Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
June 25, 1927.
FITZGERALD MUSIC CO.'S
PIANO TROPHY CONTEST
In Third Annual Competitive Event Spon-
sored by Progressive Los Angeles House,
Fine Knabe Grand Piano is First Prize,
In the third annual Fitzgerald Piano Trophy Con-
test conducted by the Fitzgerald Music Company of
Los Angeles, James Taber Fitzgerald, president of
the company, awarded the $l,fOO Knabe grand piano
to Miss Colette Nance, talented pupil of Olga Steeb.
Each contestant played from memory one of four
compositions, "Concerto E Flat Major" by Liszt;
"Prelude and Fugue C Sharp Major" by Bach;
"Valse—Brillante," by Manna Zucca, and "Love Song
Op. 40," by Cadman.
The contest judges included some of the foremost
men and women in musical affairs, including Charles
Wakefield Cadman, Carrie Jacobs Bond, Mrs. SUSPII
Dorsey, Mrs. Rufus B. Von Kleinsmid, Mrs. William
I. Hollingsworth, Carl Bronson, John Smallman,
Bruno David Ussher, Gage Christopher, Frank Colby,
Hugo Kirchhofer, Edwin Shallert and Kenneth Mc-
Gaffey. The contestants were screened from the
judges by a curtain, each one being announced by
number.
Made Annual Event.
The Fitzgerald Piano Contest, which will be an
annual event until 1935, is another constructive means
of the progressive Fitzgerald Music Company to
stimulate a greater interest in music and to cultivate
a greater knowledge of it among the younger genera-
tion. The contest each year is announced in the daily
newspapers several months before the contesting date.
A letter and entry blanks are mailed to every teacher,
school and conservatory and each is invited to enter
one and not more than two contestants. No student
who has ever played for money is eligible.
The Los Angeles newspapers, realizing the con-
structive interest and news value of such a contest,
have devoted to it a great deal of editorial space. By
the time the contest is actually held, a tremendous
amount of interest «is aroused among the music teach-
ers, schools and the general public, and good will is
created that lasts for a considerable period.
The Fitzgerald Piano Trophy Contest not only
creates interest in music among the younger genera-
tion, but it also inspires lasting confidence in the Fitz-
gerald Music Company for its contribution to "The
Advancement of Music."
The rules governing the Fitzgerald Piano Trophy
DECKER
mJF
EST. 1856
& SON
Grand, Upright
and
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee >
Reproducing
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
New York
Contest which may be interesting to any dealer who
possibly may promote a similar aid to piano promo-
tion are in part as follows:
Not more than two contestants from an teacher,
school, academy or conservatory may be entered.
All contestants must sign the application blank
in their own hand-writing, and the application must
bear the endorsement of the teacher, school, acad-
NEW BOOK ON PIANO
PLAYING INSTRUMENTS
National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music Publishes Important Book on the
Processes of Promoting the Contests.
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music has just issued its latest publication in the in-
terests of piano promotion, a handsome and profusely
illustrated brochure of thirty-six large pages entitled
"Piano Playing Contests," prepared at the request of
the National Association of Music Merchants and at
its expense. The booklet is intended as a guide to
the many music merchants who have come to realize
the importance of these contests, or touraments, as
a means of stimulating interest in piano playing
among the children of their communities, and is part
of this organization's campaign to render direct help
to its members.
Before preparing the booklet C. M. Treiuaine, di-
rector of the Bureau, made a careful study of the
city-wide piano playing contests held to date. He
emphasizes the value of these contests from the edu-
cational and the commercial point of view, and shows
why the plan is entitled to the respect and co-opera-
tion of the school authorities and the musical pro-
fession. There is a general chapter reviewing briefly
the experiences of the cities which have already held
the contests, outlining the two or three major plans
of contest now in operation, and discussing some of
the principal factors to be considered wherever the
idea is adopted. Following this chapter there is a
detailed account of Detroit's piano playing contest by
JAMES TABOIl FITZOKRA LI )
Frank Bayley, who initiated and supervised that city's
cmy or conservatory from which the student comes. pioneer effort.
"The stories of piano playing contests in Chicago,
No contestant is eligible who has received a fee
Detroit, Columbus, Ohio, Rochester, N. Y., and San
for their services or who has given a personal recital
Francisco are told.
for which tickets have been sold.
A prominent place both in the general covering
All selections must be played from memory.
No winning contestant will be eligible for entering chapter and later in the book is given to the Wis-
consin Piano Playing Contest Plan, originated by W.
a contest any succeeding year.
Contestants will not be required to pay an entrance Otto Miessner and now making rapid headway in all
parts of the country. This plan differs in many im-
fee of any kind.
All contestants entered will be notified by mail as portant ways from that carried out in Detroit and
elsewhere, notably in the inclusion of a series of les-
to when and where the contest will be held.
sons in piano playing as a means of reaching those
The name of the winner will be announced through
who have never studied the instrument and of bring-
the public press."
The judges will be screened from contestants and ing them into the contest and their parents into the
will call for them by number. The decision of the ranks of piano prospects. The plan does not con-
judges shall be final. Judges will determine at time template the aid of the schools but relies instead upon
of contest how much of each composition shall be radio broadcasting and dealer contacts in addition to
the powerful assistance of the co-operating news-
played.
In case two or more contestants receive the same paper.
The illustrations in the Bureau's book arc not
average percentage, the judges will arrange for an-
other hearing at such time and place as they may merely embellishments but are an important part of
designate for such contestants, to which the public its contents. They reproduce types of the best full
page publicity, emblems, badges, certificates, rings,
may be admitted by invitation.
The judges reserve the right to disqualify any con- etc., given the entries and winners in various cities,
testant, when in their opinion, such contestant may announcement of circulars and other helpful docu-
mentary material, such as judges' report forms and
have been entered through misrepresentation.
entry blanks. All this material has been selected
from the large mass gathered by the Bureau as being
NEW NO. CAROLINA ASSOCIATION.
most likely to be useful in future contests. Finally
The new North Carolina State Association, organ- there is a page of letters of indorsement from promi-
ized in Greensboro recently, is a revival of an old nent musicians, educators and citv officials.
organization of state dealers formed several years ago,
but which was allowed to discontinue operations. The
president was. Charles W. Parker of Charlotte, who
was one of the active ones in the organization of the
new body. The officers of the new association are:
C. S. Andrews, Charlotte, president: C. H. Stephen-
son, Raleigh, fist vice-president;W. R. Murray, Dur-
ham, second vice-president; W. S. Gardner, Gastonia,
secretary; H. A. Durham, Asheville, treasurer.
FINE WURLITZER DISPLAY.
An attractive display of Wurlitzer line of pianos,
grands and uprights is shown on the main floor of the
Fair, Chicago, this week. These instruments are dis-
played in the Fair's grand aisle of the ground floor,
known as the Aisle of Progress, where each week cer-
tain lines of standard goods are given this important
position. The Wurlitzer display this week is interest-
ing and attracts unusual attention.
JESSE FRENCH &SONS
"Make Homes Happy "
Becker Bros.
Manufacturers
The
HPPP
Marcellus and Kdouavrl Jules Plane
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
arc the only pianos in the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States. Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
ot
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Wareroomi,
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SONS
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£Xftrs.of 'Pianos/PIaijers &Grands
Write for Catalog-
Castle, Indiana.
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
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