Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1951-08-10
GOLDEN AGE OF MUSIC
United States Is Most Musical
Nation in History Of the World

rollment in other subjects. Attend
ance at concerts and other musical
performances is breaking all rec
ords, particularly in the smaller
cities and the small towns where
such fare was scarce indeed just a
few years ago. According to the
American Music Conference, there
are more than 700 community SYM
phony orchestras in cities Of all
sizes, including one in Mountain
Lakes, N.J.-population $500.
In adult recreation, music is
playing an ever-increasing part.
YMCA's and 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
are offering their memberships.
The bright fact is that the Amer
lean people are making music for
themselves-a bright fact because
throughout history music has been
one of the greatest forces for happi-
ness, stability, and harmony among
men.
This trend is putting the piano,
the organ and the harp back into
the home, and the instrument case
back into the hands of our children.
THE MUSIC CLUBS and their
unlfying organization, the National
Federation of Music Clubs, have
brought music into the lives of
thousands of committees and have
encouraged young musicians to fol-
low the art seriously. Service clubs
like Kiwanis International, Rotary
and Lions have helped bands and
orchestras, provided scholarships,
put on music festivals, added sing
ing to their own programs and
otherwise helped make us music
conscious. The National Congress
of Parents and 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 COM
munity affairs.
In rural areas, the All, extension
departments of state universities
and other groups have been influ-
entail, and in the adult field the
YMCA and YWCA have made music
prominent in their activities and
offered classes on various instru-
mentS.
Though it is less than four years
old, the American Music Conference
has had an important part in the
current boom. Financed by various
branches of the music industry as
a public service, AMC is devoted
entirely to helping more people get
the benefits of music. Much of the
tremendous increase in material
about music appearing in news
papers, magazines and radio is
AMC inspired. Its films and litera-
ture are helping to keep the trend
moving. Its small field staff is
carrying know-how on organization,
techniques and materials to cities
and towns in all parts of the coun-
try. Contributing its services to
CARNATIONS, school systems and
anyone else who wants help to ad-
vance music, AMC has increased
the effectiveness of many other
agencies and has given the total
movement a new spark and accel-
Grafton.
Much of the credit, too, must 90
to the music industry. 1t has found
that in this country the way to
progress is through service. Both
through their contributions to AMC
and music educators and by intro
ducing improved products, the man.
ufacturers, distributors and mer-
chants have been instrumental in
making music more at home in mil
lions of homes