Dr. Mark Evans, founder of the Pinehurst TV station Sandhills TV 3, and author of the book "Mark! My Words: How to Discover the Joy of Music, the Delight of Language and the Pride of Achievement in the Age of Trash Talk and MTV," will be at The Country Bookshop, in Southern Pines, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Evans is a composer, conductor, pianist and organist with a multifaceted background in music, writing, broadcasting and education.

Evans literally grew up in the world of film music in Hollywood. His book "Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies," has been recognized as the definitive book on the history of film scoring.

Evans says he wrote the book because of his concern about students emerging from school unfamiliar with any music other than what they encounter on MTV.

"Classical music, jazz, film scores, and the masterpieces of musical theater are in danger of fading into an undeserved oblivion," he says. "Students are emerging from school unfamiliar with our past and unprepared for our future. This crisis is exacerbated by our vanishing history, a decline in language, and a pervasive celebrity culture. If this problem is not solved, our nation's cultural and artistic heritage will be irretrievably lost."

Evans believes learning about history is just as important as keeping up with changes in technology.

"We learn history to understand who we are," he says. "High technology is important, but we have become a nation of hares instead of tortoises. We are often in such a hurry, twittering and tweeting, that we have no time to appreciate the best of the past. This makes us unable to appreciate the best of our present or to truly prepare for our future."

Evans believes that the arts matter as much as other issues we face.

"Not every problem is political or economic in origin, or political or economic in solution," he says. "Thoreau talked about putting down a book and 'acting on its hint.' We are not only what we eat, but what we read ... and what we hear. The music we absorb, the movies we attend, the videos we watch online all affect our values and our behavior, and often in ways far more profound than we might ever imagine."

Evans says the solutions cannot be found in academic, government or the entertainment industry.

"'Mark! My Words' is a 'how-to' book, because the solutions can be found in your own energy, resolve and enthusiasm," he says. "We can adopt the idea of conserving our cultural environment as well as our natural environment. We can all practice cultural conservation and follow the lead of those who light candles rather than curse the darkness.

"My book details what you can do as an individual to embark on an exciting journey of discovery that can truly impact your daily life. The best of the past, which shouldn't be forgotten, the best of the present, which shouldn't be ignored, and the best of the present, which shouldn't be undiscovered, are all waiting for you."

For information about the event, call (910) 692-3211.