York, have some very valuable
ness.
I should suggest Mr. Bowen's getting in and authoritative literature on the care of
touch with L. M. PoaTch, 42+1 Guilford the piano which they furnish, I believe, to
avenue, Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Poarch has their dealers and to tuners who have Stein-
printed and distributed many tens of thou- way pianos to care for.
sands of copies of a little pamphlet which is
I congratulate Mr. Bowen on his courage
in effect a reprint of an article which I wrote and hope that he will from time to time
for THE REVIEW several years ago. It is let us know what he is doing and how he
called "That Question Answered." The is getting along in the profession he has
question is "why does a piano go out of selected.
to bring rapid and large returns comparable
to some other activities.
On the other hand, for those tuners who
do care to acquire the art, the prospects are
all favorable. There will be still fewer of
them, while the actual quantity of tuning
available to be done for pay is not likely
to be much if any less. I am speaking, it
will be observed, of tuning and not of
mechanical adjusting of player-pianos.
Tuning, real artistic tuning, toning and reg-
ulating are the arts to which I alone now
refer. For their future there is no reason
to fear. Nor do I see any necessity, speak-
ing generally, for cutting prices.
How These Dealers Avoided the Sheriff
I I I
| | I
American Piano Plate Co.
Manufacturers BADGER BRAND Grand
and Upright Piano Plates
Racine, Wisconsin
For
They concentrated their sales efforts and reduced overhead. One big
savings was effected in delivery and handling costs through the pur-
chase of
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F1NDLAY, OHIO
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KINGSTON, N. Y.