Picture Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

An\ i.im i.-i \<. >e< II "What ? Learn Music by Mail Tthey laughed Ves, I cried, and III bet money lean doitf IT all .started one day alter lunch. The office crowd was in the recreation-room, smoking and talking, while I thumbed through a magazine. "Why so quiet, Joe?" some one called to me. "Just reading an ad," I replied, "all about a new way to learn music by mail. Says here any one can learn to play in a few months at home, without a teacher. Sounds easy, the way they tell about it." "Ha, ha," laughed Fred Lawrence, "do you suppose they would say it was hard.'" "Perhaps not," I came back, a bit peeved, "but it sounds so reasonable I thought I'd write them for their booklet." Well, maybe I didn't get a razzing then! Finally Fred Lawrence sneered: "Why, it's absurd. The poor fellow really believes be can learn music by mail!' To this day I don't know what made me conic back at him. Perhaps it was because I really was ambitious in learn to play tin piano. Anyhow, before I knew ii I'd cried, Yes, and I'll bet money I can do It." Mat the crowd only laughed harder than ever. Suppose I Was Wrong — As I walked upstairs to my desk I began to regret my haste. Suppose thai music course wasn't what the ad said. Suppose it was too difficult for me. And how did 1 Know 1 had even the least hit of talent to help me out. If I fell down, the hoys in the Office WOUld have the laugb on me for life. I'.nt just as I was beginning to weaken, my lifelong ambition to play and my real love of music came to the rescue. ,\nd I decided i.. go through with the whole thing. During the few months that followed, Fred Lawrence never missed a chance to give me a sly dig about my bet. And the boys always got a good lati'-'h. too. Hut I never said a word. 1 was waiting patiently for a chance lo gel the Ida! laugh m |/8i ; ' What Instrument lor You.' Piano Organ Vein. Banio (Plectrum. 5-String or Tenor) Clarinet Flute Harp Cornet Sight Singing Harmony and Composition Voice and Speech Culture Automatic Finger Control Piano Accordion Italian and German Accordion My Chance Arrives Things began coming my way during the office outing at Pine Grove. After lunch it rained, and we all sal around inside lookin).' at each other. Suddenly sonic one spied a piano in the corner. 'Who can play?" every one began asking. Naturally, Fred Lawrence saw a line chance to have some Inn at my expense, and he gol right tip. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "our Friend Joe, the music-master, has consented to gl\ e ns a recital." That gave the hoys a good laugh. Ami some of them gol on either side of mi' ami with mock dignity started to escorl me to the piano. I could heai a girl say, "(Hi. let the poor fellow alone : can't yon sec he's mortifled to death?" The Last Laugh I smiled to myself. This was certainly a wonderful setting for my little surprise party. Assuming a scared look. 1 stumbled over to the piano while the crowd tittered. "Play 'The Varsity Drag"," shouted Fred, thinking to embarrass me further. I began Angering the keys ami then . . ■ with a wonderful feeling of cool confidence . . . I broke right into tin very selection Fred asked for. There w a* a sudden hush in the room as I made that old piano talk. lint in a few minutes I heard a fellow jump to his feet and shout. "Believe me, the boy la then ' Let's dance !" Tallies and chairs were pushed B8ide, and soon the whole crowd was shuffling around huving a whale .a' a time. Nobody would hear of me stopping, least of all the four fcl lows who were singing in harmony right at my elbow. So I played one peppy selection after another until I finished with "Crazy Rhythm," and the crowd stopped dancing ami singing to ap plnnd me. \s | i timed around to I hank t In m. tin re "as Fred holding a tenspol right under my nose "Folks." he said, addressing the crowd again, "I want t. npologize publicly to Joe I b< I him he couldn't learn to play by mail, and believe me. he sure d's. rves to win the money !" "I, earn In pla.v lm mail I" Pic-"lo Guitar Hawaiian Steel Guitar Drums and Trips Mandolin Cello Ukulele Trombone Saxophone exclaimed a dozen people. "Thai sound possible ! Tell ns how yon did it ' I was only too glad to tell them how I'd ;iiwa.\s wanted to play but couldn't afford a teacher, and ildn'l think of spending \ears in practice. I described how I had read the U. s. School of Music ad. ami how Fred '"' me I COUldn'i h'arn to play liy mail. "Polks," r i [nurd, "It « i my I i r« win n I gol the aril tenon. I: srai tun rlcM 1 1 on, tii,. start, CTerythlr a* A-B-C no -.it-, ..i i ii < some exercise \t ■ quired was part of my ipare time. In i t ivas playlm I wanh I it. Hen tin t 1 : with Prod." Play Any Instrument You. too, i. in inn teach yourself pllshed musician right time. You iiu't *•< ivmnjr with thlnrhlch has tlready shown ores half i million in plas iii.it i iv. lite Instruments by note. ' • ld-1 ■ truin. nu In tli. |. .ii.I. :■ one V'.i Mint to i.li v and '!..• r. s School will I N "Ill l.o Interest I ia I. . dorful Send for Our Free Booklet and Demonstration Lesson ' hlllly until . mnrksblo "Mu Ii .1 Mill ■ nllrcly irtlhi If via .it. In favorite I n r populat I plain tlili r. Mill lilt nrW Automatic F mgrc Cuntml eounon now i N. 1 C. U. S. School of Mu»ic, 5312 Brunswick Bids., New Y r^rk City Ml. Tout Own 111 Inir ' SI your . 1