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Group Piano Lessons Bring More Youngsters
to the Keyboard and More Piano Prospects
By JOHN E. FURLONG
President, National Piano Manufacturers Association
T seems that I have had the honor of
being elected President of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers Association
in a year during which price and wage
controls and the easing of restrictions
on materials have now disappeared. It
has been gratifying to note, therefore,
that there has been a steady increase
in production until it looks as if 1953
will probably be one of the best years
that the present members of the piano
industry have experienced since the re-
vival of the interest in the piano after
the depression. This upswing in pro-
duction, which started in 1950 and at
that time topped all previous figures
back to 1927, was seriously affected by
the restrictions imposed by M-47 and
M-47A which were issued early in
JOHN E. FURLONG
1951.
The availability of materials,
however, during 1953 has changed this
pleasure during their later adult years.
with the result that not only does the
In addition group instruction is bring-
present annual production look very
ing more youngsters to the keyboard
satisfactory but the future looks con-
which produces more pupils for pri-
siderably more promising than it has vate lessons and, of course, more piano
in the past.
prospects.
Aside from the above, it is very in-
teresting to note that the demand for
On the Right Track
the booklet—"Your Piano and Its
In thinking of the future. I feel quite
Proper Care"—which is published by
confident that the Association is perma-
the Association, continues to be par-
nently on the right track in supporting
ticularly lively. Well over 130.000 of
the ever-increasing promotion efforts
these leaflets have been sold to and
of the American Music Conference in
distributed by dealers and tuner-tech-
the matter of keyboard experience,
nicians. This, I believe, is another sign
which brings into the intimate view of
of the ever-growing interest in the pi-
the public not only thousands of chil-
ano.
dren of a variety of ages but also many
adults taking group piano lessons. In
Excise Tax Removal
my opinion, the piano manufacturers
have at last found the one vital effort
which if continued faithfully will serve
Among the important activities of the
to increase the demand for pianos from
Association this year has been the sub-
generation to generation, with the re- mitting by myself to the Ways and
sult that there should be a healthy and
Means Committee of the House of Rep-
continued growth in piano production
resentatives the request for the revoc?-
from year to year.
tion oi the 10% Excise Tax on pianos.
I have also requested the members of
In addition to the promotion of key-
the Association and also the piano deal-
board experience, there is little doubt
ers throughout the country to either
but that the viewing of male pianists by
see or write their Congressmen regard-
members of the younger generation, on
ing this and to point out that 82% of
television, playing the piano, has
all pianos are sold for educational and
brought to light the fact that many
religious purposes, and that only 10%
boys who used to consider playing the
are sold directly to religious and non-
piano a 'sissy' achievement are realiz-
profit educational institutions which
ing that it really is a manly art and
are subject to tax exemption under the
one which can bring to them great
10
present law, and 72% of pianos are
purchased for educational use in the
home and receive no tax exemption.
This request is now in the hands of the
Ways and Means Committee and we are
hoping to get some favorable action up-
on it.
Although I have not been connected
with the piano industry as long as a
great many others, I have certainly
been impressed with the cooperation
which has been manifested in all As-
sociation matters by the officers and
members, in making the weight of the
Association felt in respect to promot-
ing the interests of the piano industry
at large. I feel very confident that the
promotion efforts of the association
will continue to bear fruit, and at this
time may I extend Seasons Creetings
not only to the members but also to the
entire music industry. With best wish-
es for a Very Merry Christmas and a
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Bischoff Ads to Vermonters
Carry a Unique Message
A. F. Bischoff, the head of the Bis-
choff Piano House, Burlington, Vt..
from time to time uses some advertis-
ing with a unique punch. Recently he
published the following: "180,000 Pi-
anos' as the headline, the text con-
tinues, "Made in the U.S.A. during
1953. but very few of them go into
the homes of Vermonters! You need
pianos and organs . . . we need the
business! Baldwin and the other makes
we carry in stock satisfy the most dis-
criminating as to quality and price.
Buy on time . . . buy from us. Open
evenings by appointment."
In a note addressed to the Editor of
the REVIEW, Mr. Bischoff recently
stated: "I have been a subscriber of
the Music Trade REVIEW for many
years. I will not stop being a reader
of the Music Trade REVIEW as long
as I live. The piano business around
here is no worse or better than it has
been for many years. I am doing a
great deal of promotional advertising,
also some that may not be liked by
readers. A clipping from this week's
ad is enclosed."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, DECEMBER, 1953