Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2051

PRESTO
Presto
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
. Editors
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
merclal Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable In advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico, Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1925.
HOLIDAY MUSIC ROLLS
year. The number of playerpiano owners in
any community is now so large that the holi-
day music roll customers are easy to be found.
And in most cases the dealers know just where
to address their special holiday music roll lists
and literature.
If you haven't already started it, get busy
right away and do a lot of player roll selling
before the year closes.
A TRADE INFLUENCE
November 14, 1925.
Not a bad thing for education of youth to think about
then, this music question.
How many of you knew all that before?
Honest, now, even if you have grown oppulent
in the sale of musical things, from mouth-
harps to grand pianos, have you realized that
you have been a fellow laborer with the white
aproned brother w h o s e profession was
knocked out in 1919? In other words, did you
know that what Volstead did to Mr. Booze
might as well have been applied to you?
This matter of the emotions, and the re-
sulting psychic complex, is becoming mixed
with the more commonplace researches of
life. It is invading the music stores because
it is taking hold of the writers who think they
know something about music and its myste-
rious influences. But, in reality, music does
not exercise the urg'e in some directions that
is charged to it.
But if it is true that musical instruments
are liable to take the place of Old Crow and
the good old Gordon, it is time we added
another pedal to the piano, and devised a
special mute for the blatant cornet.
It is the enthusiasm of conviction that makes
Mr. T. M. Pletcher one of the most impressive
speakers at the music trade meetings—or,
probably, anywhere else. Mr. Pletcher is a
dynamic force in the trade. He puts all of
himself into whatever he may undertake. And
in that he creates interest quickly and accom-
plishes his purpose directly.
When the Q R S Music Co. came into being
the player roll industry arrived. It had been
limping along in rather uncertain fashion, but
it soon rose to importance. The Q R S gave
a new impetus to the playerpiano and fixed the
music roll as a worthwhile part of the music
Repeatedly fine old piano industries are
store.
falling into the arms of the younger ones.
When radio began to find its place, and the The Hallet & Davis Piano Co. is the latest.
music trade took notice of it, Mr. Pletcher's It was established in 1835 and at the age of
personality was felt also there. He put his ninety passes to the control of the Premier
energies behind a radio set which is today as Grand, which had birth only a few years ago.
widely known, and perhaps more generally
sold, than almost any other. And when the
Red Top radio tube appeared it flashed upon
the trade as a discovery. At last week's con-
vention of the new Michigan trade association
From the Files of Presto
not only the Red Top tube but radio itself, in
its relation to the music store, received the
(November 14, 1895.)
best boost within the memory of the music
The Aeolian Organ and Music Company has, as
mentioned some time ago, changed its name to the
dealers.
Aeolian Company, and a certificate to that effect has
Mr. Pletcher took occasion to draw con- just been filed at the Connecticut state secretary's
trasts between the average piano possibilities office.
In the Cincinnati newspapers of Monday last there
and the profits in radio as applied to the music was but a single piano house represented—that of D.
H. Baldwin & Co. What a contrast is presented in
store. And his conclusions must have im- this
respect by the Chicago press, in which the an-
pressed the piano men present with the advan- nouncements of a dozen music dealers may be found
day in the week.
tages of a department devoted to the newest every
Presto has been charged with being "too previous"
miracle. He is, perhaps, the first to make a in its advocacy of advanced ideas in piano construc-
We have seemed to detect the coming events
logical appeal to the music trade in favor of tion.
by shadows too dim for the vision of our contempo-
radio as a part of the music business. And Mr. raries. But already we hear of papier mache piano
and also of aluminum cases, both of which we
Pletcher has done it in a way that in no de- cases
have foretold. A Chicago inventor has just applied
gree detracts from the established importance for an aluminum piano case, of which it is said a
of experts have spoken highly.
of the music roll as an item of profit to the number
A Philadelphia music-box dealer has a sign in his
merchant who looks to the interpretative side window which must act as an invitation to customers
to stay out. Surrounding a picture of a cheap auto-
of the art for sources of his progress.
matic organ, big red letters read after the following
There cannot be too many "Tom" Pletchers style:
"Leave your pipe outside.
in the music trade—any phase of it—and if
"No, the proprietor is not in.
