Music Trade Review
Issue: 1950 Vol. 109 N. 9 - Page 10
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The Jiusic
Ji
REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
MCMIM OF
V. T. Costello
Associate Editor
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Alexander Hart
Technical Editor
Mary Louise Kauffman
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 RKO Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y.
Telephones; Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol. 109
SEPTEMBER, 1950
No. 9
Business—As We See It
LTHOUGH Regulation W has been revived,
piano and musical instruments are not named
among those commodities which come under
the control of this regulation. Television sets, phono-
graphs, radio sets and radio-phonograph combinations
are the only instruments connected
with the music industry, named in
the regulation at this time. On these,
a down payment of 1 5 % is speci-
fied, and the maximum time limit
is 18 months. Thus, the music mer-
chants who handle pianos and mu-
sical instruments are relieved of
any of the formalities in respect to
this type of merchandise. It will be
remembered that the effect of the
original Regulation W on the mu-
CAKLETOX CHACE
sic industry proved very satisfac-
tory. In fact, many piano merchants were glad that
pianos land musical instruments were included in the
.10
act. Since that time, down payments and time limits
have been so well stabilized that very seldom have credit
extensions gone beyond 24 months. Down payments
have been at least 2 0 % . Through the original Regu-
lation W, the public was educated to the fact that a
certain amount of down payment was obligatory and
that there were only certain credit limits that could be
used. They were also educated to the fact that the piano
bench could not be included in the total price of the
piano and had to be added thereto. Therefore, most
piano merchants have continued along these lines which
they have found to be much more satisfactory than
many of the methods practiced before the original
Regulation W was put in force. Besides, this, the per-
centage of cash sales lias continued to be very high,
and instead of a large percentage of time sales, cash
sales still predominate in a manner similar to that of
the war period. Therefore, if music merchants continue
along these lines, there seems to be no reason why
Regulation W should ever be extended to apply to the
music business. The music industry itself seems to have
gotten into the habit of regulating its down payments
and time sales to the entire satisfaction of all con-
cerned. Bravo!
Should The Teaching Age Be 4 Or 9 Years?
C""^ AST month we published an article in which,
J l / | after complimenting the American Music Con-
^•"••" ferenee regarding their work in promoting piano
lessons in the schools, the writer posed the question as
to whether it was more practical to start children taking
piano lessons when they were 4 years old rather than
when they were 9 years old. It seems that from what
we have since learned from William A. Mills, executive
secretary of the American Music Conference, that the
children in the third grades are at present taught pitch
through the use of the tonette and the flutophone, to
give them an idea of tone on a single staff. According
to Mr. Mills, the American Music Conference believes
that it would be more practical if a piano were used
at this age in order to give them the pitch of a double
staff. This they consider would be perfect pitch. It is
evident, therefore, that the American Music Conference
has this matter in mind and, although where music
merchants have started to have children taught at an
earlier age, a certain amount of patience is required
to see that this idea is carried out in the parochial
and public schools. It has been a long period that
other methods of teaching children pitch at the earlier
age has been in vogue. It must be remembered also
that it has been many years that there has been no
attention paid whatsoever to the teaching of piano in
the schools and the progress which has been made
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, SEPTEMBER, 1950
The Jiusic
Ji
REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
MCMIM OF
V. T. Costello
Associate Editor
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Alexander Hart
Technical Editor
Mary Louise Kauffman
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 RKO Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y.
Telephones; Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol. 109
SEPTEMBER, 1950
No. 9
Business—As We See It
LTHOUGH Regulation W has been revived,
piano and musical instruments are not named
among those commodities which come under
the control of this regulation. Television sets, phono-
graphs, radio sets and radio-phonograph combinations
are the only instruments connected
with the music industry, named in
the regulation at this time. On these,
a down payment of 1 5 % is speci-
fied, and the maximum time limit
is 18 months. Thus, the music mer-
chants who handle pianos and mu-
sical instruments are relieved of
any of the formalities in respect to
this type of merchandise. It will be
remembered that the effect of the
original Regulation W on the mu-
CAKLETOX CHACE
sic industry proved very satisfac-
tory. In fact, many piano merchants were glad that
pianos land musical instruments were included in the
.10
act. Since that time, down payments and time limits
have been so well stabilized that very seldom have credit
extensions gone beyond 24 months. Down payments
have been at least 2 0 % . Through the original Regu-
lation W, the public was educated to the fact that a
certain amount of down payment was obligatory and
that there were only certain credit limits that could be
used. They were also educated to the fact that the piano
bench could not be included in the total price of the
piano and had to be added thereto. Therefore, most
piano merchants have continued along these lines which
they have found to be much more satisfactory than
many of the methods practiced before the original
Regulation W was put in force. Besides, this, the per-
centage of cash sales lias continued to be very high,
and instead of a large percentage of time sales, cash
sales still predominate in a manner similar to that of
the war period. Therefore, if music merchants continue
along these lines, there seems to be no reason why
Regulation W should ever be extended to apply to the
music business. The music industry itself seems to have
gotten into the habit of regulating its down payments
and time sales to the entire satisfaction of all con-
cerned. Bravo!
Should The Teaching Age Be 4 Or 9 Years?
C""^ AST month we published an article in which,
J l / | after complimenting the American Music Con-
^•"••" ferenee regarding their work in promoting piano
lessons in the schools, the writer posed the question as
to whether it was more practical to start children taking
piano lessons when they were 4 years old rather than
when they were 9 years old. It seems that from what
we have since learned from William A. Mills, executive
secretary of the American Music Conference, that the
children in the third grades are at present taught pitch
through the use of the tonette and the flutophone, to
give them an idea of tone on a single staff. According
to Mr. Mills, the American Music Conference believes
that it would be more practical if a piano were used
at this age in order to give them the pitch of a double
staff. This they consider would be perfect pitch. It is
evident, therefore, that the American Music Conference
has this matter in mind and, although where music
merchants have started to have children taught at an
earlier age, a certain amount of patience is required
to see that this idea is carried out in the parochial
and public schools. It has been a long period that
other methods of teaching children pitch at the earlier
age has been in vogue. It must be remembered also
that it has been many years that there has been no
attention paid whatsoever to the teaching of piano in
the schools and the progress which has been made
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, SEPTEMBER, 1950
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