Presto

Issue: 1929 2237

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 Cents a
1 Year
Copy
$1.25
10 M o n t h s . . . $1.00
6 Months. .75 cents
CHICAGO, ILL., OCTOBER 15, 1929
Issued Semi-Monthly
First and Third Saturdays
PROGRESS OF GROUP TEACHING IN SCHOOLS TYING UP TO
A GOOD HOUSE
The Actual Practice of This Method of Teaching Children to Play the Piano
Is Becoming Nation=Wide With Gratifying Results
The spread of piano class lessons denotes an en-
gagement along a very wide frontier line. Piano
•classes lead, hut other musical instruction is also
'being taught in classes.
The leader in this nation-wide movement is C. M.
Tremaine of New York, but different cities are vying
with one another to speed up the good work.
As for Chicago, its promotional efforts along this
line were made subject matter by Adam Schneider
for an informing talk at a recent meeting of the Piano
Club. The story of last year's work, he said, showed
upwards of 10,000 pupils enrolled in the piano classes
of the public and parochial schools, and it would not
surprise him, if the work was not interfered with by
outside interests, to find 30,000 to 40,000 pupils en-
rolled for piano lessons before the end of the semes-
ter. A shortage of teachers for the groups is one of
the hindrances.
Mr. Schneider asked his audience of piano men to
imagine the possibilities of 800,000 pupils in the
schools of Chicago, with probably 400,000 of them of
the ages ready to take piano lessons. What a line-up
>fpr future piano prospects was to be seen here!
Using Loaned Pianos.
There was a shortage of pianos in the schools on
which to play. Last year the piano men of Chicago
loaned about 79 pianos for use in the schools—some
firms lending 3, others 5 and up to 12 or 15, and up
to October 8 this year, Mr. Schneider says, 102 pianos
have been loaned for this purpose.
Superintendent of Schools Bogan and his Super-
visor of Music, Dr. J. Lewis Browne, are both enthu-
siastic about the work of the pupils in piano playing
in the public and other schools of Chicago.
Treasurer Schneider's Letter.
The following letter sent to each member of the
Chicago Piano & Organ Association tells the story
of group piano instruction in the Chicago public
schools:
Chicago.
October 1, 1929.
Chicago Piano & Organ Association,
Dear Sir:
Your generous support last year was greatly appre-
ciated. We were able to do a few things that other-
wise would have been left undone.
The greatest single factor making toward better
business is, of course, the child at the piano. Never
before has Chicago had in its Public School System
two men who have seemed to so ally themselves with
our industry in their eagerness for pianos in the home
as Superintendent of Schools Bogan and his Super-
visor of Music, J. Lewis Browne.
When schools closed in June there were approxi-
mately 11,000 enrolled for piano instruction and this
fall, instead of having to begin, as a year ago, from
a standing start, 9,000 pupils are the nucleus with
which the group teachers start building.
Many of your associates in the Piano & Organ
Association are furnishing pianos without cost to.the
schools, but if you do not happen to be one of these,
your loyal support in subscribing for a membership
is of great encouragement.
.
'

Sincerely yours,
ADAM SCHNEIDER, Treasurer.
Music Department Dinner.
The following letter is being sent out to the
teachers this week:
Board of Education, City of Chicago,
Educational Administration Building,
460 South State Street.
Department of Music.
October 3, 1929.
To the Teachers of Music,
The Chicago Public Schools.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
• • . . . •
On Friday evening, October 18th, the second annual
Music Department dinner will be held at the Medinah
Athletic Club, Michigan avenue at Illinois street.
Mr. William J. Bogan, superintendent of Schools,
Mr. H. Wallace Caldwell, president of the Board of
Education, and Miss Mabelle Glenn of Kansas City,
president of the National Music Supervisors' Confer-
ence to be held in Chicago in March, will be the
principal speakers.
Rose Lutiger Gannon, contralto, and Henry Sopkin,
violinist, will also appear in a short musical program,
which will be followed by dancing, with music by one
of Chicago's finest orchestras.
This will no doubt be an evening you cannot afford
to miss. Will you not only be present yourself, but
will you make it your business to interest your prin-
cipal and other music lovers in your school. Tickets
will be $3 per cover and may be ordered from Mr.
O. W. Anderson of the Music Department by mail.
Yours for a successful year,
J. L E W I S BROWNE,
ComjjStttee:
Director of Music.
J. Iptyvis Browne,
He'r|>(e.rt H. Sommers,
^.'Anderson.
