Music Trade Review

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Group Instruction
As Yahrling-Rayner Organizes It
Charles H. Yahrling, Head of Youngstown Music House, Gives
Full Details of Methods in Organizing Group Piano Instruction
Class Which Has Proved Highly Successful With This Merchant
F
OLLOWING the great success met z< the Yahrling-Rayner Music Co., of Youngs- ing chords. They do this much more quickly
town, O., in conducting Melody Way classes because of their keen interest from the begin-
in group piano instruction, a measure of success ning.
The whole process is merely the application
that has influenced the company to continue that
work indefinitely, numerous inquiries have been of the latest methods used with success in our
received from dealers throughout the country rela- public schools to-day. The old way of piano
tive to the manner in xvhich such classes are con- teaching gave the scale and many humdrum
exercises, with emphasis on counting at the
ducted.
In response to these inquiries, Charles ft. very first until the youngsters heartily disliked
Yahrling, president of the Yahrling-Rayner Co., any thought of music. The new way teaches
has outlined the method folloiued by his company attractive, tuneful little pieces, folk songs and
in organising and carrying on the classes in the rhythmic games, which stimulate the interest
of the youngsters throughout the course.
following general summary.—EDITOR.
The pupils work most faithfully at their
How the Melody Way Piano Classes Are Con-
music
and many mothers state that they have
ducted for the Yahrling-Rayner Music Co.
no trouble inducing their children to practice,
The children are formed in groups of twenty, that they are at the keyboard every minute
care being taken to keep those of the same they can find, and when every child knows he
ages in one class. Tables are provided the must play before the rest of the class he for-
proper heights, so that the books and keyboards gets about watching the clock during practice
can be laid in front of the pupil.
hours and does his level best to perform as
Each lesson begins with the singing of sev- well as his classmates.
eral pretty little melodies. This quickly creates
After the tenth lesson the children from each
a musical atmosphere and makes the children of the classes are .divided into two groups ac-
feel free and happy. Then come rhythmic cording to age and concerts are given by each
games, such as ringing of bells, imitating the
rowing of boats, bouncing balls, skipping and
then marching. The children enter into this
with great enthusiasm. It is such a grand,
big game that they work steadily throughout
the whole hour without the least thought of
any part of it being a drudgery. In connection Frederick P. Stieff Named Temporary President
of New Organization Founded at Meeting on
with the games they analyze the movements,
Monday—TTo Combat Musical Legislation
study the different types of measures and learn
to play and write rhythms from dictation.
BALTIMORE, February 22.—Initial steps for the
The next phase is the teaching of a rote
song, first with words, then with syllables. Since formatiem of the Maryland State Association of
most of the children sing in school by syllabic, Music Merchants were taken at a meeting called
this is very simply done, and they become by C. J. Roberts, State commissioner, at the
Hotel Rennert yesterday. Representatives of
familiar with phrases, motives and figures.
Before actual keyboard practice starts, a study the music trade from Baltimore and other parts
of the keyboard and use of the key finder is of the State attended and after a luncheon or-
made. The children strive at this as if it were ganized by electing temporary officers as fol-
a wonderful puzzle game which they cannot lows :
Frederick P. Stieff, president; Joseph A.
leave until it is solved. In most of the classes
not over half of the pupils have pianos in their Kunkle, first vice-president; C T. Levin, second
homes, and, therefore, are compelled to do all vice-president; N. M. Michael, secretary, and
t'u-ir practicing on the "dummy" keyboard W. A. Eisenbrandt, treasurer.
In assuming office Mr. Stieff stressed the
which all <>f the children use during the lessons.
By the use of the key finders the pupils play necessity for a strong organization in the State
the melody on the practice keyboards and also and appointed a membership committee, con-
take turns at the piano, singing all the while. sisting of N. M. Michael, Jos. A. Kunkle and
As to position and use of fingers, very gratify- John Stengle, to canvass the trade before the
ing results are obtained. Even the children next meeting, when permanent officers will be
who have no pianos at home quickly learn to elected.
play with these.
A legislative committee consisting of C J.
There are a few important things that the Roberts, W. A. Eisenbrandt, S. W. Aholt and
children are taught above all others at the start, C. J. Levin was appointed to co-operate with
and that is a free, relaxed hand position, playing Attorney General Hill in relation to pending
with finger tips only, and perfect fingering and bills in the general assembly affecting the music
rhythm. The singing helps much toward keep- trade of the State. Mr. Hill told of the- bill
ing the time even and prevents the usual which would remove the distraint on pianos and
other musical instruments and after quite a dis-
stumbling.
Chords are taught in their simplest form cussion it was decided to leave the matter in
as they are found in the pieces studied. By- the hands of Mr. Hill, who would make a re-
use of the key finder the pupils learn to locate port at the next meeting. Another bill in which
the principal chords in any key. They sing the trade is considerately interested is one
the chords by syllable, read the letter names strengthening the conditions of ce>ntract sales
and play them with correct fingering. Tn a on merchandise of all kinds.
surprisingly short time the children are able
Music houses represented at the meeting in-
Maryland Music Dealers
Launch New Association
class at the Yahrling-Rayner Auditorium. In
a rather informal way five judges, among whom
are two newspaper reporters, choose those from
each class who play the best. A week later
those selected-play again before a large audi-
ence. The competition at this time i< very
keen, for the smaller group are' then competing
for a grand prize, which is a term of twelve
piano lessons from any private teacher in the
city the winner cares to select.
In this contest five of the most prominent
musicians and teachers in the city act as judges.
The decision is based on the 1 following items:
Position, ten points; time', twenty points; tone,
ten points; rhythm, twenty points; expression,
twenty points, and memory, twkpnty points. By
basing the decision on points it*: gives every
child an equal chance regardless of age. In
the contest just finished the winner had an
average of 99.2 points.
The Miessner "Melody Way" is by far the
simplest method yet devised for teaching the
piano and the- results obtained are- truly re-
markable. Statistics show that about 75 per
cent oT the children who finish in these classes
continue 1 their music studv in some form.
eluded: ("has. M. Stieff, Inc., ("bickering Ware-
rooms, Kunkle Piano Co., Kranz Smith Piano
Co., l'eabody Piano Co., Caulfield Piano Co.,
Laurens Music Co., Eisenbrandt Sons and
Kobra Music Co.
Deutschmann Addresses
New Orleans Piano Tuners
National President Again Calls Attention to
Number of Untuned Pianos in the United
States—Blames Jazz Playing
NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 19.—A meeting of
the New Orleans division of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Tuners was held here; last week
in the Werlein music store' and the gathering
was addressed by Charles De'iitschmann, presi-
dent of the' national body, who was in the city
on a special errand. He stated thai pianists,
playing jazz music exclusively, pound the in-
struments in such a way that they becejmc
chronically out of tune and can hardly be classi-
fied as musical instruments.
According to Mr. Deutschmann's figures, there
are more than 8,000,000 pianos in America out
of tune. Approximately 4,000,001) of these, he-
estimated, are in no condition to be' classified as
musical instruments.
Isadore Rosenstein Retires
From the Baltimore Trade
BAITIMOKK, February 22.—Isador Rosenstein,
trading as the Rosenstein Piano Co., 402 North
Howard street, has retired from business and
disposed of his stock of pianos and players to
Chas. M Stieff, Inc. Mr. Rosenstein, who is
well known in the music trade here and has
three brothers in the business in Raltimore, has
made no plans for the future.