MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1927
PROMOTING PIANO
PLAYING CONTESTS
Such Activities Not Necessarily Confined to
Cities of the Larger Kind, But May Be
Promoted Successfully in Smaller
Communities Anywhere.
Hew Ann Arbor Music Trades Association Is Pro-
ceeding May Suggest Similar Action in Other
Big Communities.
By H. G. PULFREY,
Manager University Music House.
The Junior Piano Playing Tournament has been
launched in Ann Arbor, Mich., promoted by the Ann
Arbor Music Trades' Association and sponsored by
the Times-News. Up to this week 135 have an-
nounced their intention to compete. The piano play-
ing championships are divided into two sub-tourna-
ments: First, the Piano Playing Tournament, and
second, the Piano Scale Playing Tournament.
Such an activity need not be confined to the large
cities. The smaller communities can have from 50
to 100 children in these piano playing contests. We
are proving this fact. The children from 100 families
are bound to spread a certain amount of propaganda
in any community, no matter how large or small
it may be. I wish that all piano dealers could know
how surprisingly simple it is to conduct a contest
of this kind. I find that a newspaper is just as anx-
ious to have their paper read in the home as music
merchants are to have pianos active in that same
home.
Object Well Supported
Our support from music teachers has been re-
markable. Why should it not be? It is a wonder-
ful business builder for them. Music merchants will
want to know if it sells pianos. I can answer them
that it does. A neighbor of mine whom I had been
trying to interest in a piano for the sake of his chil-
dren, was sold a new piano by a competitor of ours.
This was missionary work on my part most beneficial
to another dealer. This competitor, who was inter-
ested in the Piano Playing Tournament, later phoned
me saying that a certain school should be called
upon in the interest of the tournament. I followed
the suggestion and sold them the idea so strongly
that they decided they needed another piano for the
work—and I sold them one. That made it 50—50.
We promoted business for each other—just what
any Piano Playing Tournament will do for any group
of music merchants. If music merchants would de-
vote three months to selling music to their com-
munity, the other nine months will take care of
itself with instrument sales.
Is Business Builder
Any dealer or salesman is very much mistaken if
he figures that activities of this kind takes time from
his business. No, it is simply making his business
and in the easiest manner. It is the many contacts
that count. Please note the dignitaries of education
and music who are sponsoring our tournament: Dr.
Clarence Cook Little, president of the University of
Michigan; Earl V. Moore, director of the University
School of Music; Joseph H. Maddy, a man nation-
ally known as a promoter of music in the public
school systems throughout our country, as well as
a great many other locally prominent people.
And in connection with this tournament, is our
association with William Wade Hinshaw, formerly
leading American baritone of the Metropolitan Opera
Company of New York, and now actively engaged
as a music educator. Mr. Hinshaw acts as music
correspondent of the Times-News, and we have
from one to three columns each week on the advan-
tages of a piano in the home. We are stressing the
word "Piano" at all times, that we are promoting
the actual playing and studying of the piano, not
trying to educate people to the advantage of tuning
in on the radio, etc.
It is significant that among our sponsors is the
superintendent of the public schools, Otto W. Hais-
ley, who speaks enthusiastically about the piano con-
test and its advantages. The piano has not been
taught in our public school system, but will be from
now on, all because school authorities are sold on our
tournament work.
The Small Cost.
It may be interesting to dealers to know that our
actual cash disbursement to date has not been $65,
representing the cost of printing and entrant but-
tons. However, this does not include prizes for the
winners. Loving cups, medals, and numerous other
prizes are being donated by newspapers, clubs and
the different musical societies. Manufacturers should,
and I feel sure will, help in the matter of prizes.
It is really a simple matter to handle. I have
never approached a person, no matter how big or
little his position might be in our community, who
hasn't most heartily agreed and given us his en-
dorsement and help to make this a grand success.
No dealer should hesitate to start a movement of
this kind thinking they may have lack of support.
The public is waiting for it with wide open arms.
They want it!
Realizes Contest's Value.
After having attended the Detroit and the Chicago
piano playing contests, I sold myself on the value
of the Bayley plan of music propaganda and piano
publicity. This, of course, may be modified to fit
the needs of any particular community—just as we
have had to change the plans to suit the cultural
atmosphere of this community.
In connection with publicity: W T e are following
it up in homes with children and no piano and with
monthly copies of our little magazine—William
Wade Hinshaw's "Music in the Home." Analyse
the contents of this very interesting music magazine
and think of its value to the distributor. It costs
but \Yz cents per copy in lots of as small as 100.
It is the most for the money that I have ever seen
as a means of helping any music merchant to estab-
lish himself, as a really musical headquarters. This
magazine may be procured from the publishers un-
der the merchant's own distinctive title, if so desired.
The Music Specialist.
When a music house can establish itself in its own
community as a specialist on the subject of music
in the home, it will assume a position similar to that
of any other specialist. A fine slogan which I have
used in this connection is: "Consult us' for any-
thing musical." This one line has brought to our
store a great many people seeking information as 1o
the correct instrument for their needs. This is the
time that the piano is boosted, as no matter what
their ambitions may be—the study of voice or any
other instrument—the piano is, and should be, the
basic musical instrument from which fo develop or
specialize in any other line of musical endeavor.
