Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
If Money T alks-
and Means ANY,
thing-the United
States Now Is the
World S Most
Musical Nation.
RY EDNA ROBB WEBSTER.

ON music IN - months-and that in a
year of the greatest depression In us eX-
perience.
But that is what the United States did
last year and for So, 0O0, 600 you can get
quite a lot of music. Give America nttie
mere time and she will develop her artistic ex-
preston with o volume that will starte ana
outsing the whole word.
There is no better indication Of this poten-
kal volume of melody than the fact more than
1000 600 American children are taking pri-
vate music lessons, at cost of about 1884,
600 900 a year
Besides this the public schools in more than
1000 cities are giving group piano and lnstru-
ment lessons. No longer is 1t necessary 10 iock
children in dim, dusty parlors to do their dahy
practicing while they count lone, two three,
four" monotonousy. New and better methooS
and interesting group lessons make children as
willing to practice their music as TO brusn tneH
teeth by radio
more grand pianos sold last year than in any
previous period in the history of the piano bust
ness and there are still more grand piano pros
poets listed with dealers than ever before
Apartment dwellers also may think that the
radio business is doomed to close its factories
hecause everybody has a radio, and inaSmuch
as the itemized national music bill last year
shows 1872 1853 $40 charged to new radios and
parts But they're wrong again.
Statistics show that less than 60 per cent Of
homes wired for electricity in the United States
have electric radios at the present time. Ana
1t is estimated that the replacement market,
alone, will reach some 100000 sets annually.
THE American citizen, like the child in the
nursery rhyme, must have music wherever
he goes When he turns of the radio at nome
and starts for the theater or some other place,
he has music In his automobile on the way.
Even transcontinental travelling Is continuous
journey of entertainment, to satisfy Americas
Unsuitable appetite for music.
Besides installing radios in de luxe limited
trains the Pullman Co. has for O number OF
years sponsored the musical education OF tnoSe
of its army Of 10000 porters who have natural
talent, for the purpose OF training them 70
entertain its patrons, en- route.
Shakespeare said that all the world is stage.
The average American thinks 1t Is even better
than that Life is q song, from mothers lul-
labies to the funeral dirge. -
Mr. Otto B. Heaton, president OF the Ma.
tional Association of Music Merchants during
this mast gala wear in musical history, has made
some interesting discoveries about music. He
says:
"Music is the fourth great material want Of
human nature. First comes food, then CLOTH
inp then shelter then music. It is an energiz-
ing spirit which never dies. Tunes make deep
and lasting impressions which cheer and re-
fresh mems minds, occasion arises. MUSIC
has no bad after effects.
safely rest Bad people have no music The
moral is teach a boy to blow a horn and ne
won't blow a safe
It is noteworthy also that symphony orches-
tras are increasing in popularity. Not only does
the public attend concerts, but it is discerning
enough to select the best artists, who attract
the bulk of box ONCE receipts
Paderewski's appearances last year, alone
resulted in the sale Of 100000 worth OF tickets
Mccormack, Kreisler and Rachmaninoh were
next in order.
4 AUSIC even has been introduced into hospi-
M tails for the insane, with definite results
for improvement in patients and their con-
troll 1t is the best unifier In the world, for
music is necessarily harmony. 1t rs the pest
bond of comradeship and cooperation.
Government statistics show thai there are m
the United States more professional musicians
than there are preachers and lawyers, f1ye times
as many as there are journalists and three
times as many as there are dentists. TINS does
not count the thousands of amateur and semi
professional musicians. There are now more
than 10000 school bands and orchestraS, ana
$40 600 music teachers
In 1880 the National Association OF Schools
Of Music awarded 633 special degrees IN music
The annual tuition, alone, of some 10000 coll
lege students who are specializing In music is
e15OOOOOO. Prizes and scholarship funds IN
music amount to $85 600 annually.
Government expenditure for municipal nnu-
SIC band concerts public school music, ETC.,
amounts to $4875,4 400 each year, and there
Is a budget allowance Of $69l415 for annual
music week expenses in 23 OF the leading cities.
The are 1913 representative Conservatories,
univer > and college music departments Fifty
special music societies, besides the National
Federation OF Music Clubs with branch organ
izations and officers in every State, are Or
tn mGHFl4tS