Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2223

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 Cents a
1 Year
Copy
$1.25
10 Months. . .$1.00
(! Months. .75 4'ents
CHICAGO, ILL., MARCH 15, 1929
Seml-Monthi.v
FirHt and Third Saturdays
Growth of School Piano
Classes and Their Effects
Plans Promoted in Stress of Trade
Necessity Prove Highly Successful in
Operation and the Wisdom of Their
Purposes Becomes Plain
All the plans for increasing the interest in
piano playing are. based on the hopes of in-
creased piano sales. The promoters look upon
those induced to study the piano as possible
prospects for piano sales, now or in the fu-
ture. It is the main purpose that induces the
piano dealers to become active participants in
the piano promotional schemes. The phases
of the activity are varied but the object of all
of them is identical. To promote and encour-
age the means to furthering piano study, for
therein is the source of future piano sales; the
assurance of a revival of the piano business
and its ultimate permanence.
A Trade Asleep.
For too long a time the piano trade pre-
sented a strangely indifferent attitude to-
wards a depressing condition within it. Thou-
sands voiced doleful regrets at the circum-
stance to one who studied the causes and
adopted the sensibly aggressive stand the oc-
casion demanded. The alert ones saw the
plainly apparent cause of the indifference of
the public towards the piano. That was the
decrease in the desire of the young people to
learn the piano. And in that regrettable hap-
pening the piano trade was in a great measure
responsible. Piano sales could not be continu-
ous in a world where the most assured means
to sales were suffered to die.
Everybody with a commodity to sell is his
own competitor, was the dispirited comment
of the piano dealer with the flexible backbone.
That always was true. There never was a
time when the things that mean comfort,
pleasure and luxury did not cut in on the op-
portunities of the piano. There are many
new ways of spending money besides buying
pianos, but the old inducement for piano buy-
ing still continues. And what these induce-
ments are has happily been re-discovered by
the piano trade.
Hope in the Children.
The fact that children of school age natur-
ally are ambitious to learn to play the piano
was one too long existent without creating a
suggestion to the bulk of the piano trade.
Now, happily, the fact is a powerful motive
for the most marked activities in the trade in
all sections of the country.
The recognition of the hope for a revival
of a prosperous piano business through means
of the children first came from the alert music
dealers in various parts of the country. They
were the men whose vigilance always quickly
saw disturbances and deterrents to piano
group sales and took efficient action to coun-
teract them. When the piano classes were
first inaugurated by the most practical among
the ambitious music dealers, the scheme was
readily recognized as one full of hope. It was
based on an understanding of the human na-
ture of the child. Children have a natural
antipathy to anything, resembling a chore.
But add the element of play to disguise the
activity and the young ones eagerly join in.
Most children look upon the individual music
lesson as drudgery, whereas the piano lesson
with companions in a group class is a new
and highly delightful form of play.
Group Systems Appear.
In due time the group piano teaching sys-
tems appeared—the Miessner system, the Cur-
tis system and others, all effective in their
methods. Everywhere dealers established
schools in connection w r ith their stores, the
two systems named being about equally
chosen. The group classes, which held out
possibilities of a steady improvement in future
sales soon proved helpful in improving present
day sales. Dealers and salesmen got a new
angle on the prospect field and again human
nature—the pride of fathers and mothers in
the musical progress of their children—en-
tered into the sales schemes of the piano de-
partments.
Classes in Schools.
The extension of the piano group classes to
the schools soon followed the extensive use
of the group class system in the music stores.
The schools clearly presented a big opportu-
nity but there was an obstacle to their exten-
sion therein. School boards and school prin-
cipals are not always amenable to the promo-
tion of cultural schemes. But the music deal-
ers in a great many places brought the neces-
sary pressure to bear on the opposition with
the result that group piano classes in the
schools may be said to be the rule rather than
the exception.
Growth of Sales.
The best arguments for the piano classes in
stores or in the schools concern the children
themselves and the stores with pianos to sell.
Presto-Times has had the keenest pleasure in
learning the excellent results in piano sales
attributed to the classes. A great amount of
the piano sales today are frankly attributed to
the piano classes in stores and schools.
