Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1927 2115

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1927
$2 The Year
HOW TO CONDUCT THE PIANO PLAYING CONTEST
THE COMPLETE METHOD AND PROCEDURE
How to Interest the Children, the Parents and
the General Public in Plan for Promoting
the Basic Instrument of Music.
By FRANK j . BAYLEY.
[It is in response to widespread inquiry from the
piano merchants of the country and of a formal reso-
lution of request by the Board of Control of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants, that Frank J.
Bayley has written the following detailed explanation
of the plan, theory, and operation of his invention, the
Detroit Piano Playing Contest, which met with such
startling success last year.
Mr. Bayley's contention has been that the problem
of the apparent decline of public interest in the piano
must be attacked with powerful and dramatic meth-
ods, and must be aimed at the interest of the child,
utilizing the modern weapons of the newspaper, the
radio and the movies. The highest compliment to his
theory and work lies in the fact that it has apparently
sold itself to the whole trade in an incredibly short
space of time, through the efficiency of the trade
press. Nearly every large city and many small ones
in the country have availed themselves of his counsel
and are well along in plans for 1927 Piano Playing
Contest.
The following article, together with forms and
other information, will shortly be issued in hook form
by the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music, for the benefit of the members of the National
Music Merchants Association of America. — Ed.
Presto-Times.]
The Piano Playing Contest is a publicity method
for creating a widespread interest in the child playing
the piano, and depends for its success upon the com-
bination of the following three factors:
1. Newspaper.
2. Parochial and Public School systems.
3. The Music Merchant?.
The Newspaper
The newspaper is the all important factor for the
reason that with its wholehearted support only can
the message be gotten over to the public, and great
public interest and enthusiasm aroused and main-
tained. The exclusive news value of several thou-
sand children engaged in an educational competition
is of great value and prestige to any paper, especially
one of such culture and dignity that it reaches rich
and poor alike. It is a circulation and prestige
builder, as has been attested by the Detroit- Times,
the Rochester Journal-American and the Chicago
Herald-Examiner.
It has been recommended by the 27 Hearst papers
in the country, from the central office, as being the
finest thing of its kind yet tried. The paper is asked
to run a daily article for six or seven weeks before
the contest, and during the four weeks of actual con-
test. Entry blanks are printed in the paper for two
weeks previous to start of contest, coincident with
the distribution of blanks in the schools.
During this six or seven weeks of preliminary cam-
paign the object, plan, schedule of contests, and the
interviews with public men and musicians furnish
excellent copy, as when the contest starts do also
the lists of winners, photos and items of human in-
terest of children and events.
The experience is that the campaign is built up to
a keen city-wide interest, the children all commence
to practice up and more entries are received each day
which becomes an avalanche at last reaching, in the
case of Detroit, a total of 15,000 out of 300,000 pupils.
It was estimated that some 35,000 people in all at-
tended the first elementary elimination held in 177
schools at once, out of the total of 316. The man-
aging editor of a newspaper is quick to perceive his
interest in taking the credit of fostering such a move-
ment, for here is real news value and public interest.
The tremendous prestige value to a metropolitan
paper, in fostering a movement of such public value
and interest, may be appreciated from the recent
statement of the management of the Chicago Herald-
Examiner that this paper would spend, if necessary,
$50,000 to $100,000 out of its own funds.
The School Systems.
Educators today recognize that music is just as
important in a child's education as arithmetic and,
since the piano is the basic instrument, is the key
to a knowledge of music. Economists appreciate the
necessity of protecting the modern American home
from its many onslaughts, and no more potent factor
has been suggested than that of inducing the child
to play the piano, the genuine home instrument. It
is a well known fact that the child who plays the
piano has a cultural advantage -which produces a
greater love of home and is thus a great crime-
deterrent, an undoubted benefit to the child and to
the community.
The responsibility of our rising generation rests
with our school systems; therefore it is but natural
that they are deeply interested in a movement of such
obvious benefit to the child and the home, if not
to our very civilization. It is the experience of music
supervisors that the school orchestra has been a won-
derful incentive for the children to take up 'the study
of small instruments, and that the Piano Playing Con-
test serves the same purpose for the king of all
instruments.
