Presto
Issue: 1929 2229 - Page 7
June 15, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
the possibilities. The logical, in fact, the only mechan-
ism available for this great task is the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce and its amazingly effec-
tive promotional department, the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music. Through the bureau,
certain branches of the music industry have already
energetically begun the attack—with gratifying re-
Our Task Is to Convince Parents that the sults. The band-instrument manufacturers can be
instanced. Several years ago they were confronted
Richest Child Is Poor Without Musical
with a serious decline in saxophone sales, which con-
Training. Says Hermann Irion
stituted the bulk of the band-instrument business.
at Convention.
Through the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music, in cooperation with the Music Supervisors'
Always an interesting speaker, Hermann Irion
eclipsed his own record at the get-together luncheon . National Conference, they launched a campaign to
at the Drake Hotel on June 3. As a preface to his stimulate the development of instrumental music in
the public-school system of the country. The result
annual report as president of the Music Industries
has been that the lost saxophone sales have been
Chamber of Commerce, he said this meeting was
largely offset by a constant increase in the sale of
heralding the beginning of a new era; that the join-
cup-mouthpiece instruments.
ing of hands of the old with the younger develop-
ments in music was a necessary union, and that the
School Orchestras.
keynote of success for the piano business is "Let us
The
musical
instrument
jobbers assumed as their
have faith in our industry." He said we are a musical
promotional problem the stimulation of school orches-
people, producing more and better music than ever
tras in a manner similar to that adopted for school-
before and we w r ere engaged in the pleasant task of
band promotion, and this campaign already holds
making this country the musical nation it might
promise of as great success as the band promotion
well be.
achieved. Following the lead of the band instrument
Chamber President's Report.
manufacturers and the musical instrument jobbers,
the manufacturers of fretted instruments a year ago
Mr. lrion's annual report follows:
Never before has continued vigorous work by the commenced a modest promotional campaign for their
products, with the assistance of the National Bureau
associations of the music industry been so vital to
for the Advancement of Music, and are directing this
the welfare of our industry as at present. It is need-
campaign particularly at summer camps, recreational
less, if not inappropriate, to dwell at this time upon
centers and social departments of large business cor-
the conditions we have been battling. These con-
porations, in which this type of instruments is espe-
ditions are imposing readjustments that test the
cially attractive. I feel certain that the future pros-
nerves of the best of us, but we must endure the trial,
perity of these branches of our industry depends to
confident that when it has passed our industry will
a large extent upon the continued and enlarged scope
be on firmer footing than ever before, provided the
of promotional activities undertaken in their behalf
lessons we have learned are heeded. We shall be
by the chamber through its National Bureau for the
not only on a surer foundation, but on wider, better
Advancement of Music.
planes than heretofore. The future is bright for
those who have faith in the industry and will bring
Piano Division's Needs.
intelligent vision to bear upon its present problems.
Of all branches of the music industry, the piano
Common Action Necessary.
division is at present in most need of promotional
Now, great as are the internal problems of our
assistance. The present situation is in a way the
individual businesses, the greatest problem is common
result of conditions beyond the industry's control,
to the entire industry and it cannot be solved except
particularly the condition resulting from the inven-
by common action of the whole industry. Upon its
tion and development of radio and its entrance into
successful solution, in my opinion, more than upon
the home-entertainment field in competition with the
any other factor, does the success of our individual
mechanical piano. It is possible that after the inven-
businesses depend. I refer to the problem of making
tion of the player piano the efforts of the industry
our people a nation of amateur performers on musical
were bent too largely toward its sale, to the detri-
instruments.
ment of the straight piano and the consequent neglect
In attacking the problem, the first fact we must
of encouragement of piano study. As a result, we
bear in mind is that the love of people for music is
have allowed a generation to grow up uneducated
natural and universal, because music is the main-
in playing the piano. Now, as parents, they neither
spring of the most powerful human emotions, and
desire a piano for their own use in their own home
that, for producing music, musical instruments are
nor appreciate the desirability of piano lessons for
essential. The second fact is that there is more music
their children.
in the world today than in all its prior history and
that the future will be more musical than the present.
