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REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
V. T. Costello
Associate Editor
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Alexander Hart
Technical Editor
:HI POOREST
CHIID IS RICH
WITH A1USK Al
Dorothy Elizabeth Bloom
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 RKO Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue. New York 20, N. Y.
Telephone: Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol.
OCTOBER, 1952
No. 10
possible cost of marketing, which would have to be
done in a systematic manner so that the support of
Boards of Education as well as the music supervisors
of schools could be solicited. This move, of course,
is the latest one in the promotion of group piano
lessons in the schools. It is something not to be passed
upon lightly, and yet it should not be passed up
lightly. It has many possibilities. In fact, if pictures
of this sort can be made to teach piano, they could
also be made to teach other musical instruments. In
this particular instance, the Pilot film which was
made by Mrs. Frisch contains four lessons, and at the
end of each lesson there are silent instructions that
the projector be turned off and a student go to the
piano and repeat just what he has seen on the screen.
When shown to a group of children as a test, it wa>
found that even the children became enthusiastic
about it. and they were highly interested to see each
one vieing with the other to do what was shown on
the screen. Without a doubt we shall hear more about
this advance group piano teaching, as it is understood
that should the music trade associations feel that it
was impossible for them to support it. there are other
forces who are interested in doing so, although it ha*
been offered to the music industry associations first
as a matter of principle.
Anent Piano Selling
AST month, we wrote an Editorial about methods
SIDE from conducting several Piano Workshops
J of selling pianos, some of which are not in force
while on the Pacific Coast this slimmer, Mrs.
at the present time. We found it created some
Fay Templeton Frisch, Chairman of the Piano discussion among piano salesmen, and the reciting of
Instruction Committee of the Music Educators Na- one instance where a salesman was sent out to pick
tional Conference, had the privilege of making a up prospects proved to be rather interesting. This
Technicolor movie which may time the salesman was not sent out to sell pianos, but
some time in the future he found he was sent out to sell an accessory which is attached
in schools all over the country as to a piano. In the course of his travels, however, in-
a principle factor in teaching stead of selling the accessory, he came back with
group piano lessons. The filming orders for 5 pianos. So, it just shows what can be
of the piano keyboard and the done by seeking out piano prospects . . . prospects for
hands as they play on the key- even accessories to a piano, which developed into
hoard is very ingenious, and ac- piano sales. As we have said before, the majority of
cording to Mrs. Frisch was done pianos are sold anci not bought, and we still believe
by practically a Rube Goldberg that some of the old-fashioned methods are those that
contraption set up with mirrors so can swell piano sales. At least, it would look so from
that nothing but the keyboard and the experience of the salesman which we have just
CARLETON CHACE
the hands show in the picture, written about. There are, without a doubt, thousands
with the exception of when Mrs. Frisch recites her of persons who are saying to themselves "someday
introduction. Although the Executive Committee and I am going to buy a piano" but who may never do it
Trustees of the associations who have seen a preview unless some one sells them. We just read there is
of this picture are very enthusiastic regarding it, no $16,000,000,000 in Mutual Savings Banks. Some of
action has been taken as yet due to the fact primarily that money is probably being saved to buy pianos.
that the initial cost of producing a series of pictures The game is to find out by whom. Probably in a
which would provide schools with a whole set of les- similar manner many other commodities are sold,
sons is somewhat prohibitive. Another factor is the by constant personal follow up.
Business - As We See It
A
10
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1952