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The Jfu
Established 1879
VOL. 110-No. 4
THE
PIONEER
April, 1951
2,853rd Issue
REVIEW
PUBLICATION
O F T H E MUSIC
I N D U S T R Y
National Music Week to Include National
Defense Programs and for Service Men
National and Inter-American Music
Week will be held from May 6th to
13th this year, and according to reports
from the National Recreation Associa-
tion, whose responsibility it is at the
present time to promote this week, it is
expected that there will be more than
3,000 cities, towns and smaller com-
munities participating, to mark the oc-
casion in some organized way in 1950.
According to T. E. Rivers, Secretary
of the project, the basic aims of Music
Week will continue as they have been
from the beginning: to advance the love
of music and impress upon the con-
sciousnses of the people its value in
modern life; to increase the perform-
ance of music by groups and individ-
uals; to multiply opportunities for young
talent and widen acquaintance with good
music by American composers. Inev-
itably, progress in these directions will
strengthen the unifying influence of
music, and if ever there were a time
when that influence was deeply needed
it is now. The keynote for 1951, selected
by the national committee for the 1951
observance is "Enrich Your Living
Through Music." In addition to the
many special projects, which have al-
ways featured music week, this year
there will be a definite program in con-
nection with the national defense, a
great deal of effort being devoted to the
needs of servicemen and industrial
workers, particularly in towns near
training camps and defense industries.
Musical entertainment for the men and
women in these groups is considered
a real help from the morale, good fel-
lowship and other points of view, and
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW. APRIL. 1951
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NAMM NATIONAL MUSIC WEEK
POSTER.
can be a most favorable and public-
spirited contribution. The programs will
be arranged by civic and musical groups
acting independently or in combination
with one or more other groups. If talent
is available among the servicemen and
workers, this is an aid to the program.
Audience participation can be secured
through group singing under capable
leadership. There is a further advan-
tage : outdoor programs may be possible
in many places, but indoor programs
may be equally successful if the hall is
a sufficient size and members presented
are well-chosen.
Church and church group participa-
tion has been increasing each year and
is taking on new forms. Sermons on
music and special programs by organ-
ists and choirs are now being supple-
mented by concerts in hymn singing,
designed to revitalize the entire musical
side of the church service. Inter-church
and inter-denominational events are
using music to strengthen the coopera-
tive as well as religious spirit. The clos-
ing Sunday of Music Week coincides
with Mothers Day this year and is fre-
quently marked in the church school by
musical programs honoring the mothers
of the congregation.
In his letter of suggestions for the
local chairmen and workers, for Na-
tional and Inter-American Music Week,
Mr. Rivers continues:
"Youth groups of both boys and girls
have been coming to the fore in Music
Week with demonstrations of what they
are doing in music.
"Many adult groups—women's clubs,
parent-teacher associations and rural
groups, like the Granges, Four-H and
Homemakers Clubs, are taking advan-
tage of the observance effectively to
climax their season's musical activities
and sometimes to arrange public pro-
grams. Men's luncheon clubs, service
clubs and civic organizations are not
only taking part more prominently, with
music for their own members, but are
furthering movements for the general
musical development of the town.
"The music clubs, of course, are one
of the leading contingents in the Music
Week participation. The Federated
Music Clubs have long had a national
chairman of Music Week and state
chairmen who head up the observance
in their respective state branches. The
individual club programs have usually
been of high order of merit. Often too,
several music clubs have joined together,
or have cooperated with school officials
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