Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1928)

Advertising Section party ! if . . someone called when I sat down at the piano a moment later they got the surprise of their lives! I WAS just about to enter the room when the sound of my name caught my attention. "It'll seem like old times to have Dan with us again !" Bill was saying about me. _ "Maybe it'll seem too much like old times!" came the laughing rejoinder. "You'd better lock the piano !" "Nonsense ! He won't have the nerve to play after what happened the last time !" "That was a shabby trick. I almost wish we hadn't pulled it ... " How well I knew what they were talking about ! Yes, it was a shabby "trick they had played on me. But, looking back, I really couldn't blame them. Let me tell you about that last party. Jolly, informal — all the guests old friends of mine. I had sat down at the piano and in my usual "chop-stick" fashion started playing some popular numbers. But before I had played more than two or three pieces I noticed an unusual stillness. I stopped playing, turned around, and saw — the room was empty! Instead of entertaining "the party, as I had fondly imagined, nay halting, stumbling performance had been a nuisance. Burning with shame and indignation I determined to have nothing more to do with the "friends" who had let me make a fool of myself — when suddenly it occurred to me that there was a way in which I could turn the tables. Carefully avoiding the "crowd's" parties, I had bided my time until I was absolutely certain that I could put mv plan over. At last, tonight, the moment had come. Calmly walking into the room I pretended not to notice the guilty expression on Bill's face as he welcomed me. Every one seemed overjoyed to see me again — obviously glad that I had evidently forgiven and forgotten last year's trick. Suddenly I turned to Bill and said, "Hope you've had the piano tuned, old bov. I feel just in the mood . . ." Instantly the friendly atmosphere changed. It was amusing to see the look that spread from face to face. For a moment no one spoke. Then, just as I was sitting down at the piano, some one called : "For heaven's sake, get awav from that Diano ! Won't spoil the party!" That was my cue. instead of replying I struck the first bars of "Sundown". And how ! Easily, smoothly, with all the verve and expression I had always longed for ! Gone was the halting, nerve-racking hesitation that had formerly made my playing a torture to the listeners. No wonder the guests gasped with amazement. Fascinated, scarcely believing I heir ears they drew nearer. When I finished they loudly clamored for more. Time and again, when I would have stopped, they eagerly insisted on please !" 'Just one more Which Instrument Do You Want to Play? Piano Hawaiian Guitar Organ Drums and Traps Violin Mandolin Piccolo Harmony and Clarinet Composition Flute Sight Singing Harp Ukulele 'Cello Trombone Guitar Cornet Saxophone Voice and Speech Culture Automatic Finger Control Piano Accordion Banjo (Plectrum, 5-String or Tenor) How I taught myself to play without a teacher When' they finally allowed me to leave the piano I turned around and .said : "Just a moment, folks! I want to thank you for what you did for me last year !" The eager, laughing face* turned red with embarrassment. One or two of the boys murmured an apology. Seeing their confusion, I continued : "I mean it ! If you hadn't opened my eyes, I'd still bo a dub at playing. I went home mighty angry that night, I'll admit. But it taught me a lesson. And believe me, folks, when I think of the real pleasure I get out of playing now, I'm only sorry you didn't pull that trick sooner !" Before letting me go home that night Bill cornered me and said, "Listen, Dan, I want an explanation ! IIoic did you do iff" I laughed. "Why. I just took advantage of a new way to learn music, that's all !" "What do you mean 'new way'? Didn't you take lessons from a teacher'.'" "No! I taught myself !" "What !" "Absolutely ! You've heard of the U. S. School of Music, haven't you ?" "That's a correspondence school, isn't it?" "Yes. When that trick showed me up last year. I sent for one of their free demonstration lessons. Well, it proved to he so mutch easier than I had hoped for. that I sent for the complete course. And believe me. I'm mighty glad I did! There wasn't any expensive private teacher to pay — and since the lessons came by mail, I didn't Slave to set aside valuable hours to study. I practiced only in my spore time, a few minutes a day. And the course is thorough! Why, almost before I knew it, I could play anything— -ballads, rhapsodies, waltzes, jazz!" You needn't know a thing about music to take this pleasant, rapid course This' story is typical. The amazing success of the men and women who take the U. S. School of Music course is largely due to a newly perfected method that makes reading and playing music as simple as A-B-f. Even if you don't know one note from another now, you can easily grasp each clear, inspiring lesson of this surprising course. You simply can't go wrong. First, you arc told how a tiling is done, then a picture shows you how, then you do it yourself and hear it. Thus you actually teach' yourself to become an accomplished musician right, in your own home. Without any long hours of tedious practice. Without any dull or uninteresting scales you learn how to play real music from real notes. Free Book and Demonstration Lesson Our wonderful illustrated Free book and our Free demonstration lesson explain all about this remarkable method. They prove just how anyone can learn to play bis favorite instrument by note, in almost no time and for just a fraction of what old slow methods cost. Remember — it is not too late to become a capable musician. If you are in earnest about wanting to play your favorite dnstrument — if you really want to gain new happiness and increase your popularity — send off this coupon at once. Forget the old-fashioned idea that "talent" means everything. Head the list of instruments to the left, decide which you want to play, and the TJ. S. School of Music will do the rest. At the average cost of only a few pennies a day! Act NOW. Clip and anail this coupon today, and the fascinating free 'book and Demonstration Lesson will be sent to you at once. No obligation. TJ. S. School of Music. 535 Brunswick Bldg. , New York City. U. S. SCHOOL OF MUSIC, 535 Brunswick Bldg., New York City. Please send me your free book "Music Lessons in Your Own Home" with introduction by Dr. Frank Crane, Demonstration Lesson and particulars of your offer. I am interested in the following course: Have you above instrument?. Name (Please Write Plainly! Addrcs City .