"We feed beggars to the cats.
the associations want speakers of constructive
"We do not sell on long time or for short cash.
force and influence, we suggest that the presi-
"There is a bull-dog in the basement.
"We keep him to play with advertising fiends."
dent of the Q R S Music Co. be placed well at
This is supposed to be witty, but it comes nearer
the head of the list.
to advertising the merchant displaying it as a crank
An item in last week's Presto was good
enough to enlarge upon. It advised music
dealers to make a specialty of music rolls for
the holiday trade. A better suggestion could
hardly be made at this time. For very few of
the items in all music stores so perfectly lend
themselves to the spirit of the gift-giving
season.
Of all things in the month of merry making
and bell-ringing—in the poetic sense—music
comes first. Only the sacrificial contribution
of the turkey exceeds music in importance to
the happy home circle. Most of the minor gifts
of the Christmas week are of only passing
value. They disappear soon after the candles
burn out, and are forgotten. But the means
for making music are lasting and in many
cases the playerpianos which have been silent
are given new voice.
In the selection of presents for the holidays
the eye usually makes the first appeal. It is
the prettily decorated box that wins attention.
And if the colored box contains the thing that
makes music, and adds variety and change to
pleasing sounds, the sale to the Christmas
shopper is almost certain.
It is probable that handsomely decorated
boxes are already procurable for purposes of
INTOXICATING
holiday music roll sales. Probably labels bear-
It is well for the men who make a living
ing the customary lines upon which the giver by selling musical instruments to know all
may write the name of the friend for whom about the influences and effects of their stock
the gift is intended, as well as that of the in trade. And it is probably that not many of
sender, may be had. If not, the music dealers them know by scientific research that it is not
should prepare them. We have not looked the only jazz that is intoxicating, but even more
matter up, but the enterprise of the music roll the instruments that do the jazzing. This,
makers is as great as that of other industries, we learn, at this late day, from a small town
and most lines make special provision for the newspaper in Indiana. And the following,
holiday trade. So that the music dealer from the Winamac Republican, is it:
should be ready \\;ith the right kind of music
A government expert finds that twice as many musical
are now made and sold each year as were
roll attraction. Even the kind of music may instruments
sold before the war. He assigns that cause to the call
for
nerve-tonic
following the tenseness of the war and
easily suggest itself, though all popular or
the spread of prohibition. He says jazz music can pro-
standard selections are good for the purpose.
duce the same stimulation of emotion and mix-up of
nerve control that results from whisky. On the other
It will pay any music store, large or small, hand good music, according to this authority produces
the same stimulation to creative work, brave deeds or
to feature the music roll at this season of the soothing
of the individual, as does the best of old wine.
30 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
or an idiot. And as a result the store is as dull as
an undertaker's shop.
20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(From, Presto, November 16, 1905.)
Paul J. Healy, of Lyon & Healy, returned to his
desk in Chicago Monday morning from a week's rec-
reation at French Lick Springs, Ind.
A Kentucky man who says that it is almost impos-
sible for an amateur to tune up a violin or guitar,
even with the aid of a piano, claims to have invented
a tuning apparatus which can be used by any one.
B. F. Nysewander, Indianapolis, head of the Weiler
Piano Co., Chicago and Indianapolis, is in Chicago
very frequently these times looking after the manu-
facture of the Weiler piano in Chicago.
J. B. Walker, of New York, has invented an auto-
matic piano player. The following claim is made:
"The invention relates to musical instruments and
to appliances for actuating the same and admits of
general use, but is of peculiar value in instances
where the playing is partially automatic and partially
under manual control of the operator."
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
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November 14, 1925.
FOR MUSIC IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Great Duty Devolves on Music Dealer in
Every State to Bring About Realization of
Opportunity to Make Music Study
Popular and Democratic.
THE PIANO'S PART
The Favorite Instrument, irom Its Comprehensive
Usefulness, to More Than Ever Benefit by
Spread of Music.
By WILLIAM L. BUSH.
