People have often wondered if music has always been around. Well, to answer that question I did some research to find out where our music originated. Our first reliable music records came from the Greeks and the Romans. Americans musical history is very short when compared to Japan, India, Africa, and China. We don't know much about our history until about 590-604 A.D. when people began to write music down, the first music that was written down was songs sung in churches.
Another often asked question I decided to research is why people write music. I got a lot of different answers for this question. A few of them are: to witness their religious faith to other people; to express themselves; to have fun, they enjoy writing music!
After that I researched different kinds of music. How many kinds are there in America? Thousands! There are so many the list would go on and on. Some of the more popular kinds are: rock, jazz, religious, alternative, and also classical. What is popular and what is not has changed a lot over the years, I doubt anyone in 590 A.D. ever even thought of rock music!
Then I asked myself "how does music effect people". I got the answer that music affects everyone differently, however certain kinds of music can change how people feel. For example heavy metal music will make you feel differently than classical music will make you feel.
Music varies greatly around the world, mostly because it has a lot to do with culture. Africa's culture is very different from ours, so is their music.
Americans have always liked music but it has become increasingly popular with young people over the last 50 years. Some older people look down on this, but I think music gives teens a sense of who they are, the kind of music you listen to shows who you are.
Music is made with many different kinds of instruments and/or your voice. Some of those instruments are: guitars, violins, flutes, drums, and many new electrical instruments.
Throughout history, music have defined or depicted the culture and social events in America. Music has constantly played an important role in constituting American culture, where people have expressed themselves through music during flourishing and turbulent times. In the 1930’s, Swing music created a platform for audiences to vent their emotions in the midst of Great Depression and political unrest. Such strong relationship between music and culture can be seen throughout history, especially in the sixties.
Popular music at the turn of the century came largely from musical theater - Broadway and Hollywood. Originally, popularized by traveling groups and sheet music sales, popular music really came into its own with the arrival of radio broadcasting, jukeboxes, 78 r.p.m recordings and other twentieth century technologies which continued into the Fifties.
Before the big evolution of rock and roll, the United States was heavily involved in World War II. In this era, teens were expected to grow up at a very early age. Going to school was not one of the main priorities for these young adults during this time, and because of that "teens were expected to take life seriously. [Meaning,] the young men were expected to join the military or go get a job to support their family or their future families, while the young women were taught to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a dutiful wives and to take care of their [future] children," (Cox). Even though they were expected to grow up early, “teens had very little economic power, freedom, independence, and input into [many of their own] decisions" (Cox).
Rock and Roll started out sometimes in the 17th century with just a beat that traveled on slave ships from Africa to the colonies in North America (Johnstone 1).
Upon thinking about which genre of music made the most prominent impact on American culture, it is very clear that Rock n Roll is the front runner. Rock n Roll music made a huge impact on American culture for a plethora of reasons. These reasons include a new lifestyle, a prominent fan base, and a new more free sense of expression that was unlike any other during that time. Aside from the impact that Rock n Roll had on American Culture it was seen as so innovated and new during the beginning, that it was even banned from certain radio stations and cities. The taboo like nature of the genre at the beginning is what really helped it excel and become what it is today.
Nobody knows where Rock and Roll first originated, it is still argued by Historians to this day. Many think the song “Rocket 88” by Ike Turner/ Jackie Brenston (1951) is the very first true definition. The genre first started to be called “”Rock & Roll” by famous disc junkie based in Cleveland, Alan Freed. He first used this term in a session
These pieces of evidence together conclude that African music has influenced modern music for ages. Since African music is the root of American music, they also have many similarities to one another. From the lively tunes to slow jazz tunes, modern American music has been heavily based off of traditional African music. As more and more people may realize that the roots of African music are in genres such as pop, rock, jazz, and Dixieland, they may change their view of Africa and the inhabitants who live there. Those people may also gain awareness of Africa and may become interested. Even though it may be hard to believe that African music is in modern music, but it exists in our music.
Music has been around since the beginning of time. Some Native Americans have done rituals that involve music and dancing. Our ancestors have made music with instruments that require materials that you would be able to obtain from animals and dead trees. Music started to boom when the radio came to be. It broadcasted lots of music that would be heard all around the world and for everyone to listen to. Music has been shaping the future for centuries and it has become very popular every time we hear it.
Music has been around for thousands of years throughout the world dating all the way back to prehistoric times proven by the digging up of a 9,000-year-old flute that had seven holes drilled into it to create a musical scale in China ("Prehistoric flute music:," 2000). Music went through numerous stages before becoming what we know music as today. The earliest periods of music were the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods which took place from the years 500-1760. The next cluster of periods were the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods which ended in 1930 to bring us to the most recent periods: Twentieth Century Period and the ongoing Contemporary and Twenty First Century Periods.
The street balladry of the people who began migrating to America in the early 1600s is considered to be the roots of traditional American music. As the early Jamestown settlers began to spread out into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias, they composed new songs about day to day like experiences in the new land.
No matter what you listen to, music has a way to “play with our emotions”. For example, if you listen to Tchaikovsky (classical) you may feel calm, and if you listen to Eminem (rap) you may feel hyper. If the music you listen to makes you feel good, it is good for you, Daniel Levitin, a Neuroscientist who focuses mainly on music, explains in an interview.
From the early civilizations to our modern society music has always been a large part of the world. Enjoyed by many, music also reflected specific cultures and ideas. One style prevalent in the nineteenth century, was known as Romantic music. Though used worldwide each culture interpreted it in their own way. Two cultures, American and European, are great examples of this interpretation.
There are so many different kinds of music, and thanks to the variety of instruments the combinations of sounds that we can make are limitless. Before we look at musical instruments we have to look at music itself. We need to know what it is made of and learn some basic terms.
The first music era know to man was the "Prehistoric Music." This was quite possibly influenced by birds singing and other animal sounds as they were communicating with each other. It was developed with the backdrop of natural sounds. Some evolutionary biologists have theorized that the ability to recognize sounds not created by humans as "musical" provides a selective advantage.
Music before the 20th century was very different when compared to the music of the 21st Century. There were distinctive occasions for each type of African music. West African music, the African Diaspora, and the music of the Colonies each had different musical instruments.