Evening star., 1948-05-02
Hear America
First Is Slogan
Of Music Week
By Alice Eversmon

Today begins the Nationwide
celebration of music week. The
slogan for this year is Hear Amer
lea First" and it will be put into,
action by the presentation of thous-
ands of programs featuring the
works of American composers. The
slogan was coined by Mrs. Eli Wes-
ton, chairman for this weeks activi-
ties of the National Federation of
Music Clubs. one of the largest
groups participating in the celebra-
ton.
In carrying out this part of the
program, it has been suggested that
neighbor States exchange the works
of their composers for greater ac-
quaintance. The performance OF
sacred music by American composers
is stressed especially, since empha-
sis has been put upon church music
as major subject Of the fedora
tion's interest by the president, Mrs
Royden j. Keith. Mrs. Keith has
dedicated her administration to
bringing about great spiritual re-
vival" through music in religious
education.
Church Is Major Factor.
In reference to church music, a
survey made by the American Music
Conference lists the church as the
most important factor outside the
home in stimulating interest in
music. The survey, the first ma
tional one. started with the idea of
finding what America thinks and
feels about music. One of the fun
damental ideas Of this cross section
study was to discover those areas
which had influenced musical aetiv-
ity and to what degree. In response
to wide questioning. it was found
that the church stands foremost.
Schools, musical shows and motion
pictures rank second.
Rural populations depend mostly
on the church for musical interests
outside the home and it was shown
that. its music was preferred by IA
per cent Of the South, So per cent of
the midwest. 81 of the West and
~ per cent of the East. But the
sum total Of the survey discovered
that in general, the American peo-
pie like church music and hymns
better than any other type. The
least popular are boogy- -Woogy and
1--WE with the range of taste, in
order of preference, going from pop
nlar dance music, old favorites, folk
tunes. semi-classical, cowboy and
hill billy to classical, placed at
the end.
Favor School Instruction.
The figures collected by the sur
vey are very Illuminating. 1t was
revealed that 95 per cent of all
families believe that every child
should have an opportunity to learn
10 play an instrument and 85 per
cent favored class instruction in
schools Yet it was found that only
q minority of those who now play
had their study as part of the school
work 1t was not just families with
children that advocated school in
struction but the consensus was that
inclusion of it in the educational
system was good for the community
and the country as a whole.
The cost of instruments and pri-
vate lessons we're given as the reason
for not starting children in musical
education. Three out of four per-
sons have never learned to play
and more than 80 per cent of homes
have no musical instrument Yet it
is interesting to note that the FAM
lilies that own radios and recordings
and the number of hours spent in
listening TO these ties up with the
owning and playing of musical in
StrumentS in the home. Owner
ship of instruments is particularly
high among those having a large
record library and among the
listeners of 80 or more hours week
of radio programs.
Professional Urge Lacking.
Very few parents have any de-
sire for their children to become
professional musicians. A large ma
Jorlty consider it as an educational
and cultural need as we'll as means
Of personal enjoyment. But the
diSheartening fact is that more than
7S per cent say that mo one has
ever encouraged them to start their
children taking lessons. On the
heartening side is the statement
that less than 10 per cent of those
who began to study stopped for
lack OF talent and poor progress.
The hope of making money through
music was almost a negligible in
fuence for people to continue to
play
The survey was conducted for the
American Music Conference by the
New York research firm, A. S. Ben
nett Associates under the direction
OF DR.. Albert Haring of Indiana
University. It's findings should act
as a stimulant and an agent Of ex-
pansion of the further activities of
National and Inter American Music
Week. 1t means going to the source
from which can be drawn the tall
ent, already important but still only
lightly tapped, that will make the
entire world desire to Hear Ameri-
ca First"