What's the use?
"After fifteen years of teaching adolescents, especially those out of high school age, I am convinced there is no use trying to interest children in piano study. All the families I know are in the same jittery state, brought on I supose, by cheap, ready-made amusements, radio, jazz, movies and so forth. The war has also added to the general unrest. I can't stand it any longer and feel so hopeless that I am looking around for some other way to earn my living. Aren't any serious, sensible parents left in these United States, or am I just out of luck?"
D. E. B. New York
This letter to the editor was taken from a magazine called "The Etude", published in June of 1941. Not much change in 60 years, eh? The answer to the letter runs to some three pages or I would post it here - good advice, and an excellent commentary on the youth of the day - and the youth of today.
Kim and I bought a stack of these magazines from an antique store in Idaho Falls, next door to a store that bills itself as having the largest selection of sheet music in the west. I wonder if they still publish it?
It's a great little magazine. Each month they published a selection of music (all levels) along with articles about the stars of the day, both composers and performers. Tips and techniques for musicians ranging from pianists to vocalists to accordianists. Organs are given heavy coverage as, with much discussion of stops and pedals. The arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" in this June '41 edition is my favorite so far. It evokes the age in which it was written - simple, straightforward and powerful.
The advertisements are the best! A new Wurlitzer console with interchangeable front panels that can either look like wood panels or a shelf full of books! New Gulbransen spinets for $495. A console made to look like a square grand except the back of it goes all the way to the floor. The Hammond "Solovox", a gadget you hang under the keyboard of your piano so you can play organ with the right hand while playing piano with your left. $190, "Terms if you like".
And the writing! Nobody writes like this any more, and no one would be willing to read it if they did. Beautiful, lyrical writing, even in the advertisements; in fact,
especially in the advertisements. Respectful appeals to the reader to sample their wares, not the in-your-face insults that pass for advertising today.
I sense a collection starting, and it might just be a good investment. The cover price on the magazine is 25 cents, but if you subscribed you could get three months worth for 35 cents. Given that I cheerfully parted with $2.00 for each one, it looks like these little magazines might be the best investment since the Steinway grand!
"Terms if you like", of course.
