Do musical skills prepare today's young people for adult life? How? 
What role did the arts play incoming of age in 1830? Why?
What role do they play today?

Helen Gilchrist received this piano when she was about fifteen. Her aunt in New York bought it for her second-hand at a piano store for $47.00 about 1845. Helen took music lessons as part of her education at finishing school. She learned to play the popular tunes of the day. 

In the age before electricity, people had to make their own music. Helen brought the piano back to Illinois with her. It was the first piano in the county. When she had her own family, Helen was able to entertain them and their friends and teach her children to play music.