Mark Kinsler asked "Were automatic musical instruments used to
accompany silent movies?  If so, was any sort of synchronization
implemented?"

Everything from player pianos to Photoplayers (with ranks of pipes,
piano, chimes, sound effects, etc.) were often used to accompany silent
films, especially in smaller theatres which could not afford  full-time
musician(s).  I understand that even in larger houses, a Photoplayer
type instrument was often used during matinees or short subjects.

Rolls were produced for a variety of themes, such as "chase", "western
scene", "love scene", "fast comedy action", etc.  I have several of
these, and have used them on my regular player piano to accompany
16 mm, 9.5 mm and 8 mm silent films, and they work very well.

The Photoplayers often had two roll frames, so that the user could
rapidly shift back and forth between, for instance, slow music and
fast themes.  Combine this with a large "toy box" of gunshots, horses
galloping, doorbells, auto horns, thunder, etc., and a practiced user
could very effectively provide accompaniment to films.

By the 1920s and electric amplification, records were also being made
with various themes to accompany the films, similar to the Vitaphone
disk film sound tracks, but not meant for any one specific film.

From early on, many feature films were issued with full scores on sheet
music, or at the very least a series of themes keyed to various scenes,
all the way up to specially written scores.  In smaller theatres,
though, these were often not used in lieu of stock music.

As far as the term "technician" for those who accompanied films on
piano, organ, and orchestra, it wouldn't surprise me if theatre
musicians were referred to this way -- remember that most people
involved in the fringes of the film industry at that time did not
command the high salaries and clout they do today!

Jim Canavan
Alexandria, VA