Piano Lessons for Children Influence
Present Day Sales and Assure Perma-
nent Business in Future Years for Piano
Manufacturer and Dealer
An unpleasant phase accompanying the
piano class movement in its earlier stages was
the antagonism of the local music teachers,
who blindly argued that the group classes
were taking the bread out of their mouths. It
is agreeable to relate now that such a feeling
has disappeared from the teachers. When it
was found that the majority of children hav-
ing their ambitions aroused in the group piano
classes, continued their studies with private
teachers, the music teachers became warm
proponents of the group classes.
Spread of the Class Movement.
This year it is estimated by observant ones
that more than a million children will be en-
rolled as pupils in the piano classes in the pub-
lic schools. The number in the parochial and
private schools will also be large.
How the music trade individually and col-
lectively in any community may further the
cause of music in the schools is shown in the
activity that has produced such beneficial re-
sults iti Chicago. According to figures given
by Dr. Browne, superintendent of music in the
Chicago public schools, 350 teachers are em-
ploved in 500 classes with an enrollment of
20,000 pupils. That phase of study is expand-
ing and Dr. Browne anticipated 100,000 pupils
in the near future, with a corresponding in-
crease in the number of teachers and classes,
and the extension of the piano course to in-
clude all the schools in the Chicago system.
In Chicago Schools.
At a recent meeting of the Chicago Piano
and Organ Association, Adam Schneider told
of the successful effort made to help the
school piano classes by providing loan pianos
for the schools in which adequate provision is
not made for the purchase of pianos. Mr.
Schneider is active in inducing piano manufac-
turers to loan pianos to the schools and how
successful he has been is realized from the
fact that over 4,000 pianos are now in use in
the school classes.
Adam Schneider's Part.
Getting pianos from the manufacturers was
easy to a man of Mr. Schneider's persuasive
powers but getting them into the schools is
not always an easy job. That sounds strange
but when it is understood that school board
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).
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P R E S T 0-T I M E S
members are often unaccountably suspicious
and see some catch in the gift or loan piano,
the necessity for explanations and assurances
by Mr. Schneider is plain.
The Board of Education is limited in
finances for music study purposes, and until it
can make more purchases the Chicago music
dealers have offered to supply pianos for
classes, including cartage to and from, repair-
ing, tuning, and other incidental expenses.
The music dealers of Chicago have supplied
the schools with over fifty pianos and offer to
supply any school, public or private, with
pianos where needed.
The August Gross Piano Co., 3933-5 North Kedzie
avenue, Chicago, has adopted a policy in connection
with music teachers as well as group instruction for
the purpose of encouraging the public to take an in-
terest in piano music. The company has offered its
salesroom to any music teacher for the purpose of
giving a recital.
"We believe the best and most direct advertising is
to get people in a piano store and thereby get them
acquainted with what we are selling," said W. A.
Gross this week. "Since selling Kimball pianos ex-
clusively for the past four years, we have found our
business greatly improved and have done a satisfac-
tory business ever since selling the Kimball line.
"The programs presented at the store recitals show
the class of work done by pupils. We are pleased to
say that our store is always crowded during the
recital, with standing room only."
The warerooms contain 5,000 square feet and they
can easily accommodate two hundred people. The
Curtis Group Instruction is given at the store every
Saturday throughout the year. Many of the parents
accompany the children to these classes and the re-
sult is the company is doing a satisfactory exclusive
piano business.
Denver Store Gives Lessons.
The Knight-Campbell Music Co., Denver, is giving
free music lessons with every piano purchased at the
store. A recent ad of the company explained the
matter in the following way: "Let us give your child
piano lessons. Our free lesson offer—for a limited
time, with an piano purchased from us we will include
a series of beginners' lessons in piano with the
buyer's choice of any teacher w'ho specializes with
beginners. This offer extends throughout our sales
territory. Come in and talk it over, or write us."
SPRING TRADE OPENS
WELL IN COLORADO
Excellent Figures for February Announced;
Prompt Music Dealers to Feel Optimis-
tical for 1929 Results.
The month of February did more than reasonably
could be expected of a twenty-eight day period to-
ward making Denver's record-breaking prosperity
dreams come true. Records for the month were
broken. The bank clearings showed an increase of
over four million dollars over the same month last
year. Musical instrument dealers report that their
business has been in keeping with the general trend
of industry in this section of the country and that
the outlook for the remaining months of the year is
bright.
The Western Radio Company at 150 Broadway,
Denver, during the past week opened their new com-
March 15, 1929
plete music service department, which is intended to
furnish South Denver with everything in the musical
instrument line. J. B. Crandall, proprietor of the
store, is very optimistic over the results of the busi-
ness since he has been in Denver.