Great Selling Point
If piano dealers and salesmen were aware of the
fact that all first-class music schools absolutely re-
quire the study of from one to two years on the
piano before any diploma or recognition is granted a
student, they would find it a clinching argument to
put the piano over first of all.
In closing, I would like to tell you of a little inci-
dent that occurred yesterday. The manager of one
of our large picture show houses told me that lie
had two of his children entered in the tournament
and would consider it his pleasure and privilege to
entertain all of the entrants at a special performance,
as his guests. His requirement was that each child
wear their entrant button in the tournament, as a
means of free admission. The newspapers are glad
to find a story of this kind, as it must be borne in
mind that all through this tournament publicity, it
is being featured by the newspaper itself, as of gen-
eral good to the community and being sponsored
by the music dealers. I mention this incident merely
to illustrate the interest shown and the desire on
the part of everyone whom I have approached, to
help put it over in a big way. Our foremost purpose
is to encourage other music dealers to follow in our
footsteps, feeling that it will be time well spent for
the promotion of the piano.
WERNER VISITS SCHILLER PLANT.
II. J. Werner, wholesale representative of Kohler
& Chase, at San Francisco, Calif., was at the Schiller
Piano Company's factory, Oregon, 111., on Tuesday
of this week. Mr. Werner says trade is becoming
active in some parts of the West.
$2 The Year
OFFICIAL LIST OF N. P.
M. A. COMMITTEES
President W. E. Guylee Announces Complete
List of Appointees to Committees Which
Facilitate Operations of Association.
The following is an official list of the officers
for the current year of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association of America, together with the
committee appointments which have been made by
President W. E. Guylee:
OFFICERS.
W. E. Guylee, Chicago, President.
C. D. Bond, York, Pa., first vice-president.
Fred P. Bassett, Chicago, second vice-president.
Herbert Simpson, New York, secretary.
Charles Jacob, New York, treasurer.
COMMITTEES.
The Executive Committee consists of the above
officers and the following:
Eastern States—Edward S. Payson, chairman; D.
D. Luxton, Jerome F. Murphy.
Middle States—Mark P. Campbell, chairman;
George Miller, W. II. Alfring.
Western States—A. G. Gulbransen, chairman; J. H.
Parnham, E. R. Jacobson.
Other Committees.
Finance Committee—Max J. deRochemont, chair-
man; H. B. Morenus, Ashley B. Cone, George J.
Dowling, A. G. Gulbransen, Richard W. Lawrence,
Farny Wurlitzer, Walter L. Bond, Otto Schulz, Her-
bert Simpson, C. L. Beach, G. W. Gittins.
Nominating—Clarence H, Pond, chairman; A. S.
Bond, Ben H. Janssen.
Membership—Gordon G. Campbell, chairman; E.
B. Jones, Shepard Pond, George Vose, A. E. John-
son.
Advancement of Music—H. Paul Mehlin, chair-
man; C. M. Tremaine, director; W. II. Alfring, Louis
P. Bach, A. S. Bond, Henry L. Mason, Otto Schulz,
Jr., Frederick P. Stieff, Jr., C. Alfred Wagner.
Credit Bureau—Walter C. Hepperla, chairman; L.
D. Perry, L. W. Peterson, A. T. Schuldes, C. Albert
Jacob, Jr.
National Legislation—E. K. Jacobson, chairman;
A. F. Cone, G. C. Kavanaugh.
Resolutions—Ben H. Janssen, chairman; W. H.
Van Matre, Jr., Louis P. Bach.
PAUL H. SCHMIDT NAMED
STEINWAY & SONS TRUSTEE
Assistant to President Steinway Succeeds Nahum
Stetson, Who Will Continue in Other Activities.
Paul H. Schmidt has been appointed a trustee of
Steinway & Sons. New York, to fill the vacancy
created by the voluntary resignation of Nahum Stet-
son from that office. Mr. Schmidt, who is a great-
grandson of Henry Englehard Steinway, founder of
the company, has been in turn assistant to former
presidents, Charles H. Steinway, and Frederick T.
Steinway, and at present assists the new president,
Theodore E. Steinway, in the management of Stein-
way & Sons.
Mr. Stetson, who has been with the house for over
fifty years, will continue to direct the departments
with which he has been so long associated. Presi-
dent Steinway, in accepting Mr. Stetson's resigna-
tion, spoke for himself and the trustees in expression
of appreciation of Mr. Stetson's devotion and service
to the house for so long a period.
BENJAMIN DAVIDSON DIES.
Benjamin Davidson, president of the Davidson
Brothers' Company, Sioux City, la., died recently
at his home in that city. Mr. Davidson is deeply
regretted in that city in which he had built up a
splendid business on sound policies of undoubted
values in every department of the great store. One
of the important sections there is that devoted to
pianos and other music goods.
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