Music Trade Review

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The Music Trade Review
M. Hohner Co-operates with Victor Co. in
Making Records Giving Harmonica Lessons
Trade Anticipates Large Sale of Record Giving Complete instructions for the Playing
of Harmonica—Commander Sousa Pays High Tribute to Value of Instrument
The Victor Talking Machine Co., working in
conjunction with M. Hohner, Inc., has prepared
a record of harmonica instruction which is
scheduled for early release. Dealers, who for
the past two years have been materially increas-
ing the volume of their harmonica sales through
the stimulus given the instrument by varied
Hohner activities, are eagerly awaiting the
record, for they feel that this record will give a
decided impetus to the harmonica sales and M.
Hohner, Inc., has signified its intention of mak-
ing a sweeping sales drive simultaneous with the
release of the record.
It is understood that William J. Haussler,
vice-president and general manager of M. Hoh-
ner, Inc., and of C. Bruno & Son, Victor dis-
tributors, has spent much time with the labora-
tory force of the Victor Co., giving them the
benefit of his twenty-five years' experience in
presenting the harmonica to the public, and in
particular the many points he picked up during
the past two years in giving Hohner harmonica
instruction hours over the radio. That the de-
mand for such a record will be great is evi-
denced by the fact that more than 600,000 copies
of the Hohner instruction booklet have been re-
quested by radio listeners-in, and a great per-
centage of this number and many others will be
anxious to secure the instructions in recorded
form, to be repeated at will as an aid in learn-
ing to play the instrument. The sales oppor-
tunities of the record are unlimited and that
harmonica sales will also be favorably influenced
is obvious.
With the release of the record there will be
broadcast to the public the enthusiastic en
dorsement of the harmonica by Commandei
John Philip Sousa, famous bandmaster. The
famous composer and band leader showed keen
interest in the inspection of the various makes
of Hohner harmonicas and, after attending a
concert of a harmonica band under the direc-
tion of Alfred N. Hoxie, said that in his opinion
the instrument provided one of the most potent
forces extant for inducing musical culture. In
a recent interview Commander Sousa said in
part:
"The harmonica is essentially a proper and in
fact almost the only elementary musical instru-
ment embodying accurate musical values. Other
wind instruments require varying measures of
skill and artistic appreciation on the part of the
individual. The harmonica, however, with its
fixed pitch and accuracy of tone to each specific
blow-hole, needs only to be blown into to pro-
duce a true musical result. I can see the har-
monica as a most powerful force toward the de-
velopment of amateur and professional musi-
cians generally."
Commander Sousa stated that he has be-
come so interested in the harmonica that he in-
tends to write a march expressly for har-
monica performance.
Music Featured Widely in
the Schools of Milwaukee
Over 800 Violin Pupils, 800 Cello Students, 350
Band Instrument Students as Well as Many
Others Now Listed in Those Schools
Milwaukee, Wis., May 3.—Music in schools
in and around Milwaukee is becoming more
and more popular. Contests, music fes-
tivals, band tournaments, and the like are
being held and music merchants here say that
these events cannot help but have a marked
effect upon business in the music field.
Almost as soon as a child enters .school he
is taught to sing and from that time on his in-
terest in music develops until he soon desires
to play an instrument of some kind. Music con-
tests which are held from time to time continue
to stimulate his interest and increase his pro-
ficiency in a given line and this inevitably re-
sults in business for the music merchant. Deal-
ers report that often, after becoming fairly adept
at playing one type of instrument, a customer,
whether child or grown person, often wishes
to master another, and the ball is therefore
kept rolling.
Herman F. Smith, director of music in the
schools, says that the harp lias become a
favorite instrument among children. Harp study
began in Milwaukee with the installation of four
harps less than a year ago at Riverside, North
Division and Washington High Schools as well
as at the Girls' Trade School here. Children
came from all parts of the city to take lessons,
which were given after school hours and, in cer-
tain school buildings, on Saturday morning.
Mr. Smith says that there are about 800 violin
pupils in the schools, 800 cello students and
about 350 studying the various band instru-
ments. Even the bassoon, oboe and French
horn are taught in the schools and it is believed
that in the very near future each school will
have a symphony orchestra.
One of the most recent contests held in Mil-
waukee was that presented by student musicians
of six suburban high schools under the auspices
of the Milwaukee Suburban Music Association.
It was held at the Lincoln High School of
Cudahy and consisted of an afternoon and eve
ning performance in which students competed
in violin, cello, viola and piano-playing con-
tests. The West Allis High School or-
chestra received first place in a competition with
the other high school orchestras and Wauwa-
tosa and Cudahy high schools received second
and third prize, respectively.
Judges in the contest were B. F. Stuber, of
Northwestern University; Herman Zeitz, Col-
lege of Music, Marquette University, and Theo-
dore Winkler, director of music at Sheboygan.
The Music Festival which the public schools
of Milwaukee will hold May 13 and 14, and
which is designed primarily to demonstrate the
work of music pupils in the schools, is attracting
a great deal of attention throughout Milwaukee.
Some 2,060 children will sing during the festival
and an ensemble of twenty pianos played by
forty children will be one of the special features
of the program.
On May 27 and 28 fifty Wisconsin vocational
and high school bands will be represented in
the Wisconsin School Band Tournament at the
Milwaukee Auditorium in connection with the
MAY 7, 1927
1927 convention of the Wisconsin School Band
Association. This event is expected to be the
biggest occurrence of its kind in the history of
the association. Local dealers and manufac-
turers of the city will display their featured in-
struments at the Auditorium in connection with
the convention and tournament, and all space in
the Auditorium has been leased for this pur-
pose. Frank A. Maas, of the Milwaukee Voca-
tional School, is in charge of the event.
At Menomonie, Wis., National Music Week is
receiving much attention. All the musical and
educational organizations of the city, as well as
churches, are co-operating with the Menomonie
Musicale Club in making the week a success.
Special attention is being given by Menomonie
theatres to musical programs for the week and
the City hospital in that city is also putting on
a special program. All public observances of the
week have been made free to the public, the aim
of the Musicale club being to promote interest
in music rather than for any special financial
gain.
Sousa in Chicago Schools
CILICACO, hi.., April 30.—John Philip Sousa, who
will appear next week at the Auditorium, is to
be the guest of the Chicago Daily News at
various high schools of Chicago. Arrangements
were completed with Maj. Frank Lee Beals,
cotnmandant of the Reserve Officers' Training
Corps in Chicago high schools,- to extend Lieu-
icnant-Commandcr Sousa's advice to youngsters
through personal visits to high schools, where
lie will instruct student military bands. In
addition, he will write a series of articles on
musical subjects for the paper.
Likes the Ludwig
VANCOUVER, B. C, April 26.—F.rnest Anderson,
of the Vancouver Drum Co., is a strong
booster for Ludwig drums. Mr. Anderson is
proprietor of the shop and has built up one
of the finest drum establishments in Canada.
He has played drum since his early boyhood
days, some thirty years ago, and knows about
all there is to know about drums. His store
is completely equipped, and courteous treatment
and an understanding of the drummer's needs
have made the store a big success.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
GRET5CH
42*48 EAST ^0 T -r•5T, MEW YORK
Banjo and Drum Heads
Genuine Rogers "Quality brands"
were given Medal and highest
awards over all others.
Five grades to select from, cheapest
to the very best.
White calf in thin, medium and
heavy.
Joseph Rogers, Jr., & Son
Farmingdal*, N. J.