Music Trade Review
Issue: 1927 Vol. 84 N. 21 - Page 24
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MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
New York Manufacturers to Welcome
American Guild Meeting in New York
American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists to Hold Annual Convention
at the Hotel Pennsylvania on May 23, 24, 25
Dl.AMS for supporting the Anirrican (iuild
of Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists,
which holds its annual convention in New York
this month, occupied the attention of the
monthly meeting of the Musical Merchandise
Manufacturers' Association, Eastern Zone, last
week. President David L. Day opened the
meeting by reading a telegram from President
Gotsch, of the Chicago Association, inviting
the members to luncheon at the Hotel Stevens,
June 7.
President Day reported that the firm of
Magosy & Buescher, resigned January 18, 1927,
had signified its desire to be reinstated in mem-
bership and it was unanimously voted to declare
it so reinstated. It was voted to extend a
vote of thanks to the trade press for the ex-
cellent publicity and editorial comment accorded
the Association on the occasion of its last
meeting.
President Day next called attention to the
coming convention of the American Guild of
Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists at the
Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City, on May
23, 24, 25, and urged the members to support
the Guild actively.
H. L. Hunt, secretary of Associated Musical
Instrument Dealers of New York, Inc., spoke
of the importance of the Guild in offering one
of the finest opportunities anywhere for good
players to exercise their talents. Mr. Hunt
noted the recent unmistakable trend away from
jazz toward standard music, as shown, for in-
stance, by the greatly increased sale of sym-
phony records, and said that, in this connection,
the Guild, standing as it does for sound music
teaching and high principles, was deserving of
the complete support of every member of the
musical merchandise industry.
Wm. Edw. Foster, convention manager of
the Guild, stated that the Guild numbered
among its members the leading teachers and
professional players of fretted instruments in
America and in the twenty-six years of its ex-
istence had labored consistently to elevate the
standards of teaching and to eliminate the fake
instructors who prey upon the public. In one
other particular, said Mr. Foster, the Guild does
an inestimable service in that it demonstrates
the value of ensemble work. The individual
player, practicing alone, often becomes dis-
couraged with his apparently slow progress,
but when led to join an orchestra or band he
immediately takes heart and continues his in-
terest in the instrument. By thus instilling
and holding interest in fretted instruments, tin
Guild does a world of good to the industry.
G. F. Chapin stated that the influence and
importance of the music teacher in the musical
development of the nation cannot be over-
estimated. The teacher is in effect a missionary
who raises the plane of musical endeavor, for
the simple reason that better teaching means
better playing. On this account alone, the Guild
is worthy of the strongest possible support.
President Day said that instrument manu-
facturers could find no more helpful way to
further the distribution of fretted instruments
than by becoming trade members of the Guild,
with which goes the exclusive privilege of exhi-
biting at its conventions. It was voted as the
sense of the meeting that all members of this
Association, as well as the members of the Na-
tional Association of Musical Instrument & Ac-
cessories Manufacturers, be urged to give evi-
dence of their sympathy with the aims of the
Guild and of their support of its activities by
joining the Guild as trade members.
The secretary was also instructed to write
all members to promote the concert to be given
ny tlie Liiiiid during the coming convention bv
pu. chasing and distributing tickets.
C. V. Buttelman, managing editor Jacobs
Publications, said that it was a strange bm
nevertheless undisputed fact that the present
depressed state of the music business should
occur at precisely the time when the interest
of the American people had reached a point
never yet attained in the history of the Nation.
The blame for this deplorable state of affairs
rests upon the music industries themselves be-
cause they have spent their force in competitive
selling instead of co-operative salesmanship. It
is becoming more and more evident, however,
that music men are commencing to realize
that business had reached a new stage, that
the day of harsh competition among small units
has passed and that the real struggle is be-
tween the industries themselves. Business
must be developed at its source by stimulating
active buying for the products of the whole
industry among the people at large.
Another point, said Mr. Buttelman, that the
music industry must learn, is to get the pros-
pects' viewpoint. The purchaser of a musical
instrument is an asset to the dealer (and to
I lie industry as well) only if he learns to play.
Consequently, the competent teacher forms the
best tie-up between the dealer and the prospect.
Whence it follows that it is as much the con-
cern of the manufacturer as of the dealer to
encourage the raising of the standards of teach-
ing and of playing. The subnormal instruments
so much decried will then eradicate themselves
and the levels of quality will automatically rise.
In conclusion, Mr. Buttelman discussed the
future of the banjo. The present falling off
in its sale is to be attributed to the trend
away from jazz toward the standard grade of
music, as noted by previous speakers. Other
stringed instruments, such as the guitar and
mandolin, are not suffering on this account be-
cause they can be utilized for jazz or not, as
the case may be.