' Gulbransen Working in the Cause.
The Gulbransen'Company-in one of its sales man-
uals just issued says: "The America of tomorrow is
bound to be a musical nation. Twenty-five million
school children are being taught every year to know
and appreciate music. School credits are being
awarded in nearly all schools throughout our land,
based on music as a necessary part of education and
preparation for life's tasks and enjoyments.
"Piano classes are now being developed in a large
number of public schools and it is only a question of
time when all the children in our public schools will
be able to play this greatest of all musical instru-
ments."
"The phonograph and reproducing piano have con-
tributed toward bringing music closer to us.
"Radio has saturated the entire human race (par-
ticularly in America) with the beauties of music."
NATIONAL BUREAU ADDS
PIANO CLASS EXPERT
Miss Ella H. Mason Appointed by C. M. Tremaine as
Specialist in Promotional Work.
Great interest is being shown in class instruction
in teaching piano playing to the children in public
and other schools this fall throughout the United
States and Canada.
C. M. Tremaine, director of the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music,, has announced the
appointment of Miss Ella H. Mason as the bureau's
specialist in its piano class promotional work. Miss
Mason is one of the outstanding figures in the field,
having conducted for a number of years, and with
great success, many such classes in the schools of
Rochester.
After studying the piano in Boston with Hans
Ebell, Miss Mason attended the Eastman School of
Music at the University of Rochester and won the
degree of Bachelor of Music. She has also studied
group piano methods at Teachers' College, Columbia
University. She early established herself as a pri-
vate teacher-and devoted-nine-years to piano class
teaching in the Rochester public schools. For two
summers she had charge of the demonstration work
on class teaching at Rutgers College. She had also
conducted teachers' institutes in Toronto and Mon-
treal, During the past summer she had been giving
the teachers' course in class methods at the Uni-
(Continued on page 6)
Just Now More Than Ever Dealers Are Anx-
ious to Make No Error in This Regard,
as Big Factories Increase
Their Output.
With the piano business back on something like its
former footing as one of the leading industries of the
country, dealers may well ask themselves the ques-
tion, "What piano manufacturing concern would it
be well for me to tie to?"
Music merchants realize that the day for picking
up bargain lots has passed, as well as the day for
unloading on their customers old style, cast-aside
instruments. Most good bargains have long since
been taken up and piano factories show, as a rule,
a clean slate in the matter of old and discarded in-
struments. It is now, and henceforth will continue
to be, clean, straight manufacturing coupled with ser-
vice of the highest class. For the dealer it is now
straight work, persistent effort, even to house-to-
house canvassing.
Casting about for a strong, reliable house to tie
to, one of the great houses that comes to mind is the
M. Schulz Company, Chicago. The standing of this
great house in the trade for many years is an un-
questionable record of production and power; of fair
dealing, good money's worth and of various forms of
service and backing to the dealer.
In this connection it might be well to call atten-
tion to the Schulz's wonderful little Marionette piano.
This charming little grand is the same size as the
M. Schulz Reproducing Marionette, with a range of
7?>' notes. The action and touch are precisely the
same as a full-size grand. It is handsomely finished
throughout and is an ideal piano for anyone wishing
a good instrument.
The Marionette is the latest and most amazing
development in the piano industry—a marvelous little
reproducing grand that recreates with volume and
brilliance the recordings of the great concert pianists,
and yet actually requires no more room than an arm-
chair. It is exquisitely attractive in appearance, built
of richly beautiful woods, finished in shaded lacquers,
and with gleaming, ivory keys. Within its compact
dimensions it has the charm and grace of a full-size
grand.
The Marionette scale is the newly developed six-
octave compass, but the reproducing mechanism plays
all standard 88-note reproducing and player rolls.
The mechanism is absolutely noiseless—no hum or
vibration—the case is of highest quality five-ply con-
struction—w r hite mountain spruce sounding board—
imported music wire. Its length is three feet eight
inches and width three feet ten.
EDMONTON SCHOOLS
TAKE FORWARD STEP
Canadian City School Board Makes Provision for
Piano Class Instruction.
A forward step taken by the Edmonton School
Board at Edmonton, Alberta, this year will be the
holding of piano classes. These classes are intended
for. junior pupils or pupils who are just beginning,
and not for pupils who already have had private piano
instruction.
A dummy keyboard for each pupil and one piano
for the entire class will be the equipment used and
during the class each child will have his or her turn
to play the piano. It lias been found in previous
classes of this type that the children attain as good
results in the standard examination as when each child
receives private tuition.
