The Value of Music to American Youth
In A World of Turmoil
Editor's Note: A number of requests have come to us to print
the following address which was delivered in Hopkins Park. De
Kalb, Illinois, at the Second Annual Accordion Festival of The
Illinois State Accordion Association on Sunday, August 24th. by
f. Bradford Pengelly. Editor and Publisher of Presto Music Times.
"It is a pleasure to be here today with all you young people.
You are the hope, not only of the United States, but of the world
today. In only a few years you will dominate this country, and this
country will be playing a leading roll in world affairs ; so what
you will be will determine to a great extent what the world of to-
morrow will be.
"It is hard for us in the United States to realize what is going
on in practically every other part of the world in the way of tur-
moil. Recently I paid a visit to relatives in Canada. I have some
nephews in the war, one in the Canadian Navy and one in the
Canadian Air Force. In Canada the people are greatly disturbed
because they are part of this world war, but the turmoil in Canada
is not so great as it is in every part of Europe and in great sections
of Africa and Asia.
Youthful Lives In Europe Not Normal
"No one lives a normal life in those sections of the world. The
young people cannot enjoy the pleasures of youth in the ways they
normally should. The young men are on the battlefields and the
young women are in munition plants. They cannot have great
festivals like this one today with its picnics, its music, and its meet-
ings of friends all absolutely free from clanger of any kind. The
young people of Europe, Asia, and Africa have no sense of such
a program as this is for you today. Young people go to bed in
London, Berlin, or Moscow and they do not know whether they
will ever see the light of another day. We, here, live our days and
nights in perfect peace. There, they live in turmoil and are on
rations and millions are on the verge of starvation ; here, we live
in abundance.
What Does Music Mean To Us?
"Now in view of all these tilings, what does music mean to
us? It ought to mean, first of all in these times, a great expression
of joy and gratitude. There never was a time when the singing
of our national anthem and other national songs should mean so
much to us, especially to you youngsters.
Second, music should mean to you a source of strengthening
your bodies and minds to meet the future of your country. Music
is a source of unity. You must act in unison. It does away with
discord and disunion. You must play in harmony. It is, therefore,
a source of health and strength. It is one of the great constructive
forces of our lives. Music, properly participated in and enjoyed
by you, should not only strengthen you but give you finer social
ideals and make you better men and women in the service of your
country in the years to come.
PAGE THIRTY
Music Makes Better Individuals
"Music has not only these social advantages, but it has great
values to you as individuals. It prepares your minds to have a
better sense of things. The person who can express music and can
enjoy music can get more expression and joy out of his life. Music
elevates the mind. Music gives finer feelings to the heart. It is
one of the best means of education for an all round manhood and
womanhood.
Our Splendid .American Advantages
"When I look around this country and realize all the advan-
tages the young people have today T am proud to be an American.
When T was a boy we didn't have these festivals, we didn't have
orchestras and bands in our schools. Tf any one of us had any
musical education it was due to our parents thoughtfulness and to
our own individual efforts. Today you have music made possible
to you in many ways, and easy ways. The schools help, the
churches help, the cities help, and music dealers in larger centers
have studios and schools for helping young people. There is not
another country in the world where there are so many musical
advantages available to so many young people.
A Great Contrast
"Now. let me draw a contrast. Just shut your eyes a moment
and imagine that you are in Europe. You are a young person
in one of these countries at war. Tt is a beautiful evening and you
think you would like to go for a walk in the park or go on a picnic
with some friends, but just as you have that thought a great
bomber roars overhead and begins dropping terrific bombs that
blow everything around you to pieces. You do not know which
way to jump to escape a dreadful death. Now open your eyes! In
America you and your friends can go out of an evening to a con-
cert or to a festival and enjoy it without any thought of danger.
Just a week ago last night I was one of 85.000 people who saw and
heard the great Chicagoland Music Festival in Soldiers Field. It
was all so beautiful, all so happy. This is the joy of being an
American.
Music Helps Develop The Leaders of Tomorrmv
"For these reasons, take advantage of every single opportunity
you have to get a musical training. Take advantage of the chances
that are yours, as a young American, to express your creative
power in the harmony, unity, and joy of music. And above all,
be proud always that you are a young American. Sieze your op-
portunities of today to prepare yourself to be real leaders and
builders of America and of the world of tomorrow."
J. Bradford Pengelly
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