MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1927
TEACHERS AND
DEALERS COOPERATE
New Conditions in the World of Music Have
Made the Cause of Piano Dealers That
of the Piano Teachers
as Well.
PURPOSES ARE SIMILAR
More Sales of Pianos by the Retailers Would Be
Accompanied by an Enlarged Local Field
of Piano Study.
In a day when the commission fiend shared music
trade odium with the stencil piano, the music teacher
was viewed in a different manner by different dealers.
Some were filled with the ethical fear that all teach-
ers dreamed of commissions on piano sales, while
others expressed a belief that the commission fiends
were not as black as painted by piano trade uplifters
and editorial purifiers on the music trade press. Al-
though some of the old feeling of antagonism towards
the teachers persists in the piano trade, the greater
number of piano dealers welcome cooperation with
the teachers in bringing about sales.
A change in conditions in the piano trade has
brought about a more friendly feeling towards the
teachers by the dealers. And the friendliness has
been considerably extended and increased by the
example of the musical merchandise dealers' action
towards the teaching profession. Among the dealers
in band and orchestra instruments there never has
been an antagonistic attitude toward the teachers
similar to that which evoked righteous wrath in the
piano trade. The musical merchandise dealers always
saw the value of cooperation with the teachers and
they have proved it of great mutual advantage.
The Advantages Plain.
The advantages of closer cooperation between the
dealers and the teachers are obvious in this new day
of piano promotion. No matter how natural the old
objection to the commission fiend semed, the teach-
ers and dealers today plainly are closely associated in
an effort to revive interest in the piano. And there
is no denying the fact that cooperation between those
who sell the pianos and those who teach the children
to play them is an advantage.
Many of the most observant dealers have recog-
nized that advantage in various ways, such as posting
a list of teachers or. the cards of individual ones in a
prominent way in the stores. The adoption of the
free piano instruction by dealers has caused the tie-up
with teachers in many places. That the sensible
teachers do not resent the free lessons in piano
houses is a sign of a correct understanding of the
situation by them. In fact the teachers generally
applaud the free courses in the fundamentals of piano
playing, knowing that they must ultimately benefit by
the desire of pupils to continue the instruction under
qualified teachers.
Teachers Are Satisfied.
The teachers who undertook the mass lesson
courses for the dealers in many places for a nominal
sum per head have been satisfied with the results.
Quite a large percentage of the free pupils continued
to take instruction at regular rates at the conclusion
of the dealers' free courses. The results were so
satisfactory to the teachers giving the free courses
that many teachers opposing the scheme at first were
quick to change their attitude and seek the privilege
of carrying on the work of a new course.
The teachers, too, have become active in encourag-
ing children to register for the free lessons in the
stores. It is effective propaganda for them. Teach-
ing the fundamentals is not profitable to the teachers
and anyway people in moderate circumstances are
loth to spend real money for the start in piano study.
But when the free lesson pupil develops a talent for
playing and shows a taste and aptitude for the study,
the ambition of parents usually is to have the gifted
ones continue the lessons under a paid teacher.
The Three-Fold Advantage.
The advantages are for dealer, pupil and teacher in
the free courses. They increase the opportunities of
$2 The Year
the dealer for piano sales; they cause publicity for
the teacher that eventually results in larger classes
of paying pupils and the benefits to the little pupils
are marked and pleasant. Studying with a class of
twenty or more kids in a way is a species of spirited
game that evokes the interest of the pupils in a man-
ner the lesson taken alone could never accomplish.
Why that psychological fact has never been taken into
consideration by the piano dealers is now surprising.
INDIANAPOLIS ITEMS
TELL OF GOOD TRADE
STEINWAY FRANCHISE
FOR LEVIS MUSIC STORE
The Christena-Teague Piano Company has placed
the second Style "E" Chickering & Sons' grand piano
in the new Masonic Temple at Muncie, Ind. The
instrument will be used in the auditorium. Mr. Chris-
tena reports a good demand for high grade instru-
ments and it appears that the spring season will see
a good record of sales of high grade pianos.
C. W. Freed, formerly with the Boyer Music Com-
pany of South Bend, Ind., has joined the sales force
of the Christena-Teague Piano Company.
Conditions in the trade are improving, says Mr.
Rapp, of the Rapp & Lennox Piano Company. The
public seems in a better frame of mind and prospects
are now dropping in the store looking for instruments.
The high grade instruments are more in demand than
heretofore.
This week the Knabe Concert Grand will be used
at Keith's Theater by Juan Reyes, Ampico artist, and
his wife, Merta Reyes, violinist.
The Pearson Piano Co. is featuring the "Duo Art"
in the Steinway, and other instruments, at the vari-
ous meetings of Parent Teachers' Associations in the
public schools over the city. The concert is fiee and
given only on request of the association and, in addi-
tion, the Pearson Company furnish an artist for the
occasion. Harry Wert, who originated the idea, says
that on every occasion the affair was well attended
and has proven a real advertising stunt.
