Presto

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1928
$2 The Year
KEYNOTE AT CHAMBER LUNCHEON
Get=Together Event for All the Trade Associations Made Interesting by Notable Addresses
by President Irion and Prof. John Erskine Who Take A Cheerful
*
Attitude on Problems Confronting Music
The luncheon and mass meeting at noon Monday
was the official opening of the convention proceed-
ings of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
and all the constituent associations participated in
the joyous function.
President Hermann Iron, who presided, said it was
a genuine pleasure as well as an honor to welcome
so large a delegation to the 12th annual convention
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
"Gotham, too, extends to you its open arms in wel-
come and bids you to enjoy your stay within it to the
fullest possible extent," said Mr. Irion.
No country is ultimately happy and prosperous un-
less each individual in it has an opportunity to study
the art of music, in the opinion of John Erskine, pres-
ident of the Juilliard School of Music, who spoke
at the luncheon.
Music, as a subject in the high schoo's of the coun-
try, Dr. Erskine declared, should receive a recognition
equal to that given to history, mathematics or litera-
ture. Dr. Erskine's address was broadcast by WEAK.
Five hundred persons attended the luncheon.
Among the organizations which make up the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, the members of
which participated in the luncheon are the National
I'iano Manufacturers' Association, the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, Band Instrument Manu-
facturers, the National Piano Travelers' Association
and the National Musical Merchandise Association.
by the Congress. The question is not yet settled.
Meanwhile, however, the phonograph industry, which
is particularly interested in this legislation, is the
beneficiary through our efforts.
"There were also matters relating to transportation,
credits and collections, and a surprising amount of
miscellaneous and incidental activities, all of which
are in the interest of and for the benefit of our trade
as a whole.
Praise for Chamber Staff.
"It seems but meet and proper, at this time, to say
a word on behalf of the paid staff of the chamber.
Air. Smith, our general manager; Mr. Tremaine, the
P R E S I D E N T IRION'S REPORT.
''In greeting you on this occasion it also becomes
my duty to briefly refer to what, if anything, your
chamber has accomplished during our fiscal year
which is just passing into history, so as to make you
acquainted in a general way with the reasons for its
existence and for its continuance as a useful and
effective agency of the music industry.
"1 take it for granted that all of you are agreed
that a trade association is necessary in every industry.
Our own association during its relatively short life
lias many valuable accomplishments to its credit.
Foremost among these was its outstanding success in
preserving the very life of our industry during the
stirring days of the war when the War Industries
Board, rating us as a non-essential industry, pro-
ceeded to curtail our raw 7 material and supplies. The
HERMANN IRION.
chamber was able to convince our government of the
director of the Bureau for Advancement of Music:
absolute indispensability of our industry.
Mr. Loomis, the secretary of the National Associa-
The Tax Reduction.
tion of Music Merchants, to Mr. Dixon, Miss
"Next in line was its successful effort in the elim-
Borchardt, and down the entire line. It must be diffi-
ination of the tax on musical instruments, which was
cult, and at times trying, to work for- as impersonal
accomplished in the very earliest stages of our gov- an employer as an association, the officers of which
ernment's tax reduction plans. Whatever the mainte- change from year to year. But in spite of that handi-
nance of your association may have cost, it is easily
cap I am convinced that they have all handled their
offset manyfold by the spectacular results accom-
tasks with ability, energy and efficiency—and with
plished in those two acts alone!
loyalty to the cause. And for that reason they are
entitled to our thanks and appreciation.
Things Accomplished.
Mr. Simpson, Too.
"All this work is covered by detailed reports of the
"Another gentleman whom T wish to mention by
various departments of the chamber, which show
name in this connection is our worthy treasurer, Mr.
that much has been done along the l'nes of our most
Herbert Simpson. It is a simple matter to handle
important activity—that of general music promotion
funds and to be their custodian when they are in
and special musical instrument promotion; legislative
abundancy, but when the opposite is the case, as it
work, particularly with reference to the important
unfortunately has been during Mr. Simpson's first
installment sales tax returns. In this sphere our
year in office, it must be said to his credit that he
Legislative Committee, in co-operation with two
other industrial associations who are also vitally inter- managed exceedingly well. A part of that credit is
ested, succeeded in obtaining a favorable compromise due also to Mr. Smith, who, in company with Mr.