There is a growing interest and a gradual awaken-
ing- among the thinking, progressive men of the piano
trade, both manufacturers and retailers of pianos, re-
garding the present opportunity of greatly increas-
ing the market and normal demand for pianos. This
is by establishing a fundamental basis of education in
piano music and piano playing, through the creation
and maintenance of a regular department in the pub-
lic schools, throughout the entire United States. In
every city, town, village, or rural district, the aim is
for regular courses of piano class lessons to be given
by capable and musically qualified and graduated
teachers, fitted and prepared for the work by actual
study and mastery of a complete, officially approved
and established system of teaching, including text-
books, charts and equipment installed in class rooms
especially adapted to this educational work of prac-
tical "Musical Advancement" that will soon be na-
tional in character, and unselfish, democratic, and
practical in manner of application.
The idea is to create in the children of America
and in the growing and developing generation a love
and appreciation of piano music, the piano affording
the highest instrumental and individual form of musi-
cal expression, contained in any one instrument. The
piano, with equal facility and effect, lends itself and
its great breadth of tone, scale, comprehensiveness,
and scope, to either solo work or to ensemble work
or concerto, also as an accompaniment to voice or
chorus as well as to any solo instrument or combina-
tion of instruments. The piano is really the basic and
leading musical instrument of this present musical
epoch.
Cites His Experience.
My familiarity with educational work in music,
through my close affiliation and association with
Bush Conservatory in Chicago, and the Bush Temple
School of Music in Dallas, Texas, where every
branch of musical education is represented and
taught, has given me special opportunity to judge
of the advantage of teaching young children of the
fifth, sixth and seventh public school grades, in group
PRESTO
or class formation, under advanced perfected sys-
tems. The preference would be for those adapted to
class work, such as the Fletcher-Kopp system, the
Dunning system, the Curtis system, the Premier sys-
tem, and the system which, through the efforts and
energy of W. Otto Miessner, has become the most
familiar and best known to the piano trade as the
"Melody Way" in use in many public schools, pri-
vate schools, conservatories and institutions in vari-
ous towns and cities, besides in many class rooms,
created and established by piano and musical mer-
chandise dealers. Representing as it does the most
practical, economical, effective, and productive form
of fundamental musical education by setting forth an
example and an undertaking well worthy of emulat-
ing and adopting as the great opportunity and prac-
tical means of creating a generation of piano players,
and prospective purchasers. If properly conducted
and advanced, the system will stimulate piano pro-
duction beyond the hopes or visions of our most en-
thusiastic and optimistic enthusiasts, regarding the
straight piano, and its logical companions for favor,
the registering playerpianos, and reproducing pianos,
of which true appreciation can best be realized by
those who know and study the piano and its possi-
bilities.
Interviews with Educators.
On my recent trip west, and preceding ones in
other directions, I have talked with many educators,
piano teachers, supervisors of public school music,
directors of conservatories, leaders of bands and or-
chestras, instructors of classes in both instrumental
and vocal work. I w T as seeking opinions, suggestions,
and actual experiences, regarding the real progress
and development of children working in classes,
where the stimulating effect of competitive strife and
endeavor is emphasized by ardent, enthusiastic work
of the individual. I sought information of study,
spurred on by the intelligent, sympathetic, appeal of
an instructor who glories in accomplishment and
work well and faithfully performed. One, too, who
strives to impress the parents of children, engaged
in such class work, with the moral benefits and social
advantages that accrue to the successful student of
music, and of the piano, especially, being the most
available medium of musical expression.
Talked with Children.
I have talked with children engaged in this work
and have heard expressions of childish delight and
enthusiasm, seldom found in a child working in soli-
tude over intricate tasks assigned from week to week
in the form of lessons on elementary rudimental
work that loses its burden of drudgery under the
stimulus of class association.
I could cite numerous outstanding examples of suc-
cessful work now being conducted in several cities
and towns I have visited, but it would require too
much space for details, but I specifically call your
attention to the outstanding examples of established
classes being conducted in some of the public schools
in Dallas, Tex.; Kansas City, Mo.; Topeka, Kans.;
Milwaukee, Wis.; Des Moines, Iowa; Mankato, Minn.,
and numerous other cities. In addition to which a
SALES OPPORTUNITY
Piano dealers or agents, whose sales volume is not what it should
be, and who are not afraid to undertake a sales effort in a different
line, will learn of an exceptional and an exclusive opportunity by
addressing P. C. Sherman, Wylie B. Jones Advertising Agency,
Binghamton, N. Y., who insert this advertisement in behalf of a
manufacturing client.
