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N.P.M.A. Appropriates $45,000 for AMC Keyboard
Experience; Jack Feddersen Now President
HPHE 55th annual meeting of the Na-
-*- tional Piano Manufacturers Associa-
tion of America, Inc. was held at 10
a.m. Tuesday, June 10th, at the Wal-
dorf-Astoria, New York. Practically
every piano manufacturer was repre-
sented.
Two important features of the meet-
ing were the authorizing of the associa-
tion to appropriate $40,000 for the use
of the American Music Conference in
promoting keyboard experience and class
piano instruction, and an addition-
al appropriation of $5,000 earmarked
specifically for class piano workshops,
and an election of new officers which
included Jack F. Feddersen, Executive
Vice-President of H. & A. Selmer, of
which Jesse French & Sons is a division,
as President; Eugene Wulsin, Baldwin
Piano Co., Vice-President; Henry Z.
Steinway of Steinway & Sons, Treas-
urer; and the Executive Committee,
composed of J. V. Sill, Vice-President
of the W. W. Kimball Co.; J. A. Gould,
President of Pratt, Read & Co.; Web-
ster E. Janssen, President of the Janssen
Piano Co.; George F. Stapeley, Presi-
dent of the Everett Piano Co.; Walter
S. Bond, President of the Weaver Piano
Co., and William Perlman, President
of the National Piano Corp.
JACK F. FEDDERSEN
Piano Instruction Committee
tions appropriated to carry on this work
which this year would amount to
Si05,000: He pointed out, however, that
the six months' budget entailed only
$54,715.
In continuing, he said, "Although the
basic budget of $105,000 is $23,000
more than the basic budget request for
the fiscal year starting September 1st,
1951, actually no expansion of opera-
tions is planned. During the first three
years of operation, A.M.C. spent less
than was contributed to it each year.
For the fiscal 1951 and 1952, however,
it has been spending somewhat more
than was contributed during these years,
taking the excess from reserves accumu-
lated during the first three years. These
reserves will be used up by the end of
the present fiscal year, however, so it
will now be necessary for various in-
dustries to contribute in accordance with
whatever rate of operation they want
the American Music Conference to
maintain." He then went into details
as to the expenses entailed, and quoted
Dr. Kendel as stating, "Requests for
our services are more than we can
handle and the volume of corres-
pondence seeking information about us
is ever increasing."
Henry Z. Steinway, Chairman of the
Committee to Further Class Piano In-
struction, made a very illuminating re-
port on what progress had been made
during the last year and what possibly
may be looked for in the future. In
order to back up his contentions the
Field Work
The nominating committee was com- following speaker was Edgar S. Borup
of the American Music Conference, who
Mr. Feddersen then took up the sub-
posed of Robert A. Hill, President of
talked on "The Viewpoint of the Man
ject of field work, and piano work-
Aeolian American Corp., Chairman;
in the Field". Mr. Borup went into de-
shops, stating that as of May 1st five
Harry J. Sohmer, President of Sohmer
tail as to the problems which confronted
piano workshops were scheduled with
& Co.; and L. P. Bull, President of Story
the American Music Conference in pro- definite dates and four more would
& Clark Piano Co., Chicago.
moting piano lessons both in the
definitely be scheduled subject to final
In his annual report, James V. Sill,
schools
and private institutions, as well
selection of dates. "Of course," he said,
President for the past year, spoke of the
as parochial schools. He pointed out
"there are many piano workshops now
splendid cooperation he had had from
that
there
was
really
a
difference,
espe-
being
held without direct A.M.C. spon-
all the members as well as the com-
cially in the minds of music educators
sorship, organized by educational in-
mittee, and dwelt at length on some of
in what he called "keyboard experience"
stitutions, dealers or others. The snow-
the accomplishments, particularly those
and
"class
piano
instruction"
and
that
ball effect of A.M.C. work is becoming
pertaining to the work with the Indus-
the
music
educators
seemed
to
accept
apparent. If you have looked over the
try Advisory Committee, which met with
the thought of keyboard experience
blue book published by M.E.N.C., for
the N.P.A. officials in Washington. He
much
more
readily
than
they
did
class
which
your association supplied the
also made several suggestions as to'
piano
instruction,
although
class
piano
funds,
I
am sure you were amazed at
what might be done in the future to
instruction
generally
followed
in
se-
the
number
of institutions that already
improve the activities of the association.
quence after the keyboard experience
give
instruction
on how to teach class
Jack F. Feddersen as Treasurer re-
had been established in the educational
niano."
(Handbook
for Teaching Piano
ported the financial condition of the
institutions.
Classes).
association as being verv satisfactory.
Again referring to Dr. Kendel, Mr.
This report was followed by an open
He was followed by Mr. Feddersen,
Feddersen said. "Dr. Kendel tells me
discussion of the Washington develop-
who as trustee for the Association with
that the keyboard experience concept
ments affecting the piano industry, at
the American Music Conference has
will make our field work even more
which time Mr. Sill again told of the
worked very diligently on this program.
effective, but it will not eliminate the
various meetings with the N.P.A. and
He gave in detail the present set-up of
need for workshops. Keyboard experi-
what the results had been, and what
the American Music Conference and told
ence does make it possible for our field
might be expected in the future.
how much money the various associa-
14
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JUNE, 1952