Small Instruments, Too.
The parochial schools have taught all instruments
for years, but it is only a recent innovation that small
instruments have been introduced with great success
in the public schools, and no one disputes the fact
that the piano is most desirable of all. It is no new
thing to conduct band and small instrument contests
in the schools, but these have never aroused the great
enthusiasm among the children and the public interest
that the piano develops, as is proved by the immense
crowds of parents and children that turn out to hear
the piano competitions in the school auditoriums.
The Music Supervisor, as the editor, will quickly
perceive the benefit and will recommend cooperation
to the Superintendent and Board of Education, or to
the Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese. The
school authorities will be amazed at the great inherent
interest that exists in the child playing the piano,
an instrument that is complete in itself and, no mat-
ter what the stage of proficiency, no auditor can fail
to be impressed with its value to the child, the home
and the school. In fact, one will hear the remark
on every hand: "Why have we not done this be-
fore ?"
The schools are asked to distribute a circular with
enclosed entry blank to each child attending school
and to allow the use of the school auditoriums for
public competitions, mostly on Friday evenings for
a month.
The Music Merchants.
The schools will allow no firm, or matter savoring
of commercialism, in any way to enter their precincts;
therefore it is necessary that the W H O L E trade
backs the movement and that nothing in the way of
name advertising occurs. To sponsor a Piano Play-
ing Contest costs money, and it is but fair that those
who may profit somewhat in a financial way carry the
burden. The public is going to spend only just so much
money on music anyway, and the merchants will get
it all, whether spent in one form or another.
Music is recognized today as a necessity. The
phonograph, the player-piano, and now the radio,
have been most instrumental in developing the appre-
ciation for music in the homes of all, but these are
automatic. Education can only be secured by study,
hence the recent widespread movement to incorporate
this in the child's curriculum. Educators recogir'ze
the all-importance of the piano. If the men who
sell pianos will not back such a movement, then
who will? It thus is not only an opportunity to the
merchants, but their very duty.
Trade Associations.
If a local Association of Music Merchants does not
exist, it is necessary to form one in order to assume
the financial and executive responsibility. The execu-
tive factors thus become:
1. Manager.
2. Publicity Director.
3. Executive Committee.
4. Advisory Committee.
The manager should be selected with great care
since his tact, personality, energy and executive
ability are most important. The local paper's advice
in this connection may be very beneficial. The man-
ager starts to work at about the same time as news-
paper publicity begins. He opens an office, it may
be in a music store, at least it should be convenient
to the newspaper office and easy of access to the
public. He secures office equipment, telephones,
stenographer, etc. His first duty is to secure the co-
operation of all interested parties and organizations,
including civic, school, conservatories, music teachers,
musicians, women organizations, etc.
He must arrange with the school authorities for
the schedule of contest dates, conform the divisions
with those existing in the schools, following the same
grouping of schools for district contests. Since the
success of the contest will be measured to a great
extent by number of entries he must make all rules
and directions with simplicity and allow the pupil to
make its own selection of music. Some things may
seem unfair, but where so many pupils are involved
in a single school, and so many contests to be con-
ducted, simplicity is of the utmost importance. In
order to maintain public interest, the contest cannot
be allowed to drag and must work up to a climax
as soon as possible.
A Get-Together Meeting.
It is advisable to hold a meeting as soon as con-
venient of all the merchants, newspaper, school au-
thorities, conservatory heads, city officials, leading"
music teachers and representatives of parents-teacher
and women's clubs, for complete discussions of pur-
pose and plan. It cannot fail to develop great enthu-
siasm since the Child Piano Playing Contest is based
on sound public benefit. Likewise it is quite neces-
sary to appear before the monthly meeting of the
school principals and music teachers, and music sis-
ters, who will render all assistance in their power,
which is very valuable indeed.
