Back in another life, I taught music in public schools in Michigan and on
Long Island.  Bruce Clark's mom was a very wise lady, and I thank him for
sharing his story.

All learning must start from the known and advance to the unknown.  One
of our biggest responsibilities as collectors and caretakers of
mechanical musical instruments is to share our knowledge and instruments
with those who have not experienced the beauty and excitement that we
enjoy on a regular basis.

Any chance we get to show mechanical music to young people (that means
anyone younger than us) should be taken!  I'd certainly hate to take my
Chickering anywhere, but the response to a monkey organs or drum & bell
box is usually one of total fascination.  And neither of these requires
much effort to cart around.  And that opens the door to talk about the
music, and why that particular music on that particular instrument.

It is a whole lot easier to talk to children about the absolute silliness
of some operatic stories after hearing a particularly nice music box
rendition of one of the songs, without the distraction of the soprano and
non-comprehensible words.  And then, the door is open to explain the
importance of the mechanical music and the opera in a world without radio
and television.

We need to be more willing to share our treasures.  With understanding to
the piano and orchestrion collectors, those of us with smaller
instruments have many opportunities to share our hobby.  However, we
won't be asked - we need to offer.  Schools, historical societies, and
nursing homes are a natural outlet, but so are car shows, local
festivals, craft show, etc.

It is really difficult to get someone interested in something they know
nothing about.  The Internet is opening the door to many more people;
MBSI has several new members in the last few months who learned about the
organization form the Internet.  But it will never replace a personal,
hands on, "so that's how it works" experience.

Beatrice Robertson