Arizona republican., 1919-01-01
PHGN|X, THE
 MUSIC CENTER
 OF SOUTHWEST
Facilities for Musical Edu- cation In This City Is Sur prise to Visitors Who Find Best Teachers Here

The musical development of the city of Phoenix has caused many eastern visitors surprise. They were not ex pecting to find well organized music schools and studios and a highly trained corps of musical teachers in the public schools. But. after giving the matter a second thought, there was no more logical reason for an express sion of surprise at our advanced mu- sical culture than for our excellent school buildings or the various other civic improvements which are evident to every stranger in our midst.
 Possibly the oldest musical institu- tion in the state is that of the Rede- will Music company, which has for many years sold Steinway and other pianos music and musical instruments throughout the state and in old Mexico. They maintain a large stock of pianos, both grand and upright. piano players and music rolls; Victrolas and Victor records; and have a large stock of sheet music which includes lot of ! music text books.
 Their Growth Rapid
 The Kerr and Smalley Music com pany is very popular firm in the city. They are located in the Ford hotel corner and are making a strong bid for l large share of the piano and sehet music business of the community. The Kimballl piano is their leader and they have placed both grand and upright 1 and mechanical pianos in many of our 1 homes. This firm also handles the 1 Kimball and Pathe photographs and l records. A little more than year ago Kerr and Smalley purchased the busi- ness formerly known as the Marvin i Music House.
 Besides these two well-known piano i houses, the Berryhill company. station 1 CTS, have built up a large business in l Victrolas and Victor records, and the l Barrows Furniture company are 1 agents for the Columbia photograph and Columbia records.
 The Taverner Music companyc rar- ries a very large stock of the famous Edison photographs and records and 1 the instrument upon which Thomas l A. Edison spent $3,000,000 and 20 years of his life is rapidly gaining in popu- 1 larity.
 Largest in State A.N The Arizona School of Music is the 1 largest institution of it's kind in the state and is housed in the most beau = tiful building devoted exclusively to musical culture in the entire south west. This school was founded by Mrs Shirley Christy. it's present man. ager and director, ten or twelve. years | ago and has grown from small .be l ginning to it's present prominent posi- l tion as leader of the musical culture of the state. The yearly average of pu pills rusn between 400 and 800 and they come, not only from Phoenix and vii cinity, but from all parts of the state These pupils are trained by corps of teachers of unquestioned ability in l their special lines. The heads of the various departments, which include piano, voice. violin, aesthetic and ball.
 room dancing, elocution and the art
 of expression and public school music have all been recruited from some o1 the best known schools and musical
 institutions in America and European
 countries. The large patronage en- joyed by this school is, in itself, an in- | dication of the musical culture of this
 community
 Best Known Musician
 William Conrad Mills. vocal teacher
 is probably the best known musician in Arizona. His musical activities
 have given him wide acquaintance
 throughout the northern, central ant
 southern cities in the state. During
 his residence in Phoenix he has served
 as musical director of the Phoenil
 Choral societl, the Lyric and Apollo
 clubs, and is now yielding the batoI
 for the Phoenix Community choru:
 under a commission issued by the stat.
 council ot defense as director of com
 murIity singing in the state. During
 the past four years he has been choir master at Trinity Pro- Cathedral wher'