The judges for the many contests must be secured
from teaching staffs of the conservatories, the private
music teachers of the city, and some from the school
music teachers and music sisters. A circular letter
and newspaper call will bring the manager in touch
with a sufficient number of music teachers. As soon
as the music teachers of the city are convinced of
the fairness, they are quick to sense their benefit and
their cooperation is invaluable.
Must Cooperate.
The manager must always work in close coopera-
tion with the newspaper, the school authorities and
the executive committee of the merchants. He must
be keen for publicity features. News develops every
day from every meeting, every consultation and every
letter, even telephone calls. Every letter and tele-
phone call must be answered with the utmost defer-
ence, though they will be innumerable for the pupils,
parents and teachers become very interested and ask
questions that have been printed a dozen times in
the paper; they must be assured of its eminent fair-
ness and lack of any "catch."
The printing must be taken care of early. As the
entries come in by mail each day, they are listed as
to school and division. The judge must be selected
for each contest well in advance, and assurance of
presence be satisfied. A large school map is indis-
pensable, for reference in the office.
Conducting the Contest.
Each judge must be instructed as to how the con-
test is to be conducted. The contest must be held
with the utmost dignity; in the smaller ones the
children are all seated on the stage with the judge
(and assistant, where possible) at a table. An ex-
planation as to purpose of contest is made by judge,
or school principal, the child is introduced, who an-
nounces its piece. On retiring the judge pins the
contest button on the breast.
The judge has the judges' sheet of instructions for
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/
PRESTO-TIMES
markings, which has been prepared in consultation cash; 2nd prize, $300; third prize, $200; grand cham-
with leading members of Advisory committee. It pion, $1,000.
is advisable to have a report sheet for pupil, with
Many other prizes are offered, such as conservatory
notations of standing with suggestions or compliments. scholarships. The Welte-Mignon paid the expenses
Later in the series two and three judges may be of Detroit champion with champion player's mother,
assigned, and for the grand final artists of note can accorded a trip to New York for three days, to record
easily be secured; also at these ushers may be provided reproducing records, with royalty attached. A Chi-
and prominent personages secured to act as masters cago vaudeville house has offered an engagement of
of ceremony. Printed programs and special grand several weeks at $200 a week for the Chicago
piano are in order. It will be found that many school champion.
pianos are out of tune; these cases must be
A wonderful opportunity for publicity lies in hav-
looked to.
ing all the winners of rings assemble at same time
The judge makes no decision, but rushes her report for measuring; also in large public presentation of
sheet to headquarters office for printing in paper of
prizes. Both are excellent picture, radio and movie
next day. Extra judges must be at hand on contest subjects.
nights with machines provided by merchants. It has
Slogans.
been found advantageous to have all the merchants
In
all
movements
it
is desirable to have a slogan.
and salesmen meet at headquarters on contest nights
in order to visit each school contest to iron out The Detroit slogan was:
"TEACH YOUR CHILD T H E PIANO" (the
difficulties.
basic instrument).
Publicity.
The Chicago slogan is:
The manager has many opportunities to secure co-
"EVERY
CHILD SHOULD PLAY T H E
operative advertising. While the other large daily PIANO."
papers may not in some cases print a word, the
Grand Final.
smaller papers, school papers and local magazines
The
grand
final
is
the staging of the champion of
will be glad to. Many organizations will welcome an
each division, in both public and parochial systems,
address, or announcement.
Every merchant will be glad to insert the line: to determine a grand champion of the city. It may
"Enter Your Child in the Piano Playing Contest" in seem unfair to make the elementary compete with
all his advertising, as well as display a large card the high school, but otherwise a championship would
not be determined. However, who can foresee a
in his window. Every music and record counter of
prodigy? This event should be staged in the largest
the merchants should be provided with circulars and
gathering-place, broadcasted by radio, participated in
entry-blanks, as well also as every conservatory and
musician. Every merchant and the newspaper will by notable citizens, and judged by well-known artists.
This is the climax, and should be staged as such,
place a banner on the sides of each delivery car.
