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The J^usic
REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
V. T. Costello
Associate Editor
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Alexander Hart
Technical Editor
TH( POOREST
CHIID IS RICH
WITH MUSKAI
Mary Louise Kauffman
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 RKO Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y.
Telephones: Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol. n o
JANUARY, 1951
No. 1
Business—As We See it
| _ p k H E term "piano workshop" has now become a
J I very familiar one throughout the piano industry.
^™ In our opinion, there is no greater force for the
good of the piano industry than the promotion which is
meant by this term. When one considers that these piano
workshops are conducted for the
purpose of teaching teachers how to
teach children to play in groups, it
would seem that we are getting at
the very source which will make the
interest in piano playing grow
faster than it ever has before. For
the success of these workshops, the
industry must thank the American
Music Conference, which has per-
sistently been spreading the gospel
of group piano lessons throughout
CARLETON CHACE
various sections of the country until
they have become so popular that they are being de-
manded not only by teachers in public schools but also by
10
private teachers who are now anxious to teach their
children group piano instruction in their own studios.
This is very clearly manifested in the fact that the piano
workshops which have now been arranged for and will
be held in New York from February 12th to 23rd in-
clusive at Steinway Hall and Carl Fischer Concert Hall
are being sponsored by the Piano Teachers Congress,
with its 250-odd members having become so vitally inter-
ested in the project that they feel it worthy of sponsor-
ship. Furthermore, the fact that they feel that at least two
full weeks should be consumed during which these
demonstrations are to be held is another manifestation
of their eagerness to learn what has been learned by
teachers in other cities like New Orleans, Kalamazoo,
Washington, D. C , Columbia, S. C , Chicago and at
numerous universities. From the piano dealer's stand-
point, these piano workshops are of the utmost impor-
tance, and every dealer in the metropolitan area should
give them not only his moral support but also financial
support if it becomes necessary. It has been found, how-
ever, that the latter, if at all, has been a very small
amount, as the small fee charged each teacher has as a
rule paid all expenses of the workshop. However, even
if there were considerable expense attached to it for each
dealer, the cost would be very small considering the
prospects of what the return might be, should, within
the near future, if be found that interest has been stimu-
lated enough so that both the public and parochial
schools in the metropolitan area might deem it advisable
to add to their curricula the teaching of piano lessons in
groups in the schools during school hours, the same as
it is being done in other cities.
Where Do We Go From Here?
S WE said in the December issue, the holiday
business was disappointing. However, it did
pick up somewhat in the last week before
Christmas. But, since New Year's, the piano business has
seemed to perk up considerably. Just what this is to be
attributed to, nobody seems to know but it has been there
and up to the present writing is still going strong. It has
been feared that due to the transformation which busi-
ness is likely to go through during the next few months,
there would be a perceptible lull on account of a certain
amount of unemployment due to factories converting to
more war work than civilian production. Fortunately,
this has not materialized so far. Piano manufacturers are
continuing with good production while dealers are doing
a very satisfactory business. Actually, everybody has a
more or less unsettled feeling, but if the old saying
"experience is the best teacher" means anything, both
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 1951