Charles Burtzloff, recently appointed manager of
the Kohler & Campbell Industries, Chicago headquar-
ters, spent the day at Pearson's Music House last
week.
At the DePau University School of Music the Bald-
win Concert Grand was used by Harold Henry in a
well attended concert.
Purchase by Rochester, N. Y., Firm of Old
Martin & Bro. Business, Followed by
Coveted Steinway Appointment.
The Levis Music Store, 39 South avenue, Roches-
ter, N. Y., of which William H. Levis is manager, has
purchased the business of J. W. Martin & Bro., 73
State street, and has the appointment as Steinway
representative.
The Steinway agency has been held by J. W.
Martin & Bro. for the greater part of the time since
the business was established in 1861, by J. W. Martin.
The house is the oldest in Rochester. G. Clay Cox
was appointed manager in 1903 and continued in that
capacity up to the time of the sale of the business to
the Levis Music Store.
The Levis Music Store was established in 1903 by
Samuel W. Levis in the old Durand Block, on West
Main street. Seeking larger quarters he moved, in
1905, to 38 South avenue and again in 1907 to the
present location at 39-41 South avenue. When Sam-
uel Levis died, in 1912, his son, William H. Levis,
and his daughter, Miss Ruth I. Levis, undertook the
management of the business.
The progress of the house has been continuous.
In 1924 the Balcom Music Co., which carried the
Aeolian agency, was purchased and the business con-
solidated with the two Levis stores.
STORES CLOSED IN CLEVELAND.
The McMillin Music Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, lias
discontinued business and been placed in receiver's
hands. It was closed by a court order owing to a
number of judgments being rendered against it. Mc-
Millin's is one of the oldest music stores in Cleve-
land and was formerly one of the largest, doing both
a retail and wholesale business. Of late years it has
been principally a wholesale house, as the Euclid
Music Co. purchased the retail end some years ago.
Jerry Frieberger has closed his store at East 55th
street and Broadway and has opened an office in the
downtown section.
CLEVELAND DEALER DIES.
John C. Heuter, music dealer, of St. Clair avenue
near East 55th street, died suddenly of heart disease
February 14, while in the act of opening his store. He
had just unlocked the rear door when seized with a
heart attack and he was found by one of his clerks
dead a short time later. The business was founded
over fifty years ago, by Mr. Heuter's father, and he
took it over when 22 years of age and has run it
successfully ever since. He was 52 years of age at
the time of his death.
A CHANGE IN BALTIMORE.
E. Milton Wells, who for a number of years had
been associated with the Kranz-Smith Piano Com-
pany, in Baltimore, has severed his connections and
become associated with the Chickering Warerooms.
conducted by Hamilton & Co. at 309 North Charles
street. Mr. Wells is also organist at the Cathedral of
the Incarnation. His many years of association with
the piano business has made him a well-known figure
in the piano and musical instrument business.
INDICATION OF LARGE TRADE.
Check payments during the first week of February,
indicative of the general volume of trade, were larger
than in either the preceding week or the correspond-
ing week of 1926, according to the summary of
domestic business conditions issued by the Depart-
ment of Commerce on February 11.
Retail Houses in the Indiana Capital City Are
Meeting Increasing Demand for
High Grade Pianos.
WONDERFUL SPREAD OF
PIANO STUDY IN TENNESSEE
Fact Announced by President at Annual Election of
Clark-Jones-Sheeley Piano Co.
Frank Clark, Sr., has been re-elected president of
the Clark-Jones-Sheeley Piano Co., Knoxville, Tenn.
In appreciation of his services for more than 42 years,
the directors also presented Mr. Clark with a Chrys-
ler sedan. Other officers carried over for another
term were: Lynn Sheeley, vice-president and general
manager and Dan Orndorff, secretary. Following
directors were elected: Frank Clark, Sr.. Lynn Shee-
ley. Dan Orndorff, Frank Clark, Jr., Harold Clark,
C. M. McAlister and W. S. Myers. The business
meeting at 422 Gay street, was largely given over
to plans for the next year's work.
President Clark told members that hundreds of
East Tennessee girls are learning to play the piano,
where a few years ago there were one or two. He
characterized the spread of musical taste as "truly
wonderful."
Attending the meeting from out of town were:
C. M. McClister of Bristol, C. R. Jones of Morris-
town, and C. B. Whaley of Chattanooga. Each of
these are managers of stores in their respective cities.
DEPARTMENT STORE DISPLAY.
The Fair, one of Chicago's largest department
stores, arranged a special window display this week
in which are shown two piano models, indicative of the
present trend of piano buying—the small upright
and the small apartment size grand. Both arc rep-
resentative styles of the Wurlitzer line, which is
shown in the Fair piano department on the eighth
floor. The volume of business done by the piano
department there has established its permanency in
the big store.
"Conn's Is the World's Best Saxophone" is a fea-
tured advertisement of the Consolidated Music Co.,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
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