In Detroit cards were placed on every street car leaving an indellible impression on the children and
and bus of the city at a half-rate charge. Every public. There should be a breathing, or practicing,
local condition is different, and thus much depends time between the intensive contest and this event. It
upon the initiative of the manager. The radio and is thought well to make the final coincident with a
movies are always anxious to cooperate in move- music convention. The movies must not be forgot-
ments of wide interest. The manager has a won- ten here. The program can be embellished with •ihe
derful opportunity in staging the grant! final, amid introduction of the finest local orchestra and artists.
Printed matter should include stationery, circular,
the utmost dignified glamour, to attract the widest
entry blank, instruction sheet for judges, judges' re-
possible interest and attention.
The publicity man is naturally the newspaper rep- port, pupils' report (optional), window cards, pro-
resentative. He must keep in close contact with the grams, letters, etc.
Cost to the Merchants.
manager and write a daily article of human interest.
He interviews prominent people and, as contest ad-
This has a wide latitude, governed by local condi-
vances, utilizes the assistance of the newspaper staff tions and desire. Detroit spent $6,500 the first year,
photographer 'to good advantage.
and is prepared to spend $10,000 this year. Chicago
has raised $15,000, and probably will spend $25,000.
Advisory and Executive Committees
These committees are a list of sponsoring citizens, The manager will cost $50 to $75 a week, perhaps
more. It would possibly be less for a small town.
headed by governor or mayor, including the fore- He works six to eight weeks.
most people interested in the promotion of such a
The office should cost nothing, equipment loaned
movement.
by
merchants. A stenographer is required, and in
The executive committee of merchants and rep-
resentative of the newspaper should meet at a lunch- the case of a big city more toward the last. The
eon two noons each week, to receive report of, and printing bill for a city of a million will run $1,000.
There are incidental office bills, such as telephones,
j^ive instructions to the manager. This committee postage, mimeographs, etc., that may run to $500,
raises the money and passes on the budget, and the more or less. Buttons can be figured at 4 ^ cents
treasurer pays all bills. Other factors which it is each, silver rings $1.65 each, gold at $5 and diamonds
advisable to include for cooperation are:
at $25 each. A grand piano will run $800. The
1. Mayor and Council.
grand final may cost $1,000, or even more, still again,
2. Conservatories and Music Teachers.
next to nothing. Advertising and unforeseen oppor-
3. Parent-Teachers Organizations.
tunities may be another $1,000.
4. Women's Clubs.
Results.
5. The Churches.
6. Prominent Citizens and Musicians.
The newspaper claims the Child Piano Playing
The mayor and council will always be found quite Contest to be a wonderful circulation and prestige
willing to aid and cooperate in any public movement builder.
for the good of all, especially where children are
The school systems recommend it as a great in-
involved.
centive to interest the child in music.
The conservatories will furnish many entries and
The merchants acclaim it as a wonderful boon to
it is from these that most of the judges will be the piano business.
Music teachers herald it as a new stimulus tr,
secured.
No public movement of this nature can be a suc- interest the child to practice, and that it arouse:- a
cess without the moral support of the women's clubs, desire in many others to learn the piano.
Parents are brought to a deeper realization of the
churches and prominent citizens.
value of the piano as a part of the child's education.
Prizes.
The public appreciates it as a constructive move-
We are dealing with children, and a number that
runs into many hundreds, if not thousands, so we ment for the benefit of the child, the home and
must select appropriate prizes and have as many as society.
possible. A child is susceptible to a mark of dis-
HONORS FOR OLD EMPLOYES.
tinction and honor, therefore it has been thought that
a button, a badge or ring, is most appropriate for a
Four new men have been added to the directorate
of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco. The object
large number.