Primarily, said Mr. Buttelman, the banjo is
an instrument of rhythm and is not so well
adapted for solo work. Its great value lies
in the fact that it combines a chromatic and
rhythmic figure at one and the same time,
while the other typically rhythmic instrument,
the drum, presents a rhythmic figure alone.
Once this double use of the banjo is recognized
it will be introduced in any orchestra where
rhythm is essential and will not be confined
to the dance orchestra. The present accepted
use of the banjo as a jazz instrument only is
not sufficient and its field of application must
be widened if its sale is to be stabilized. This
can be accomplished if the trouble be taken
to prove its adaptability to other than dance
music, because there is no other instrument
that can take its place.
F. E. Hendry, a prominent Rotarian of Bos-
ton, gave a brief inspirational talk on the
benefits of co-operative effort among the mem-
bers of a particular industry, illustrating his
points by examples from his own experience.
It was voted to propose to the Chicago
Association that, provided there is no conflict
with other arrangements, Mr. Buttelman be
invited to address the luncheon-meeting in
Chicago on June 7.
Music Makers Do
Better Than Babe Ruth
Number of Musicians Have Greater Incomes
Annually Than the King of Swat
ELKHART, IND., May 16.—Although nation-wide
interest was recently attracted in the contract
of Babe Ruth for $70,000 a year, music dealers
should not allow this publicity to overshadow
the fact that many famous music makers get
salaries much larger than this, it is pointed
out in an interesting article in the latest issue
of True Tone, the Buescher Band Instrument
Co.'s musical journal.
Paul Whiteman, John Philip Sousa and Vin-
cent Lopez are all music makers whose annual
earnings greatly exceed those of the famous
home-run king, and it is a fact that music
dealers are inclined to overlook the striking
factor that they have here in playing up to
the ambition of the boys and girls of their com-
munities.
Many other interesting articles feature this
issue, including "School Music, a Need of the
South," by Capt. J. B. O'Neal; "Music, Its
Place on the School Program," by Coloston R.
Tuttle; "Saxology," by Harry W. Lewis, and
"How Musical Tones Are Formed," by Paul H.
Apel.
GRETSCH
for
Trade
Mark
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred Gretsch Mfg: Co.
6O Broadway
24
BrooklyfLNY
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
New York Manufacturers to Welcome
American Guild Meeting in New York
American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists to Hold Annual Convention
at the Hotel Pennsylvania on May 23, 24, 25
Dl.AMS for supporting the Anirrican (iuild
of Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists,
which holds its annual convention in New York
this month, occupied the attention of the
monthly meeting of the Musical Merchandise
Manufacturers' Association, Eastern Zone, last
week. President David L. Day opened the
meeting by reading a telegram from President
Gotsch, of the Chicago Association, inviting
the members to luncheon at the Hotel Stevens,
June 7.
President Day reported that the firm of
Magosy & Buescher, resigned January 18, 1927,
had signified its desire to be reinstated in mem-
bership and it was unanimously voted to declare
it so reinstated. It was voted to extend a
vote of thanks to the trade press for the ex-
cellent publicity and editorial comment accorded
the Association on the occasion of its last
meeting.
President Day next called attention to the
coming convention of the American Guild of
Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists at the
Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City, on May
23, 24, 25, and urged the members to support
the Guild actively.
H. L. Hunt, secretary of Associated Musical
Instrument Dealers of New York, Inc., spoke
of the importance of the Guild in offering one
of the finest opportunities anywhere for good
players to exercise their talents. Mr. Hunt
noted the recent unmistakable trend away from
jazz toward standard music, as shown, for in-
stance, by the greatly increased sale of sym-
phony records, and said that, in this connection,
the Guild, standing as it does for sound music
teaching and high principles, was deserving of
the complete support of every member of the
musical merchandise industry.
Wm. Edw. Foster, convention manager of
the Guild, stated that the Guild numbered
among its members the leading teachers and
professional players of fretted instruments in
America and in the twenty-six years of its ex-
istence had labored consistently to elevate the
standards of teaching and to eliminate the fake
instructors who prey upon the public. In one
other particular, said Mr. Foster, the Guild does
an inestimable service in that it demonstrates
the value of ensemble work. The individual
player, practicing alone, often becomes dis-
couraged with his apparently slow progress,
but when led to join an orchestra or band he
immediately takes heart and continues his in-
terest in the instrument. By thus instilling
and holding interest in fretted instruments, tin
Guild does a world of good to the industry.
