| Show GOLDEN AGE OF MUSIC United States Stakes Is Most Musical Nation in History of the World America is beginning a Golden Age of at Music This is now the most musical nation nation na na- na- na tion lion in the history of the world j and the trend is typically AmerIcan American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean growing out of the people themselves instead of patronage by byan byan byan an upper class Some of ot the signs of our musical renascence are obvious and per per- More than 96 per cent of our families own radios that pour forth music of ot various sorts at the flick of a switch More than homes have phonographs and records Every motion picture has music as a backdrop with the musical film the most popular of all types In the theater plays like Oklahoma South Pacific and Guys and Dolls are arc the record- record breakers In restaurants offices and hotel lobbies music Is piped in into into into to entertain and to relieve monotony But the more significant signs that music is coming to have a basic place in our way of life are in the private lives of the people There are arc today more adults learning learning learning learn learn- ing to play instruments taking part partIn In community orchestras and choruses choruses choruses chor chor- uses joining In music festivals and events than there have been for many years The number of children who are arc learning to play instruments instruments instruments ments in our schools is at an all- all time high Musical colleges report that the number of students preparing preparing preparing pre pre- paring to teach music surpasses the proportionate increase in en en- in other subjects Attendance Attendance Attendance Attend Attend- ance at concerts and other musical performances Is breaking all aU records records records rec rec- particularly in the smaller cities and the small towns where such fare was scarce indeed just afew a afew afew few years ago According to the American Music Conference there are more than community symphony symphony symphony sym sym- phony orchestras in cities of at all sizes including one In Mountain Lakes N N. J. J population J.-population 2500 In adult recreation music Is playing an increasing ever-increasing part YMCAs YMCA's and YWCAs YWCA's in many cities are offering class instruction on various instruments and service clubs and other groups put on periodic sings musical events and concert series Music appreciation is rising toward the top of the list of things many adult organizations arc offering their memberships The bright fact Is that the American American American Amer Amer- ican people are making music for themselves themselves-a a bright fact because throughout history music has been one of the greatest forces for happi happi- happiness happiness ness stability and harmony among men This trend is putting the piano the organ and the harp back info the thc home and the instrument case back into the hands of our children THE TIlE MUSIC CLU CLUBS S and their unifying organization the National Federation of ot Music Clubs have brought music into the lives of ot thousands of committees and have encouraged young musicians to follow follow follow fol fol- fol- fol low the art seriously Service clubs like Kiwanis International Rotary and Lions have helped bands and orchestras orchestras provided scholarships put on music festivals added singing singing singing sing sing- ing to their own programs and otherwise helped make us music conscious The National Congress of Parents and Teachers' Teachers music committees have been behind much of the sharp increase in opportunity for music offered in the schools and for growth of music in community community community com com- affairs In rural areas the H 4 extension departments of state universities and other groups have been influential influential and in the adult field the YMCA and YWCA have made music prominent in their activities and offered classes on various ments Though it is Js less than four years old the American Music l Conference has bas had an important part in the current boom Financed by various branches of the music industry as asa asa asa a public service is devoted entirely to helping more more people get the benefits of at music Much l of the tremendous increase in material about music appearing in newspapers newspapers newspapers news news- papers magazines and radio is inspired Its films and literature literature litera litera- literature ture are helping to keep the trend moving Its small field staff is carrying know-how know on organization techniques and materials to cities and towns in all aU parts of ot the coun coun- try Contributing its services to organizations school systems and anyone else who wants help to advance advance advance ad ad- vance music has bas increased the effectiveness of many other agencies and has given the total movement a new spark and Much of the credit too must go goto goto goto to the music industry It has found that in in this thus country the way to progress is through service Both through their contributions to and music educators and by introducing introducing introducing intro intro- improved products the manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers man man- distributors and merchants merchants merchants mer mer- chants have been instrumental in making music more at home in millions of ot homes |