The Straight Piano.
Therefore, it should not be difficult, if we apply our-
The future of the piano lies chiefly with the straight
selves to the task properly, to show the people that
piano and depends upon successful stimulation of
in music "it is fine to listen, but more fun to play,"
piano education among the children of today.
and to convince parents that "the richest child is
Through funds made available by the Piano Promo-
poor without musical training."
tion Committee of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Great Possibilities.
Association, the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music during the last year has been success-
In the light of such a picture, it is plain to see that
ful in laying the groundwork for a more intensive
few industries have such great possibilities as ours
has. The question then is how to reap benefits from promotion of group piano-instruction in the schools
FINE TO LISTEN;
MORE FUN TO PLAY
And Another Small Grand
and by private teachers. Working with and through
a special committee of the Music Supervisors' Na-
tional Conference, a great amount of basic research
of an educational character has been accomplished
and educational literature of a type required by music
teachers has been compiled and is being distributed
to those interested. The material of the bureau has
been in demand by over 6,000 persons, of whom 660
were school superintendents, 2,286 music supervisors
and 699 private music teachers. The bureau has ar-
ranged definite plans for piano work, and it will
aim its energies toward as successful a piano cam-
paign as that for school bands and orchestras if the
piano industry provides the funds.
Musical Instrument Promotion.
I have devoted this annual report principally to the
problem of musical instrument promotion because
I believe thoroughly that it is the one great problem
before the industry and that only through the main-
tenance of an effective chamber and the delegation to
it of the industry's promotional work can the diffi-
culty be met. This requires not only the necessary
special finances, difficult as it may be to raise them
in these times, but also continuance of the general
work of the chamber, without which as a basis the
special promotional work could not be conducted.
In our great need for promotional work, we should
not forget these other important activities of the
chamber. A clear picture of the work carried on by
it during the past year—work of the utmost impor-
tance to every member of the industry—is contained
in the detailed reports of the secretary and general
manager and the other department heads. I bespeak
a careful perusal of these reports by the industry.
They constitute a record of accomplishment of which
the chamber has reason to be proud and in view of
which its members should be well satisfied with their
contributions to it.
Thanks Staff and Trade Press.
I should fail in gratitude were I to omit an ex-
pression of my appreciation and thanks to the offi-
cers and the directors of the chamber and to its
efficient staff. The wholehearted, unstinting assist-
ance and advice which the directors have at all times
proffered to me and the competent handling and dis-
patch by the general manager and his assistants of
the many important matters embraced in the cham-
ber's work have been a source of constant inspiration
to me during my term of office. With such stimu-
lating" help to blaze the trail, it is an easy task for one
to turn the work of the presidential office into a labor
of love. For all this I tender my sincere thanks.
Our trade press, too, is entitled to a word of ac-
knowledgment for its able assistance to the industry
through its support of the Chamber and its policies.
Tt is a pleasure to make this acknowledgment.
GEO. P. BENT AS AN AUTHOR
Geo. P. Bent, of Los Angeles, Calif., well known
to the trade as the one-time maker of the Crown
piano, returned home immediately following the close
of the convention. Many of Mr. Bent's old friends,
also in attendance at the trade show, were delighted
at the opportunity of renewing their acquaintance
with him. Mr. Bent is now publishing his book in
which he recalls the highlights of his career and the
men who were associated with him in the piano in-
dustrv.
Style R Grand—4 feet,
7 inches long. Popular
size, beautiful case.
Real Packard Quality.
Finished in mahogany.
\35acked by a
AGAIN Packard points the way in increased volume in Grand Piano
•**. sales. The Style R Small Grand, at a particularly low price, oSers
Packard dealers unusual sales advantages that can be used to develop
new business. It is in the extremely popular 4 foot 7 inch size but
with all the full rounded tone beauty and volume you expect of Packard
instruments. The mahogany case is splendidly built, beautifully finished.
Get Packard plan behind you—get Packard values on your floors. Write us.
