Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 15 - Page 43
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THE
APRIL 11, 1925
MUSIC TRADE
Fifteen States Now Have Band Laws
Modeled on Initial Statute of Iowa
the Lange
Banjo Lines
Acts Generally Permit Local Municipalities to Make Appropriations for the Support of Local
Bands—What Such a Law Has Already Accomplished in Iowa
CM FTEFIN States now have on their statute
books a State band law modeled after the
famous Iowa Band Law, instituted a few years
ago through the efforts of Major Geo. W.
Landers, of Clarinda, la., and progress is being
made toward the adoption of a similar law in
the other thirty-three States, according to Pat-
rick Conway, the celebrated bandmaster, who is
now devoting most of his time to promoting
national interest in band music.
These laws offer a wonderful opportunity to
the music dealer who handles band instruments
and he should do all in his power to foster the
sentiment that prompts the State Legislatures
to pass such enactments. And in such States
as have the laws on the books the dealer should
see to it that advantage is taken of them by
the formation of community bands.
The sum and substance of these laws is that
the statutes permit the local governments of
cities and towns to appropriate certain amounts
for the formation and maintenance of bands.
The famous model band law of Iowa permits
towns and cities under 40,000 population to levy
a maximum tax of two mills per dollar of
assessed valuation "for the maintenance or em-
ployment of a band for musical purposes."
It is said that within the first year after
Iowa's adoption of this law there sprung up
nearly one hundred new bands in that State.
Practically all of these came from small mu-
nicipalities which exercised their privilege and
established a series of band concerts resulting
in great advantages to the life of the com-
munity.
Other States have followed Iowa's example
with a two mill or one and a half mill tax.
These include California, Michigan, Maryland
and WesJ^Virginia. Texas recently passed a
bill with a three-mill limit. Kansas and Ne-
braska have laws calling for a one-mill limit.
The native State of Calvin Coolidge, Vermont,
has a band law which fixes the sum that may
be appropriated by municipalities for the main-
tenance of bands at 5 per cent of the total local
tax budget, this being reduced to 3 per cent
if the total exceeds $20,000. Pennsylvania's
band law sets an arbitrary limit of $500.
New York State passed a band law in 1923,
but it has not yet been exercised to any great
degree, by the small communities, although it is
expected that the intensive efforts of the musical
interests in the State will soon see a revival
of band music in the Empire State. The New
York law does not fix the amount to be voted
for bands. The two-mill limit which was worked
out satisfactorily in the Western States would
release too big a sum in the Eastern cities with
high property values. This might hamper the
band movement through possible criticism of
the expenditure of sums that were too large.
Accordingly the New York law leaves to the
discretion of the community the sum to be set
aside for band purposes.
While it is true that there are still thirty-
three States without band.laws that set aside
definite appropriations to encourage band music,
AGENTS WANTED
Throughout V. 8.
Writ* for Circular "T"
41
REVIEW
yet many of these States provide a generous
measure of home rule for all communities, so
that local public sentiment can be crystallized
to a degree which results in the formation of a
band or a series of concerts to permit the func-
tioning of a band that may exist.
The growth of this band law idea indicates
that the sentiment of the entire country is
favorable to the development of band music.
It is squarely up-to the music dealers to give
impetus to this movement in every way that
they can. A good many dealers have seen their
sales of band instruments grow during recent
years and have just accepted this as normal
growth without considering the reasons. Part
of it may have been "normal", but organized
activity fostered by the band instrument manu-
facturers' association and men like Pat Conway
and the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music have been working like Trojans all
the while.
The dealers who realize that this organized
creative work is actually doing something for
them will help to make the movement more
profitable by getting behind it. Music dealers
are certainly in a good position to stimulate
and organize public sentiment in their communi-
ties and focus it on some such point as the
setting aside of funds to maintain a band and
a series of band concerts. They can make the
other business men see that such a thing is good
for them. They can make women civic leaders
realize that the influence of music makes better
citizens of growing men and women.
The organization of bands in the cities, towns
and villages of the land has doubtless been
handicapped in the past through the dearth of
reasonably capable bandmasters. The supply
of these useful members of society has been
all too limited and at least one great band in-
strument manufacturer has shown that he ap-
preciates this. C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.,
With the exception of the famous
Paramount line, which la told on th«
exclusive arency basis, Lsnfe banjos
are now sold direct to music dealers
everywhere.
