Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

122 Advertising Section "HA/ HA/ HE THINKs\ THAT'S A PLAYER PIANO/"] -but when I started to plan the lauqh was on them ! WELL, folks, I guess we'll have to lock up the piano and make faces at ourselves." Helen Parker's .party was starting out more like a funeral than a good time. "Isn't Betty Knowles coming?" an anxious voice sang out. "Unfortunately Betty is quite ill tonight, and Chet Nicho'ls is late as usual," replied Helen gloomily. "I wish Sis wasn't away at school and she'd make the keys talk for us." "I know some brand new card tricks," volunteered Harry Walsh. "Great !" said Helen. "I'll go and find some cards." While she was gone I quietly stepped up to the piano bench, sat down, and started to fumble with the pedals underneath. Someone spotted me. Then the wisecracks began. They Poke Fun at Me "Ha ! Ha ! Ted thinks that's a playerpiano," chuckled one of the boys. "This is going to be a real musical comedy," added one of the fair sex. I was glad I gave them that impression. Their surprise would be all the greater. I kept fiddling around the pedals — making believe that I was hunting for the foot pumps. "Come over to my house some night," said Harry. "I've got an electric player and you can play it to your heart's content. And I just bought a couple of new rolls. One is a medley of Victor Herbert's compositions — the other*. . ." Before be had a chance to finish I swung into the strains of the sentimental "Gypsy Love Song." The laughter and joking suddenly ceased. It was evident that I had taken them by surprise. What a treat it was to have people listening to me perform. I continued with "Kiss Me Again" and other popular selections of Victor Herbert. Soon I had the crowd singing and dancing to the tune of the latest syncopation. Finally they started to bombard me with questions . . . "How? . . . When? . . . Wher did you ever learn to play?" Pick Your Instrument Piano Organ Ukulele Cornet Trombone Piccolo Guitar came from all sides. I Taught Myself Naturally, they didn't believe me when I told them I had learned to play at home and without a teacher. But I laughed myself when I first read about the U. S. School of Music and their unique method for learning music. "Weren't you taking* a big risk, Ted?" asked Helen. "None at all," I replied. "For the very first thing I did was to send for a Free Demonstration Lesson. When it came and I saw how easy it was to learn without a teacher I sent for the complete Course. What pleased me so was the fact that I was playing simple tunes by note from the very start. For I found it easy as ABC to follow the clear print and picture instructions that came with each lesson. Now I play several classics by note and most all of the popular music. Believe me, there's a real thrill in being able to play Violin Clarinet Flute Saxophone Harp Mandolin 'Cello Hawaiian Steel Guitar Sight Sinking Piano Accordion Voice and Speech Culture Drums and Traps Automatic Finger Control Banjo (Plectrum, S-String or Tenor) newly perfected method that makes reading and playing music — actually simple! Even if you don't know one note from another now, you can easily grasp each clear, inspiring lesson of this surprising course. You can't go wrong. First you are told how a thing is done, then a picture shows you how, then you do it yourself and hear it. Thus you actually teach yourself right in pour c.vn 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 his favorite instrument by note, in almost no time and for just a fraction of what old, slow methods cost. The booklet will also tell you all about the amazing new Automatic Finger Control. Remember — it is not too late to become a capable musician. If you are in earnest about wanting to play your favorite instrument — 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. Read the list of instruments to the left, decide which you want to play, and the U. S. School of Music will do the rest. At the average cost of only a few pennies a day! Act NOW! Clip and mail this coupon today, and the fascinating Free Book and Free Demonstration Lesson will be sent to you at once. No obligation. TJ. S. School of Music, 536 Brunswick Bldg., New York City. Instruments supplied when needed, cash or credit V. S. School'ol Music, 536 Brunswick Bldfl., New York City. Please send me your Free Book. "Music Lessons in Your Own Home." with introduction by Dr. Frank Crane, Free Demonstration Lesson and particulars of your easy payment plan. I am interested in the following course: a musical instrument." Have you above instrument? j. j. .j. ± Name ■ (Please Write Plainly) This story is typical. The Address amazing success of the men, women and children who take cit the U. S. School of Music course is largely due to a state 1