THE PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
3335 Packard Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
PRESTO-TIMES
the possibilities. The logical, in fact, the only mechan-
ism available for this great task is the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce and its amazingly effec-
tive promotional department, the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music. Through the bureau,
certain branches of the music industry have already
energetically begun the attack—with gratifying re-
Our Task Is to Convince Parents that the sults. The band-instrument manufacturers can be
instanced. Several years ago they were confronted
Richest Child Is Poor Without Musical
with a serious decline in saxophone sales, which con-
Training. Says Hermann Irion
stituted the bulk of the band-instrument business.
at Convention.
Through the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music, in cooperation with the Music Supervisors'
Always an interesting speaker, Hermann Irion
eclipsed his own record at the get-together luncheon . National Conference, they launched a campaign to
at the Drake Hotel on June 3. As a preface to his stimulate the development of instrumental music in
the public-school system of the country. The result
annual report as president of the Music Industries
has been that the lost saxophone sales have been
Chamber of Commerce, he said this meeting was
largely offset by a constant increase in the sale of
heralding the beginning of a new era; that the join-
cup-mouthpiece instruments.
ing of hands of the old with the younger develop-
ments in music was a necessary union, and that the
School Orchestras.
keynote of success for the piano business is "Let us
The
musical
instrument
jobbers assumed as their
have faith in our industry." He said we are a musical
promotional problem the stimulation of school orches-
people, producing more and better music than ever
tras in a manner similar to that adopted for school-
before and we w r ere engaged in the pleasant task of
band promotion, and this campaign already holds
making this country the musical nation it might
promise of as great success as the band promotion
well be.
achieved. Following the lead of the band instrument
Chamber President's Report.
manufacturers and the musical instrument jobbers,
the manufacturers of fretted instruments a year ago
Mr. lrion's annual report follows:
Never before has continued vigorous work by the commenced a modest promotional campaign for their
products, with the assistance of the National Bureau
associations of the music industry been so vital to
for the Advancement of Music, and are directing this
the welfare of our industry as at present. It is need-
campaign particularly at summer camps, recreational
less, if not inappropriate, to dwell at this time upon
centers and social departments of large business cor-
the conditions we have been battling. These con-
porations, in which this type of instruments is espe-
ditions are imposing readjustments that test the
cially attractive. I feel certain that the future pros-
nerves of the best of us, but we must endure the trial,
perity of these branches of our industry depends to
confident that when it has passed our industry will
a large extent upon the continued and enlarged scope
be on firmer footing than ever before, provided the
of promotional activities undertaken in their behalf
lessons we have learned are heeded. We shall be
by the chamber through its National Bureau for the
not only on a surer foundation, but on wider, better
Advancement of Music.
planes than heretofore. The future is bright for
those who have faith in the industry and will bring
Piano Division's Needs.
intelligent vision to bear upon its present problems.
Of all branches of the music industry, the piano
Common Action Necessary.
division is at present in most need of promotional
Now, great as are the internal problems of our
assistance. The present situation is in a way the
individual businesses, the greatest problem is common
result of conditions beyond the industry's control,
to the entire industry and it cannot be solved except
particularly the condition resulting from the inven-
by common action of the whole industry. Upon its
tion and development of radio and its entrance into
successful solution, in my opinion, more than upon
the home-entertainment field in competition with the
any other factor, does the success of our individual
mechanical piano. It is possible that after the inven-
businesses depend. I refer to the problem of making
tion of the player piano the efforts of the industry
our people a nation of amateur performers on musical
were bent too largely toward its sale, to the detri-
instruments.
ment of the straight piano and the consequent neglect
In attacking the problem, the first fact we must
of encouragement of piano study. As a result, we
bear in mind is that the love of people for music is
have allowed a generation to grow up uneducated
natural and universal, because music is the main-
in playing the piano. Now, as parents, they neither
spring of the most powerful human emotions, and
desire a piano for their own use in their own home
that, for producing music, musical instruments are
nor appreciate the desirability of piano lessons for
essential. The second fact is that there is more music
their children.
in the world today than in all its prior history and
that the future will be more musical than the present.
