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and lo serve as an introduction to the
class procedures effective in teaching
piano to groups. Class instruction in
piano makes it psosible for one teacher
to bring piano lessons to a greater num-
ber of pupils and can be as thorough as
private work and more enjoyable than
private instruction.
12 Children in a Class
''A dozen children can be taught to
iplay the piano in one class as success-
fully as they can be taught any other
subject. Rhythmic games, so necessary
to true rhythmic development, are pos-
sible only in classes. Ensemble playing,
so vital to true musicianship, is a regu-
lar procedure, not an exception. This
advantageous group approach has now
been used with gratifying results in the
teaching of over a million children. They
learn the fundamentals, not only of
piano playing, but of rhythm, melody,
harmony and form. The children learn
from each other by observation and imi-
tation. Application and practice are
stimulated by friendly competition. From
the very start the children play their
little songs before groups, often as ac-
companists for the singing. Nervousness
and stage-fright, so frequently the un-
sought by-products of the private lesson,
have no chance to develop.
"My Bernice Frost Beginners Book
teaches children first to sing pleasing
songs with words and syllables taught
by ear. Then they discover the phrases,
motives and figures that compose the
melodies. With a vocabulary of melodic
and rhythmic figures they soon learn to
read new songs. Always they work with
real music, real folks and singing games
which hold their interest.
Dr. Burrows in The Review
"Dr. Raymond Burrows, noted music
educator, wrote in the December, 1947
issue of the Music Trade Review, 'We
need an army of talented, intelligent
and thoroughly trained teachers in spe-
cific skills of teaching piano in classes."
Through close cooperation of teachers
and supervisors we hope to assure to an
ever-increasing number of children the
thrill of class piano participation. Dr.
Burrows advocates piano instruction for
every child and says that even those who
have no piano in the home have frequent
opportunities to play on the piano in
the class room and may have a card-
board keyboard for home practice.
'"I wish to thank the parents for their
cooperation in this new project."
Previous to this, the success of the
piano workshop at the Northern State
Teachers College was graphically por-
trayed in a letter which Mrs. McArthur
wrote to Marion Egbert of the American
Music Conference, in which she stated:
"The piano clinic was very successful,
we thought. All the people who attended
were very enthusiastic about the whole
week's work. I have enclosed some clip-
pings and a program of the Workshop.
We had twenty people in all attending,
seventeen enrolling just for the piano
class. There were seven 'Sisters,' five
from Yankton, two from Aberdeen, but
they represent almost that many different
schools as they teach at various places
during the school year. And each of the
other people were from different towns.
So we had at least fourteen towns repre-
sented. The Engel Music Store in Aber-
deen, and Schmitt's from Minneapolis
sent vast amounts of music materials.
Then Miss Carpenter and I together have
many related books about music, etc..
so we were able to give these women an
excellent refresher.
Compliments Teacher
"Also, Miss Carpenter is an excellent
teacher! Her work with the children in
demonstration is really so live! She for-
gets that she has an audience and just
teaches children! I wish some of you
could see her work.
"We had another meeting July 20th
of a larger group for the preliminary
community council organization. There
were about twenty present and it was de-
cided to meet again August 7th. At that
time several communities which were
appointed will report. The communities
appointed were an organizational com-
mittee (we aren't going to have a con-
stitution but an 'organizational plan' so
we can keep informal at first), a com-
mittee to work on the 'booking bureau'
plan. Mr. Prescott, chairman: a commit-
tee to study the rural situation and plan
tangible projects; and a committee lo
consider further the chamber orchestra's
possibilities.
"By the way, thank you for the in-
formation about the orchestra organiza-
tion. I really think we will mostly talk
about the orchestra this year, but I think
it should take long term planning if it
is to be a sound project.
Organization This Fall
"We hope to have our preliminary
'Council' plans for enough that a real
organization can take place early in
the fall, but I can't see just when. Should
it be the first week of school, say Sepl.
13th, or would it be better to let the
various clubs, etc. get going first. There
are so many organizations in Aberdeen.
"Thank you for the good wishes about
a vacation, but our enrollment this sec-
ond term is so heavy it's like the regular
school year."
Conclusion
All the above points to the fact that
not only are teachers in schools be in*!
\itally interested in this project, but
there are many private teachers who hav-
ing attended the piano workshops are
commencing to see the value of class
piano instruction. In many instances this
is found to be true at the local level and
in very small communities, according to
W. A. Mills, executive secretary of the
American Music Conference.
Columnist Pays Tribute
To McClisler's Success
Cecil MeClisler. was featured by col-
umnist. Robert Loving, in the Bristol
Herald Courier. Bristol, Tenn., recently.
In his popular column Mr. Loving said:
"To Cecil McClister, local piano
dealer, the world of music affords a
profitable business, a thrilling hobby,
and a profound way of thinking.
"As a boy McClister took piano les-
sons from his mother, whose ancestors
had been organ builders in Switzerland.
He attended Lincoln Memorial Univer-
sity and. with the idea of studying medi-
cine later, got a iob clerking in a Morris-
town, Tenn. drug store. But in 1912 he
took advantage of the opportunity to
enter the music business.
"He trained at the Weaver piano fac-
tory at York. Pa., and in less than a year
was a full fledged piano technician. He
returned to Morristown for employment
there in 1925. came to Bristol as man-
ager of Clark-Jones-Sheeley Co. This
firm was dissolved in 1933 and he
started the McClister Music Co., which
has continued at the same location on
Sixtli Street."
Mr. Loving devoted the entire column
to Cecil McClister. going back to his ex-
periences in the player piano days and
on through to his present activities. Mr.
McClister is the Wurlitzer piano dealer
in Bristol.
Ray.Erlandson Elected
San Antonio President
As the Review goes to press, word has
been received that Ray S. Erlandson has
been elected president of the San Antonio
Music Co. and the Bledsoe Furniture Co.
by the board of directors of the two
firms. Mr. Erlandson succeeds the late
Isaac Bledsoe, founder of the sixty-year-
old concerns, who passed away on Sep-
tember 9. 1950.
The music company operates stores in
San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin,
and Harlingen, Texas; and the furniture
company operates stores in San Antonio
and Austin. Texas.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW. SEPTEMBER, 1950