Music Trade Review

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The Jf usic
REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
A. C. Osborne
Alexander Hart
Associate Editor
Technical Editor
and it is predicted that this condition will prevail
throughout the fall until production has reached
practically what it was last year. According to what
we hear, many of the smaller dealers are doing a
much better business now than they were during the
early months of the year and there has been consid-
erably more effort put behind selling, due to the fact
that at the present time it is more or less a buyers
market in contrast to what it has been during the last
few years. Some of the retail piano houses which
haven't done so in the past are now giving piano les-
sons, and those who have are commencing to find out
how profitable this effort can be. After all, as we
stated in our Editorial last month, teaching has been
one of the assets in stimulating the sales of the organ,
and should not be overlooked by those who make
piano sales their timely effort.
Many New Teaching Aids
D
V. T. Costello
Terry Ruffolo
Production Manager
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 Americas Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue. New York 20, N. Y.
Telephone: Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol. 113
SEPTEMBER, 1954
No. 9
Business-As We See It
T
HE piano business always has a habit of iron-
ing itself out and it looks now as if 1954 will be
a much better year than was anticipated in the
early months of the year. At the time of the Con-
tention in July, it was stated that the trade was ap-
proximately 2 3 % behind 1953,
but since that time business has
picked up so perceptibly that the
2 3 % is gradually fading out and
everyone looks for a fall business
which will bring production up to
approximately what it was last
year. Some of the retail ware-
rooms throughout the country
found that August showed a con-
siderable increase in sales over
any month this year, and from
CARLETON CHACE
reports which we have received
September promises to equal if not surpass Septem-
ber of last year. The upturn in business really start-
ed at the Convention and the piano men who were
exhibiting there came away with considerably more
optimism than they did when they went. Since that
time, the orders which were received in addition to
those which were taken at the Convention have kept
most factories humming along on a full-time basis,
10
URING the last month, we had brought to our
attention a couple of new ideas, the purpose of
which is to teach the younger generation not
only music but also all that can be taught regarding
the various instruments which compose an orchestra.
One of these helps is called "The First Book of Music"
written by Gertrude Norman, and profusely illus-
trated by Richard Gackenbach. This book in very
simple English is a history of musical instruments
from the earliest instrument right up to the present
day instruments and gives a graphic illustration of
"How music is used today." It also includes thumb-
nail sketches of the great composers and some of the
music. It describes the main facts of music in all its
phases and then takes up individually the various in-
struments which compose an orchestra, including the
strings, the woodwinds, the brass and the percussion
instruments and also it dwells considerably on the
piano, the harp and the organ. Another aid to the
educating of the younger generation to the functions
of musical instruments has been introduced by Simon
& Schuster. This includes a box of 8 records, called
"A Child's Introduction to the Orchestra." Each
record is devoted to the playing and the explanation
of a particular instrument. They are especially de-
signed to help children understand and appreciate
the components of a symphony orchestra. The series
tells its musical story in 17 songs, 15 orchestral ar-
rangements and a miniature symphony. We believe
that both of these could be used to good advantage
in many ways by those who sell pianos and musical
instruments.
EDITOR.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, SEPTEMBER, 1954