G. F. Chapin stated that the influence and
importance of the music teacher in the musical
development of the nation cannot be over-
estimated. The teacher is in effect a missionary
who raises the plane of musical endeavor, for
the simple reason that better teaching means
better playing. On this account alone, the Guild
is worthy of the strongest possible support.
President Day said that instrument manu-
facturers could find no more helpful way to
further the distribution of fretted instruments
than by becoming trade members of the Guild,
with which goes the exclusive privilege of exhi-
biting at its conventions. It was voted as the
sense of the meeting that all members of this
Association, as well as the members of the Na-
tional Association of Musical Instrument & Ac-
cessories Manufacturers, be urged to give evi-
dence of their sympathy with the aims of the
Guild and of their support of its activities by
joining the Guild as trade members.
The secretary was also instructed to write
all members to promote the concert to be given
ny tlie Liiiiid during the coming convention bv
pu. chasing and distributing tickets.
C. V. Buttelman, managing editor Jacobs
Publications, said that it was a strange bm
nevertheless undisputed fact that the present
depressed state of the music business should
occur at precisely the time when the interest
of the American people had reached a point
never yet attained in the history of the Nation.
The blame for this deplorable state of affairs
rests upon the music industries themselves be-
cause they have spent their force in competitive
selling instead of co-operative salesmanship. It
is becoming more and more evident, however,
that music men are commencing to realize
that business had reached a new stage, that
the day of harsh competition among small units
has passed and that the real struggle is be-
tween the industries themselves. Business
must be developed at its source by stimulating
active buying for the products of the whole
industry among the people at large.
Another point, said Mr. Buttelman, that the
music industry must learn, is to get the pros-
pects' viewpoint. The purchaser of a musical
instrument is an asset to the dealer (and to
I lie industry as well) only if he learns to play.
Consequently, the competent teacher forms the
best tie-up between the dealer and the prospect.
Whence it follows that it is as much the con-
cern of the manufacturer as of the dealer to
encourage the raising of the standards of teach-
ing and of playing. The subnormal instruments
so much decried will then eradicate themselves
and the levels of quality will automatically rise.
In conclusion, Mr. Buttelman discussed the
future of the banjo. The present falling off
in its sale is to be attributed to the trend
away from jazz toward the standard grade of
music, as noted by previous speakers. Other
stringed instruments, such as the guitar and
mandolin, are not suffering on this account be-
cause they can be utilized for jazz or not, as
the case may be.
Primarily, said Mr. Buttelman, the banjo is
an instrument of rhythm and is not so well
adapted for solo work. Its great value lies
in the fact that it combines a chromatic and
rhythmic figure at one and the same time,
while the other typically rhythmic instrument,
the drum, presents a rhythmic figure alone.
Once this double use of the banjo is recognized
it will be introduced in any orchestra where
rhythm is essential and will not be confined
to the dance orchestra. The present accepted
use of the banjo as a jazz instrument only is
not sufficient and its field of application must
be widened if its sale is to be stabilized. This
can be accomplished if the trouble be taken
to prove its adaptability to other than dance
music, because there is no other instrument
that can take its place.
F. E. Hendry, a prominent Rotarian of Bos-
ton, gave a brief inspirational talk on the
benefits of co-operative effort among the mem-
bers of a particular industry, illustrating his
points by examples from his own experience.
It was voted to propose to the Chicago
Association that, provided there is no conflict
with other arrangements, Mr. Buttelman be
invited to address the luncheon-meeting in
Chicago on June 7.
Music Makers Do
Better Than Babe Ruth
Number of Musicians Have Greater Incomes
Annually Than the King of Swat
ELKHART, IND., May 16.—Although nation-wide
interest was recently attracted in the contract
of Babe Ruth for $70,000 a year, music dealers
should not allow this publicity to overshadow
the fact that many famous music makers get
salaries much larger than this, it is pointed
out in an interesting article in the latest issue
of True Tone, the Buescher Band Instrument
Co.'s musical journal.
Paul Whiteman, John Philip Sousa and Vin-
cent Lopez are all music makers whose annual
earnings greatly exceed those of the famous
home-run king, and it is a fact that music
dealers are inclined to overlook the striking
factor that they have here in playing up to
the ambition of the boys and girls of their com-
munities.
Many other interesting articles feature this
issue, including "School Music, a Need of the
South," by Capt. J. B. O'Neal; "Music, Its
Place on the School Program," by Coloston R.
Tuttle; "Saxology," by Harry W. Lewis, and
"How Musical Tones Are Formed," by Paul H.
Apel.
GRETSCH
for
Trade
Mark
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred Gretsch Mfg: Co.
6O Broadway
24
BrooklyfLNY
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