_ _ _ _* _ L J 1 ^ the Han jo made
L SingStlle
for the Beginner
The Langstile banjo enables you to serve a
big class of trade satisfactorily, being made
for the beginner. Langstile dealers will be
liberally supplied with sales helps and
literature.
O r p h e i l m
sk'n'ed" Amateur
We are now able to ©ffer this celebrated
professional favorite direct to the trade.
Super-Orpheum
professional
This greatly improved instrument meets the
needs of the professional and promises to add
to the reputation of an old name.
Paramount ^2*
This line is sold to only one dealer in a city
on the exclusive agency basis with full pro-
tection. Some territory is still open for the
Paramount line. Write and we will gladly
tell you if your territory Is open.
Dealers: Write for Proposition!
MLLANGE
f
Established 27 Years
225 E. 24th St
New York
recently founded the Conn National Band
School in Chicago under the direction of such
an able band master as Frederick Neil Innes
which is now turning out bandmasters and band
musicians by the classroom and correspondence
method.
There is a great deal more that could be writ-
ten on the subject of bands and band music in
its relation to retail sales «f band instruments,
but we must stop for the time being with the
suggestion that those dealers who are interested
in helping all the movement in their communi-
ties may obtain further information of value by
writing to the various manufacturers.
SLINGERLAND
MAY-BELL
Slingerland Banjos—Sold by practi-
cally all leading dealers. Over forty
styles to select from. Instruments of tone quality and dur-
ability. Sold at moderate price. Write for catalog and dealer's
proposition.
Slingerland Banjo Co.
1815 Orchard Street
Chicago, 111.
The OETTINGER MUSIC STAND
Gold Medal Strings
for musical instruments
Gold-plated Steel and
Wound Strings
Gibson Musical String Co.
Be >T
£ J! le
Opens and Closes with One Motion
Holds Any Size Sheet of Music
Made of Solid Drawn Tubing, Spring Brass
Ask Your Jobber or Write to
OETTINGER PRODUCTS
218 Tremont Street
BOSTON, MASS.
THE
APRIL 11, 1925
MUSIC TRADE
Fifteen States Now Have Band Laws
Modeled on Initial Statute of Iowa
the Lange
Banjo Lines
Acts Generally Permit Local Municipalities to Make Appropriations for the Support of Local
Bands—What Such a Law Has Already Accomplished in Iowa
CM FTEFIN States now have on their statute
books a State band law modeled after the
famous Iowa Band Law, instituted a few years
ago through the efforts of Major Geo. W.
Landers, of Clarinda, la., and progress is being
made toward the adoption of a similar law in
the other thirty-three States, according to Pat-
rick Conway, the celebrated bandmaster, who is
now devoting most of his time to promoting
national interest in band music.
These laws offer a wonderful opportunity to
the music dealer who handles band instruments
and he should do all in his power to foster the
sentiment that prompts the State Legislatures
to pass such enactments. And in such States
as have the laws on the books the dealer should
see to it that advantage is taken of them by
the formation of community bands.
The sum and substance of these laws is that
the statutes permit the local governments of
cities and towns to appropriate certain amounts
for the formation and maintenance of bands.
The famous model band law of Iowa permits
towns and cities under 40,000 population to levy
a maximum tax of two mills per dollar of
assessed valuation "for the maintenance or em-
ployment of a band for musical purposes."
It is said that within the first year after
Iowa's adoption of this law there sprung up
nearly one hundred new bands in that State.
Practically all of these came from small mu-
nicipalities which exercised their privilege and
established a series of band concerts resulting
in great advantages to the life of the com-
munity.
Other States have followed Iowa's example
with a two mill or one and a half mill tax.
These include California, Michigan, Maryland
and WesJ^Virginia. Texas recently passed a
bill with a three-mill limit. Kansas and Ne-
braska have laws calling for a one-mill limit.
The native State of Calvin Coolidge, Vermont,
has a band law which fixes the sum that may
be appropriated by municipalities for the main-
tenance of bands at 5 per cent of the total local
tax budget, this being reduced to 3 per cent
if the total exceeds $20,000. Pennsylvania's
band law sets an arbitrary limit of $500.
