Music Trade Review

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"Handbook For Teaching Piano Classes"
An Excellent Aid to Music Educators
It was almost six years ago that the
movement of promoting piano lessons
in the schools was given earnest con-
sideration and Dr. Raymond Burrows
was appointed as chairman of the Piano
Instruction Committee of the Music Ed-
ucators National Conference. At that
time, efforts had to be made to interest
music educators throughout the country
to inaugurate piano lessons in the
schools.
Teacher Opposition Overcome
Efforts made in the last five years have
resulted in overcoming most of the op-
position to the idea of teaching piano in
groups, but there has remained a very
important problem of supplying a
source for information on just how to
go about this. Many class piano work-
shops have been held where teachers
could find what the system meant, and
could learn how to direct it. but it has
been found impossible to conduct
enough of these workshops to help all
the teachers who are now interested. In
view of this, under the guidance of Dr.
Burrows, a booklet has now been pub-
lished called "Handbook for Teaching
Piano Classes" which has been pre-
pared by the Piano Instruction Commit-
tee of the Music Educators National
Conference.
Profusely Illustrated
Cleverly illustrated by the reproduc-
tion of photographs of piano instruc-
tion in many schools, both public and
parochial, the book points out "Why
basic piano instruction is necessary in
every school" and contains a very
lengthy article on "The Preparation of
the Teacher" by Polly Gibbs, Vice-
Chairman of the Piano Instruction Com-
mittee, and gives a list of institutions
which offer group piano instruction
and piano pedagogy.lt points out "The
Relation of the Piano Class to the En-
tire School Program" by Marjorie M.
Keller, "The Valuation of Teaching
Materials" by Leah Curnutt, a treatise
on "The Care of the Piano" by Chaun-
cey D. Bond, past president of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers Association
and an ardent worker toward piano les-
sons in the schools, a chapter on "Class-
room Equipment" by Dr. Raymond Bur-
rows, a chapter on "Expected Achieve-
ments and Illustrated Lesson Outlines"
by Leslie T. Clauson, Charlotte DuBois
and Mrs. Fay Templeton Frisch, broken
down into elementary, junior high
24
school and college, during which ex-
amples from various elementary and
high schools are printed. There is also
a chapter on "University Activities" in-
cluding an example from Teachers Col-
lege, Columbia University, New York.
On the last two pages there is a partial
list of publications, issued by the Piano
Instruction Committee, which include
"Piano Instructions in the Schools" by
William R. Sur. "Piano in School" by
Dr. Raymond Burrows, "Calling All
Piano Teachers" by Mrs. Fay Temple-
ton Frisch, "Piano Teachers Down to
Earth" by Dr. Burrows. "Mass Piano
Class" by Dr. Burrows, "Simplification
of Piano Study" by John Crowder.
"Riding the Circuit with Piano Classes"
which was edited by Dr. Burrows.
On the last page, there is printed a
creed for music educators, headed
"More Music in Education, More Edu-
cation Through Music for our Children,
our Teachers, our Schools and our Na-
tion".
Harlan Johnson Appointed
Wurlifzer District Manager
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.. DeKalb
Division, announces that Harlan John-
son, recently appointed District Sales
Manager for the States of Nebraska,
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming. South Da-
kota and Iowa, will make his head-
quarters in Lincoln, Neb., where he and
Mrs. Johnson are now settled in a new
home.
Before being promoted to the posi-
tion of District Sales Manager, January
1. 1952. Harlan was progressively as-
sociated with many of the factory and
office departments of the Wurlitzer
Company at DeKalb.
A few days ago, when speaking about
Harlan Johnson, Hugh Stewart, Wur-
litzer Vice-President and Sales Manager
of the DeKalb Division said:
"There is no doubt but that Wur-
litzer dealers and their associates will
find Harland a highly cooperative and
conscientious young man. He will rep-
resent their interests capably, faithfully
and effectively for that is the spirit
which he has consistently displayed in
our DeKalb organization during the
many years in which he has advanced
from one department to another. He
is a fine young man of excellent char-
acter: a credit to both himself and to
Wurlitzer."
Hot Spray Lacquer New
Monroe Sander Piano Finish
One of the most recent and important
developments in the industrial finishing
industry has been the manufacture of
a hot spray lacquer for pianos by The
Monroe Sander Corp., Long Island
City, according to vice-president, Mor-
ris Dauber who at one time was a piano
manufacturer himself.
Personal Tests
Mr. Dauber, who was long associated
with the piano industry before joining
The Monroe Sander Corp., said that the
new finish produced by his company
has many advantages over conventional
lacquers, and this has been repeatedly
demonstrated through tests which he
personally conducted in piano plants.
Mr. Dauber pointed out that in hot
lacquers, heat used as a viscosity re-
ducing agent, makes thinners (solvents)
unnecessary, thereby eliminating one
cost factor. He emphasized, too, the fol-
lowing features of the finish which was
developed after considerable scientific
research in the Monroe-Sander labora-
tories. (1) The finishes are adjusted to
give the right viscosity because of the
heat. (2) Uniformity is assured at all
times. (3) Fewer coats of hot spray
lacquers are required than conventional
lacquers, thus reducing cost of mater-
ials and labor. (4) Coverage is in-
creased per gallon. (5) Rubbing of
finished products is easier. (6) Blush-
ing of lacquer on humid days is over-
come due to the controlled temperature.
(7) A coat of hot lacquer has more
solids than a coat of conventional lac-
quer.
Cold Tests
Mr. Dauber also emphasized that re-
peated so called "cold tests" on the new
hot spray lacquers show that these fin-
ishes are crack resistant after they are
applied to furniture and other wood
products. Thus, he said, these products
can be safely shipped from one climate
to another without damage to the finish,
a factor of inestimable importance.
The hot spray lacquer, which is made
of the finest solvents", said Mr. Dauber,
"assures manufacturers of a piano fin-
ish that is unparalleled in the history of
the industry."
Steinways Used at
MENC Convention
During the concerts at the annual
convention of the Music Education Na-
tional Conference in Philadelphia re-
cently several Steinway grand pianos
were used furnished by N. Stetson &
Co.,
Steinway's Philadelphia repre-
sentatives.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW. APRIL, 1952