The Straight Piano.
Therefore, it should not be difficult, if we apply our-
The future of the piano lies chiefly with the straight
selves to the task properly, to show the people that
piano and depends upon successful stimulation of
in music "it is fine to listen, but more fun to play,"
piano education among the children of today.
and to convince parents that "the richest child is
Through funds made available by the Piano Promo-
poor without musical training."
tion Committee of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Great Possibilities.
Association, the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music during the last year has been success-
In the light of such a picture, it is plain to see that
ful in laying the groundwork for a more intensive
few industries have such great possibilities as ours
has. The question then is how to reap benefits from promotion of group piano-instruction in the schools
FINE TO LISTEN;
MORE FUN TO PLAY
And Another Small Grand
and by private teachers. Working with and through
a special committee of the Music Supervisors' Na-
tional Conference, a great amount of basic research
of an educational character has been accomplished
and educational literature of a type required by music
teachers has been compiled and is being distributed
to those interested. The material of the bureau has
been in demand by over 6,000 persons, of whom 660
were school superintendents, 2,286 music supervisors
and 699 private music teachers. The bureau has ar-
ranged definite plans for piano work, and it will
aim its energies toward as successful a piano cam-
paign as that for school bands and orchestras if the
piano industry provides the funds.
Musical Instrument Promotion.
I have devoted this annual report principally to the
problem of musical instrument promotion because
I believe thoroughly that it is the one great problem
before the industry and that only through the main-
tenance of an effective chamber and the delegation to
it of the industry's promotional work can the diffi-
culty be met. This requires not only the necessary
special finances, difficult as it may be to raise them
in these times, but also continuance of the general
work of the chamber, without which as a basis the
special promotional work could not be conducted.
In our great need for promotional work, we should
not forget these other important activities of the
chamber. A clear picture of the work carried on by
it during the past year—work of the utmost impor-
tance to every member of the industry—is contained
in the detailed reports of the secretary and general
manager and the other department heads. I bespeak
a careful perusal of these reports by the industry.
They constitute a record of accomplishment of which
the chamber has reason to be proud and in view of
which its members should be well satisfied with their
contributions to it.
Thanks Staff and Trade Press.
I should fail in gratitude were I to omit an ex-
pression of my appreciation and thanks to the offi-
cers and the directors of the chamber and to its
efficient staff. The wholehearted, unstinting assist-
ance and advice which the directors have at all times
proffered to me and the competent handling and dis-
patch by the general manager and his assistants of
the many important matters embraced in the cham-
ber's work have been a source of constant inspiration
to me during my term of office. With such stimu-
lating" help to blaze the trail, it is an easy task for one
to turn the work of the presidential office into a labor
of love. For all this I tender my sincere thanks.
Our trade press, too, is entitled to a word of ac-
knowledgment for its able assistance to the industry
through its support of the Chamber and its policies.
Tt is a pleasure to make this acknowledgment.
GEO. P. BENT AS AN AUTHOR
Geo. P. Bent, of Los Angeles, Calif., well known
to the trade as the one-time maker of the Crown
piano, returned home immediately following the close
of the convention. Many of Mr. Bent's old friends,
also in attendance at the trade show, were delighted
at the opportunity of renewing their acquaintance
with him. Mr. Bent is now publishing his book in
which he recalls the highlights of his career and the
men who were associated with him in the piano in-
dustrv.
Style R Grand—4 feet,
7 inches long. Popular
size, beautiful case.
Real Packard Quality.
Finished in mahogany.
\35acked by a
AGAIN Packard points the way in increased volume in Grand Piano
•**. sales. The Style R Small Grand, at a particularly low price, oSers
Packard dealers unusual sales advantages that can be used to develop
new business. It is in the extremely popular 4 foot 7 inch size but
with all the full rounded tone beauty and volume you expect of Packard
instruments. The mahogany case is splendidly built, beautifully finished.
Get Packard plan behind you—get Packard values on your floors. Write us.
THE PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
3335 Packard Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).