Warren C. Coffin, one of Chicago's best known
musicians, aged 85 years, died on October 2. For the
last 50 years he had been a director of many of the
largest church choirs in Chicago.
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/
PRESTO-TIMES
October IS, 1929
played during the dinner with verve and aplomb,
their self-confidence marking a manner all their
own whic I was approved w.ih due applause.
(Continued from page 5.)
At the end of the dinner, Duke Rehl, international
versity of Rochester's summer school. Through these
saxophonist, a' wjiite man, played two numbers. He
activities in the field Miss Mason has made herself
was excused from playing more after he had ex-
a practical authority in piano class methods.
In addition she has an advantage of peculiar im- Exceedingly Funny Swimming Contests, Elec- plained that"- he was working under the disadvantage
of a brokeri wris.t. As Mr. /Rehl was not a paid
portance in the present status of the movement, and
tion of Officers, Dining, Music, Speeches,
artist, the club felt highly complimented by his con-
that is an impartial mind respecting the various meth-
Mark
the
Annual
Meeting
of
tribution to the entertainment.
ods of group instruction on the market. The school
the Club.
Officers were elected as follows:
people, as well as the private teacher, need assurance
that the counsel they seek is unbiased as well as
President, G. R. Brownell, of Lyon & Healy's.
authoritative.
Vice-president, Ben F. Duvall, of the W. W. Kim-
The annual meeting of the Piano Club of Chicago
Mr. Tremaine and Miss Mason are working out on Monday night, October 7, at the Medinah Athletic ball Gomojpiyr $••••
Secretary, G. S. McLaughlin, of Lyon & Healy.
plans for the extension of piano classes in the schools Club, 505 North Michigan avenue, Chicago, began
and studios which it is confidently believed will have with a most mirth-provoking entertainment on the Treasurer, Edward Benedict, of W. W. Kimball
Company.
a far-reaching beneficial effect upon the market for
Board of governors, Roger O'Connor of Kranich
pianos. Mr. Tremaine wishes the trade to know that
& Bach; James TT. .Bristol; Gordon Laugnead, of ""^ur-
these plans, as well as the securing of Miss Mason,
litzer's; Henry D. Hewitt, of -M. Schulz C V\ iy;
have been made possible by funds provided by the
E. » . Galloway, of
Ty Holtzman & F-Ompar l-
special Piano Promotion Committee of the Piano
pany, and'*Will H. Collins, of Lyon & T ~->ons Con
Manufacturers' Association.
Among; ttiose^who wetfe presented ? rfealy. by
Rogef O'Connor, retiring president, ** the dinnece as
their names were announced, were ar >d who arp presi-
dent of the Nation.-.l Associatio Nels C. Bo^Tuners;
n oi
Henry D. Hewitt,
C,
Pianoaal Piano
Travelers Association ; ' d e n t o f t h e NatioThe Cable
Violinist, Tenor and Pianist to Be Heard Sunday
oy
Company, president i *; •>• Cook, of , o & Organ
Night, October 20, in Broadcast.
Association; E; W. . J, he C h 'cago Piar o f the Conn
School
of Music; M ' i n s : President v -j SO r of Music
Philip Frank, 18-year-old violinist; William Hain,
in
the
'schools
of Mil o-siter. supegh Laughead pre-
young American tenor, and Florence Frantz, pianist,
» is. Gor of Escanaba, Michi-
sented Joe Lyons, j
all winners at the convention of the National Federa-
lealer
gan.
tion of Music Clubs, will be heard "at the Baldwin"
The treasurer's •
.-.howed substantial gains
Sunday evening, October 20. The program will be
both in membersh
in surplus funds.
broadcast over Station WJZ and the associated sta-
As an expressic ,L estedjrn and the appreciation of
tions of the National Broadcasting Chain at 7:30 p. m.,
his devotion to ' ntSr^st's of the club, the retiring
eastern standard time.
'Connor, was presented with a
president, Roge
Miss Frantz will be heard three times during the
ii. The presentation speech was
very fine wrist-v
program and her selections include: Rondo from
Hewitt. Mr. O'Connor said he
made by Henry
Partita in C minor, Bach; two preludes and mazurka,
was deeply appre ative of the fine gift and would
Chopin; the Balakirew arrangement of Glinka's, The
continue to do anyt. ing for the club within his power.
Lark, and Rush Hour in Hong Kong, Chasins.
