QUINN-DEX

The photo above shows the Quinn-Dex, a mechanical "movie" in the form of a small book containing over 600 separate pictures that show the correct movement of wrists, hands and fingers at a piano keyboard. By fanning through the sequenced pages, the fingers appear to move from one position to another.

The Quinn-Dex was copyrighted in 1922 by Dr. Marcus Lucius Quinn and used as a part of a How to Learn Piano correspondence course offered through his Conservatory of Music in the Social Union Building, Boston, Massachusetts. The Bullis Room's Quinn-Dex is stored in a small brown cardboard mailing box bearing Nettie Bullis's name and address, stamped "4 cents postage, Permit No. 924," and mailed from the Colonial Road Uphams Corner Station, Boston.

Several questions come to mind as we look at this piece of Bullis history: Did Nettie Bullis take Dr. Quinn's correspondence course? And if so, where did she practice? (We have no record of the Bullis family owning a piano or organ.) Did she visit the Conservatory or perhaps study on the Boston campus?

We will continue our search for more information about Dr. Quinn, his Quinn-Dex, and Nettie Bullis's involvement in music and will keep you informed of our progress. In the meantime, can you answer any of our questions or tell us more about this unique method of learning to play piano?