This is a splendid opportunity.
Sales plan is proven and the product has been successfully sold
for several years.
Wylie B. Jones Advertising Agency, Binghamton, N. Y.
JESSE FRENCH JUBILEE
EVOKES WARM LETTER
Celebration of Event by Montgomery, Ala.,
Branch of Jesse French & Sons Prompts
Mark P. Campbell to Write.
The Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co., of Alabama, recently ob-_
served in Montgomery and several other places in
the south showed the feeling which the company and
its pianos has engendered. In Montgomery, news-
papers, banks, several of the big industries and com-
mercial houses, including some of the music trade,
paid marked tribute to the business methods of the
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
Among others who sent flattering congratulations
on the Montgomery celebration was Mark P. Camp-
bell, president of the Brambach Piano Co., New
York, who in writing to Mr. Poston, the manager of
the Montgomery house of the Jesse French & Sons
Piano Co., said:
"To know Mr. Jesse French is indeed a privilege—
to know him well is an inspiration. The character of
that man can well be emulated by any young man
entering into the business world, and so I take great
pleasure in extending to you my heartiest congratula-
tions, and I am sure that this Golden Jubilee will
be extended on to the Diamond Jubilee—having ever
in mind the struggles, trials and tribulations of the
founder, and his never wavering from the principles
of justice, service and integrity, all of which has
built the name—a name that is recognized by any
house when the card of Jesse French & Sons Com-
pany is presented."
Commenting on the letter Mr. French said:
"I hope, should I live to celebrate the Diamond
Jubilee, that I can stand equally high in the estimate
of my co-workers in the piano trade. I certainly
appreciate it, and hope I may leave behind as a rich
legacy to my children, the good testimony of friends."
large number of dealers have equipped special rooms
with regular school or class room equipment and have
engaged graduate teachers in normal class work to
conduct these classes. All report surprising success
in securing capacity enrollment of enthusiastic, am-
bitious children, whose parents gladly welcome this
economical class tuition given by experienced gradu-
ates in class work, the cost being about ten percent
of the cost of private lessons under a capable teacher.
Importance of Idea.
This subject is important and should be of vital
interest to every piano manufacturer and every piano
dealer in the country, once its value and significance
and relation to piano output and sales is realized and
grasped by the members of our trade bodies and or-
ganizations. It is most encouraging to note the
special reference and attention paid to this very
important work at the last meeting of the executive
board of the Music Trade Industries Chamber of
Commerce. It was proposed to place this great edu-
cational campaign to stimulate the study of music
under a class instruction system in our public schools,
through the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. The members, upon investigation, will find
several efficient and practical systems already in use
and worthy of commendation and encouragement,
and it is hoped that the selection of such courses or
systems of instruction will be determined by the most
capable judges and most experienced teachers, super-
visors, and creators of these various systems.
Class Lessons Old.
The class lesson form of instruction for piano is no
novelty or innovation in musical progression, except
as emphasized by its neglect by boards of governors
of the public schools.
Various systems have been available and some have
been sparsely used for several years in the primary
grades, but now there is a definite movement, an
awakening of the wonderful possibility of such a
broad and proven course of instruction, and the trade,
our entire industry, should get in the band wagon.
And the trade should not only lead but support this
movement by liberal contribution for demonstrating
and proving its great beneficial efficiency as a devel-
oping educational force for moral social cultural
musical advancement, by leaps and bounds instead
of by plodding steps.
Twenty years ago in Bush Conservatory normal
classes in piano were conducted through the use of
charts, text-books, and silent keyboards and were suc-
cessfully maintained for a period of years. Each
year since that time improvements and advances have
been developed and created by intelligent work of
interested teachers and individuals until now there'
remains the great opportunity to create sentiment to
use every just and legitimate means to incorporate
this work as a regular and important study, to be in-
cluded in the regular fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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