The C. E. Wells Music Company, Denver, has been
receiving some good publicity from its basket ball
team of late. Early this winter the music firm organ-
ized a basket ball team, which was entered in one of
the Denver commercial basket ball leagues. During
the past month the Wells team has taken part in two
basket ball tournaments held in Denver under the
auspices of two local newspapers. The team finished
well up toward the top in both of the tournaments
and so the musical instrument house got some very
tine advertising as a result.
The D. Z. Phillips Music Store of Pueblo, Colo.,
plans to move into its new home at 621 North Main
street within a short time. The new home is located
in a good part of the business section and gives the
Phillips people additional floor space, which was
needed to take care of a growing business.
The Denver Music Company, Denver, has of late
been speeding up business in its piano business. The
way is explained in an advertisement, which read in
part: "Rent a piano, yet own it! We will rent you
a beautiful piano, player or baby grand piano at a
very low rental rate. Rental rates, you know, are far
below the terms asked when you buy a piano. After
a certain number of months we give you a full bill
of sale for the piano. It becomes yours. You do not
sign any papers, you do not pay any interest and
there is no 'carrying charge.'"
recently visiting his two daughters, who are married
and reside there. Mr. Lestina left for Florida the
early part of this week, where he owns property and
has a pleasant home.
ELENORA GREY, PIANIST,
PRIZES CHRISTMAN PIANO
NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A.
Artist Whose Ability Is Highly Praised by
Critics Tells in Letter Her Opinion
of Christman Grand.
Elenora Gray, the famous pianist, who is regarded
by New York's critics as "an authoritative exponent
of classical as well as modern works, is an enthusi-
astic admirer of the Christman piano. To her mar-
velous technique she adds her own distinctive individ-
uality and charm by means of which she constantly
maintains an unfailing interest through her entire pro-
gram," is the way one newspaper critic described her
abilities.
The New York Sun writes of her as follows:
"Elenora Grey played the Bach-Tausig Toccata and
Fugue with no small measure of beauty of tone, with
fluency and with well developed feeling for organ
effects. Her Chopin group was done in a facile man-
ner and in Strauss' 'Blue Danube' waltz, arranged by
Schulz-Elver, was the young player's technic advan-
tageously exhibited, making a most exhilarating end-
ing."
Here is the copy of a letter from Elenora Grey to
the Christman Piano Co., New York:
"March 6, 1929.
"Gentlemen:
"I can't say enough in favor of the Christman
Piano; the manner in which its bell-like tone, its
absolute evenness of scale, and sympathetic quality
respond to every mood is a constant inspiration."
OTTO LESTINA IN FLORIDA
Otto Lestina, who has been the general superin-
tendent of the H. C. Bay factory, Bluffton, Ind., for
the past three or four years, and who was kept by
the receiver at the factory up to the time the fac-
tory was sold recently, was in Chicago for a few days
CHRISTMAN
STUDIO PIANOS
appeal to exacting and appreciative buy-
ers because of their fine musical qualities.
A great leader is the
CHRISTMAN
STUDIO
GRAND
"THE FIKST TOUCH TELLS"
An instrument of marked tonal power
and beauty.
Three generations of Christmans have
put their life work into the Christman
piano and the result is a dependable
instrument.
Christman Piano Co., Inc.
597 East 137th Street
For a
Bigger and Better
Business
There is nothing to compare
with the complete line of
M. SCHULZ CO.
The Players are RIGHT in
everything t h a t means
money to the dealers and
satisfaction to the public
You will never do anything better
than when you get in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
SOUTHERN BRANCH: 730 Candler Bldg., ATLANTA, GA
MASON & HAMLIN
AIDS BROADCASTING
A Mason & Hamlin piano has taken its
important place in the Charlotte, N. C,
studios of station WBT. The Andrews Mu-
sic Company, Charlotte, has installed in the
studio a Mason & Hamlin Grand, Style A.
It is only fitting that the Andrews Music
Company should have been approached in
this important matter, because of the lively
interest this company has always shown in
the musical affairs of Charlotte, and in the
stimulation of musical interest in the com-
munity. Also because this organization is
the exclusive distributor of the Mason &
Hamlin.
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Board*.
Patented In the United States, Great Britain,
France. Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
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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