William Hain, who will be heard singing My
Lovely Celia, Good Ale, and an aria from "Manon,"
is a native New Yorker, horn in. Brooklyn. H e -
started his career as a boy soprano singing in two of
the leading Episcopal churches near his home. At
the age of 18, he began serious study both in New
H. A. Brown Succeeds H. J. Kartheiser, Who Is in
York and Paris with Claude Warford, with whom he
the Building Business.
has been ever since. He also studied opera under
Felix Leroux of the National Opera.
H. J. Kartheiser Has resigned as retail manager of
Philip Frank, the violinist, is ^also a native of Brook-
the Baldwin Piano Company at the big store in Chi-
lyn. He began to study the violin at the age of 7,
cago and has been succeeded by H. A. Brown. Mr.
and received his early instruction from Lacy Coe,
G. R. BROWN ELL.
Kartheiser's real estate interests in the building line
Eddy Brown, Victor Kuzdo, and Leopold Auer. At
were so great that he has been wanting to get free of
present he is a scholarship pupil at Curtis Institute, thirteenth floor at the great swimming pool. The the piano business for two years past, but he was so
Medinah Dolphins, headed by Carl Weber, of Meyer loyal to the Baldwin Piano Company that he held on,
studying under Efram Zimbalist.
The "At the Baldwin" hour inaugurated its fall and & Weber, gave special aquatic exhibits, including saying that he would not quit until the company found
winter radio program Sunday, October 6, over WJZ swimming races, such as swimming feet first, swim- a successor for the work. He has been very success-
and associated NBC stations with Sophie Braslau, ming with what looked like two very refractory ful as a builder, although he had to employ a manager
the celebrated operatic contralto, as the featured artist. lounge mats, the overstroke, swimming blindfolded, for that department while busy at Baldwin's.
Miss Braslau was assisted in this program by the swimming on the back, and, uproariously funny, the
H. A. Brown, the new retail manager, was in the
Baldwin Singers, and Miss Madeline Marshall and lightning change artists races in which a double-
employ of Scruggs, Vandevoort & Barney at St.
ended nightie is pulled by the tail up over the head
Roy Merwin, pianists.
Louis, selling pianos for seven years; that firm closed
of the man who has crossed the pool and the tail-end its piano department and Mr. Brown was then a piano
pulled
down
over
the
head
of
the
man
who
is
about
DAN J. NOLAN'S PROMOTION.
man. for a time at Louisville, Ky., working for Mr.
Dan J. Nolan of Cleveland, an honorary member to finish by recrossing the pool. There seemed to
Kartheiser, then Louisville Baldwin manager. Later
o-f the Music and Radio Merchants' Association of be armholes at both ends of the shirt which went onto Mr. Brown was with the American Piano Co. in
Ohio, was recently appointed general manager of all the second man's body wrong side up and wrong side
Chicago.
the retail stores of The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, out, and the changes were made with the speed of
and will be located permanently in Cincinnati. For a toad's tongue in action.
Hein-rich T^lingenfeld, violinist, composer and or-
After this, a very palatable dinner was served on chestra conductor, age 74 years, died the other day
several years, Dan has been manager of the Cleveland
store of this same concern. His many friends in the another floor of the new clubhouse—one of the finest in Tacoma, Wash. At one time he was a member of
the board of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Ohio organization wish him continued success in his on the North American continent.
The Purple Crackle Jazz Band of colored men Sciences.
new position.
GROUP TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
0. R. BROWNEIX HEADS
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
THREE PRIZE WINNERS
"AT THE BALDWIN"
NEW RETAIL MANAGER
BALDWIN CHICAGO STORE
ADAM SCHAAF, Inc.
RE
p?ANof ING
GRANDS AND UPRIGHTS
HALLET& >AVIS PIANO CO.
JVANOS
Established Reputation and Quality Since 1873
FACTORY
OFFICES & SALESROOMS
Corner of Kofttner Avenue
New Adam Schaaf Building
4343 Fifth Avenue
319-321 So. Wabash Ave.,
CHICAGO, ILL.
Er
tshed 183t—Boston
FACTORIES - - NEW YORK CITY
Executive Offices and Wholesale Warerooms
f East 31th St. (at 5th Ave.)
New York Gty
TH E CO MSTOCK, CHENE" Y
& CO.
IVORYTON, CONN.
IVORY CUTTERS SINCE 1834
MANUFACTURERS OF
Grand Keys, Actions and Hammers, Upright Keys
Actions and Hammer , Pipe Organ Keys
Piano Forte Ivory for the Trade
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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