Evening star., 1926-10-03

people in the United States
who do not realize that music
is almost as useful and ncces-
sary a factor in real living as eating
and sleeping. Within the last few
years the sport variety OF recreation
from such lines OF work as the aver
age business man or woman engage
in to earn a living has come to the
fore and asserted its value beyond
doubt. Golf is one of the most con-
spicuous examples of this. 1t was
once considered only a game for
wealthy folk of the leisure class.
Just as people generally considered
golf a sport set apart, so many folks
still think of music There are the
famous musicians and singers every
body wants to hear. There are GER
tain talented children who grow up
in every community and.whose fami-
lies sacrifice to see that Johnny gets
the best kind of piano TO learn on
and Mary can have singing lessons,
with an eye always peeled toward
the alluring picture of a concert or
operatic career" But as for gen
orally taking the magic of music and
using it practically in every day liv-
ing-that is still thing apart. OF
course. there are State songs and
club Sings" when words apropos
of a special subject or occasion are
used in public as set to a popular
or semi-classical air, but, after all.
that isn't music.
Real music is inspirational. The
most beautiful music arouses an
emotion in the listener :hat has a
religious, exhalting quality i'll the
performer :he value Of such reaction
is greatly enhanced. Whcrefor. the
need OF more so-Called amateur
music" Look at any street car full
Of people going about the average
round of endeavors Most of their
faces arc gloomy when they are
caught "off guard" so to speak.
Take another street car full OF peo-
pie who have been to a concert
even simple band concert in park
and there will be light in their
eyes and an alertness of attitude,
even though the hour be late. per-
haps past dinner time. and they have
had the music after a hard day at
the Office. But there are so few
street car loads of concertgoers
compared to the loads carried all
day Of people going about the more
boresome errands OF living. The an
swer is that people need more music
and, most Of all, they need to take
a more personal, active part in
music.
ID EAL1ZING that this need for
N more actual participation in
music exists. the Young Women s
Christian Association, always a
pioneer in such matters. has decided
TO develop a real musical program
this season. Mrs. Edwin B. Parker
is chairman Of the National Music
Committee and Miss Imogene Ire
land, who has been associated with
the organization for number OF
years and was responsible for the
music at the last convention and in
conferences. has come here to be the
director of the innovation in y. w.
c. A. work
Miss Ireland compiled a book Of
songs which has found wide usage.
There are two volumes of folk songs
Of many nations that she will use
as the basis of her work in building
up a large chorus OF girls and Wont
ems voices. It is planned that each
present group Of women in the vari-
ous clubs of the association will
work up its own music. under her
guidance. and have "sings, both OF
these folk songs and. later, as they
progress. of more ambitious music.
1t is hoped one huge chorus will de-
velop from this beginning to sing
on big occasions.
The class work necessary to found
genuine interest in music per Sc
and not Just in superficial choral
meetings for singing familiar tunes
will also be taken up-gradually. it
is true, but surely and with solid
basis. There will be work in voice
piano and other instrumental lines.
It is hoped that eventually an or
chestra and various chamber music
groups may be assembled from tai
cnted members of groups already i'll
the association.
X & * x
IN this connection, also, it seems
l. logical to mention reminder
that the public schools are not lag
ging, but have moved another step
forward in the music classes. The
following regulations OF the COM
munity music classes in piano and
orchestral instruments. as listed by
the music department for informa-
ton of parents, pupils and teachers.
are given here TO show what is be-
ing done to make it possible for chill