New York State passed a band law in 1923,
but it has not yet been exercised to any great
degree, by the small communities, although it is
expected that the intensive efforts of the musical
interests in the State will soon see a revival
of band music in the Empire State. The New
York law does not fix the amount to be voted
for bands. The two-mill limit which was worked
out satisfactorily in the Western States would
release too big a sum in the Eastern cities with
high property values. This might hamper the
band movement through possible criticism of
the expenditure of sums that were too large.
Accordingly the New York law leaves to the
discretion of the community the sum to be set
aside for band purposes.
While it is true that there are still thirty-
three States without band.laws that set aside
definite appropriations to encourage band music,
AGENTS WANTED
Throughout V. 8.
Writ* for Circular "T"
41
REVIEW
yet many of these States provide a generous
measure of home rule for all communities, so
that local public sentiment can be crystallized
to a degree which results in the formation of a
band or a series of concerts to permit the func-
tioning of a band that may exist.
The growth of this band law idea indicates
that the sentiment of the entire country is
favorable to the development of band music.
It is squarely up-to the music dealers to give
impetus to this movement in every way that
they can. A good many dealers have seen their
sales of band instruments grow during recent
years and have just accepted this as normal
growth without considering the reasons. Part
of it may have been "normal", but organized
activity fostered by the band instrument manu-
facturers' association and men like Pat Conway
and the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music have been working like Trojans all
the while.
The dealers who realize that this organized
creative work is actually doing something for
them will help to make the movement more
profitable by getting behind it. Music dealers
are certainly in a good position to stimulate
and organize public sentiment in their communi-
ties and focus it on some such point as the
setting aside of funds to maintain a band and
a series of band concerts. They can make the
other business men see that such a thing is good
for them. They can make women civic leaders
realize that the influence of music makes better
citizens of growing men and women.
The organization of bands in the cities, towns
and villages of the land has doubtless been
handicapped in the past through the dearth of
reasonably capable bandmasters. The supply
of these useful members of society has been
all too limited and at least one great band in-
strument manufacturer has shown that he ap-
preciates this. C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.,
With the exception of the famous
Paramount line, which la told on th«
exclusive arency basis, Lsnfe banjos
are now sold direct to music dealers
everywhere.
_ _ _ _* _ L J 1 ^ the Han jo made
L SingStlle
for the Beginner
The Langstile banjo enables you to serve a
big class of trade satisfactorily, being made
for the beginner. Langstile dealers will be
liberally supplied with sales helps and
literature.
O r p h e i l m
sk'n'ed" Amateur
We are now able to ©ffer this celebrated
professional favorite direct to the trade.
Super-Orpheum
professional
This greatly improved instrument meets the
needs of the professional and promises to add
to the reputation of an old name.
Paramount ^2*
This line is sold to only one dealer in a city
on the exclusive agency basis with full pro-
tection. Some territory is still open for the
Paramount line. Write and we will gladly
tell you if your territory Is open.
Dealers: Write for Proposition!
MLLANGE
f
Established 27 Years
225 E. 24th St
New York
recently founded the Conn National Band
School in Chicago under the direction of such
an able band master as Frederick Neil Innes
which is now turning out bandmasters and band
musicians by the classroom and correspondence
method.
There is a great deal more that could be writ-
ten on the subject of bands and band music in
its relation to retail sales «f band instruments,
but we must stop for the time being with the
suggestion that those dealers who are interested
in helping all the movement in their communi-
ties may obtain further information of value by
writing to the various manufacturers.
SLINGERLAND
MAY-BELL
Slingerland Banjos—Sold by practi-
cally all leading dealers. Over forty
styles to select from. Instruments of tone quality and dur-
ability. Sold at moderate price. Write for catalog and dealer's
proposition.
Slingerland Banjo Co.
1815 Orchard Street
Chicago, 111.
The OETTINGER MUSIC STAND
Gold Medal Strings
for musical instruments
Gold-plated Steel and
Wound Strings
Gibson Musical String Co.
Be >T
£ J! le
Opens and Closes with One Motion
Holds Any Size Sheet of Music
Made of Solid Drawn Tubing, Spring Brass
Ask Your Jobber or Write to
OETTINGER PRODUCTS
218 Tremont Street
BOSTON, MASS.
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