Simpson, found it possible under adverse conditions
which is embodied in the new tax bill just signed by
President Coolidge. The effect of the new law will to bring together those two everlasting strangers of
budgets—the incoming and the outgoing ends. Our
save many of our merchants from double taxation
on deferred installment profits. Our chamber is thanks are therefore due to Mr. Simpson and Mr.
entitled to the credit for this achievement and we are
Smith for their good work.
to be congratulated on this victory.
Tribute to Trade Press.
"And last but not least, there was another helpful
"The chamber has also continued its activities in
matters relating to the proposed copyright revision factor which I wish to record, and that is the atti-
tude of the trade press toward our association. I
wish, therefore, to thank the trade press for its whole-
hearted and constructive cooperation.
"I have left for the last a reference to the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music because 1 want
to be a little more explicit on this subject, as it is the
most valuable and for our industry the most im-
portant activity of your chamber. Since your chamber
about ten years ago created its bureau for the ad-
vancement of music, this bureau has extended its
influence and its contacts over our entire country. It
;s the sponsor for Nat onal Music Week, as well as
all the local music weeks, that are observed annually
throughout the land and it has as its ally a countless
h<;st of volunteer workers, all acting and working
a'ong the lines and in the direction indicated by our
bureau from which they seek guidance and advice.
The prestige of the bureau has grown to such pro-
portions that only recently four very prominent and
well-known educators appeared before the bureau's
advisory committee proffering advice and assistance
for a still greater unfolding of its educational activi-
ties in the field of music.
Use Promotion Stamps.
"Your part in this development is to assist it in
the use of the promotion stamp of the chamber and
of the merchants' association. Refuse to accept a
piano from your manufacturer without the stamps. It
is a mere trifle for the manufacturer and the merchant,
but collectively it furnishes the sinews for '.he work
we must do. Re:nembcr the stamp! The future of
our industry is indissolubly linked with it in our
desire for a bigger and a better music industry.
In a notable address, Prof. John Erskine of the
Juilliard Foundation reviewed musical education in
America and commented on the conditions relating
to music study.
PROlv ERSKINE'S ADDRESS.
Before we can make progress in musical education
in America we must recognize the factors in the
situation which constitute our special problem.
There is great talent in the country; as great, prob-
ably, as anywhere else. There is a great love of
music, audiences everywhere eager to enjoy the art.
In certain parts of the country there are great teach-
ers, especially since the war. Many of the artists
with whom our best talent would have wished to
study abroad are now permanent residents of the
United States. It would seem that with these three
factors we ought to have all the conditions of great
progress in music.
The Difficulty.
1 he difficulty, however, is that the teachers are not
in touch with the talent. Some of the gifted young-
sters live in remote parts of the land, and in whole
sections of the country there is no adequate provision
for music teaching. Although the big foundations
can bring to the East a small proportion of this
talent, the majority is neglected and will continue to
be so until better teaching is provided at central
points in all sections of the land. This is especially
true of the remote West, where the disparity between
native talent and provision for teaching is great.
A problem equally urgent is the lack of contact
between talent after it is trained and the audiences
waiting to hear it. The managerial systems which
were adequate in former decades cannot now meet
the situation. The enormous development of the
radio has disarranged the traditional concert activities.
Both teachers and pupils show a disposition to cling
to the large cities in the East—a panicky fear to
launch out into those parts of the country which most
need them.
Whatever the large music schools and the conserva-
tories and private teachers can effect, our greatest
hope and opportunity lies in the schools, especially
in the high schools, where we can reach the young.
But here there is an enormous unsatisfied demand
for competent teaching. Wherever a good musician
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