Music men would be prone to give musical instru- was to honor men who had been with the company
ments, but how inappropriate it would seem to bestow a long time. The four men are Ed. P. Little, man-
a silver-plated cornet upon a little girl who has won ager sheet music department; Richard C. A. Ahlf,
honors on the piano. However, w^hat is more logical head of the piano department; George W. Bates,
than to reward and encourage the girl or boy achiev- controller, and R. E. Robinson, general manager of
ing the distinction of being judged the champion branches. All have been with the house ever twenty
piano player of a great city, with his choice of the
finest example of the piano-maker's art? Local con-
ditions and taste will govern this matter. The Detroit
HENRY GEARMAN'S NEW WORK.
list was as follows:
Henry Gearman, who recently joined the Kohler
Every entrant, bronze button; school winner, silver
& Campbell forces at the Chicago offices, is back
ring, seal of grand piano; district winner, gold ring; from New York, where he went to confer with the
division winner, diamond ring.
home offices before getting out into his Chicago
Chicago's Prize List.
territory. Mr. Gearman is an expert in the player
The Chicago plan embraces the following list of
and reproducing line of selling and demonstrating,
and his past experience with high grade goods will
prizes:
P.ronze button, seal of grand piano to all; rmg^to be a valuable asset to him in his new position.
school and semi-final winners; division winner, $500
February 12, 1927.
ADAM SCHNEIDER ENDS
LONG CAREER WITH BAUER
At Last Monday's Meeting of Piano Club the
Popular Member of Chicago Trade
Announces His Retirement.
At the weekly noon-day meeting of the Chicago
Piano Club Secretary Roger O'Connor gave a report
of the club dinner at Chez Pierre last week, with
the interesting announcement that a profit of some
$66 on the dinner goes to the credit of the club.
There were over one hundred and thirty present,
resulting in the substantial, and rather unexpected,
ADAM SCIiNKIDIOK.
balance turned over to the treasury. Mr. O'Connor,
to whom most of ihe detail of the dinner was left,
was given a vote of thanks.
After this cheerful episode of the hour came the
formal announcement by Adam Schneider of his res-
ignation as secretary of Julius Bauer & Co. Mr.
Schneider dwelt upon his long connection with Jul : us
Bauer & Co., saying that his life, since a young
man. had been in the service of that house and that
this year is his fifty-third anniversary in the music
business in Chicago, and all in connection with Bauer
piano.;. Mr. Schneider spoke with e.notion and his
remarks were received with the attention and sym-
pathy of every listener. He said thai his headquar-
ters would remain at the Julias Bauer store for some
time yet, as it is his intention to be of any assistance
to the house that may be required of him.
Following the announcement Gordon Laughead,
president of the club, paid a glowing tribute to Mr.
Schneider. He told of his many fine traits of char-
acter as a man, and friend of the club: that Adam is
the friend of every member and that certainly every
member loves Ir'ni. He said that ihe entire music
trade of Chicago owes as much to Mr. Schneider as
any set or class of men in any line of trade or
profession can owe to another and as for the Piano
Club of Chicago it would not now be in existence
but for Mr. Schneider.
The speaker referred to the tribute given to Mr.
Schneider three years ago, on the occasion of his
fiftieth anniversary in the music business, and in-
dicated that some recognition at this time of his
fifty-third anniversary should be made.
The c'ub's entertainment of the day was by Axel
Christensen, the W H T radio artist and head of the
chain of Axel Christensen Schools of Piano Play'ng
and Leader of Leaders in Syncopation and Jazz.
Mr. Axel luid arranged for talent to assist him but
one of these was detained by illness and the other
marooned in a near-by city. So •ibis fell to the chief,
himself, to till the entire bill. This he did to the
amusement of h : s listeners and the glory of his
versatility as an entertainer. Next Monday will be
a Lincoln Birthday luncheon, when a large attend-
ance is expected and desired.
CHANGE IN SIOUX FALLS.
Mrs. P. L. Hanson, wife of I'. L. Hanson who is
the well-known traveler for The Hobart M. Cable
Co. of La Porte, lnd., has bought the music depart-
ment of the Snnver-Johnson's Store at Sioux Falls,
S. D. Mrs. Hanson gained experience in the music
business when Mr. Hanson was manager of The
Hobart M. Cable store at South Bend, Tnd.. several
years ago Air. Hansen will continue to travel for
The Hobart M. Cable Co. The Hobart M. Cable
and Packard pianos and The Columbia Phonograph
w : ll be featured in the new s'.ore in Sioux Falls.
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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