The Origin of American Music

310 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Western influence in china and japan

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.

Show More
Related

  • Appalachian Music

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Rock & Roll: The Origin Of Rock And Roll

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • What Would the World Be Like Without Music? A Brief History of Music Through the Ages

    1429 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music has been around for centuries. Some of the oldest known instruments found were over 35,000 years old. The flutes were carved out of a vulture bone or any other thin bone or wood. It’s has been thought to be incorporated in ceremonies, celebrations and worship. But over the centuries music ha...

    Read More

  • The History of Music

    1756 Words  | 4 Pages

    Music has been around since the dawn of time, ever since man first inhabited this planet we have learned to communicate in ways other then conventional speaking. Different Cultures all have there own specific way of communicating through music. Music is basically broken into two specific groups Eastern Music and Western Music. Eastern music is mainly derived from the orient and India. While, Western music first emerged from Europe. Western music has developed in many ways since the middle ages through its form, sound, and message.

    Read More

  • Essay On Native American Music

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • How Rock and Roll Changed America

    1919 Words  | 4 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • History of Rock and Roll

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Hippies In The 1960's

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music has been very influential in every decade in America. When people listen to music, it influences emotions and senses. Words that are put into music are easily memorized and get stuck into the listener’s head. During the 60’s, rock music was extremely popular. Artists such as Janis Joplin and the Beatles were extremely popular. The music highlighted the message of anti-war, drugs, and free-love. Music is a very influential and powerful thing.

    Read More

  • Cultural Influence On African American Music

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music evolves through time due to different cultural influences. Since their unfortunate immigration through the trans-Atlantic slave trade into America, Africans brought their musical backgrounds with them to separate the western musical identity compared to European music. Once freed from oppression, African American culture and music diversified the sound of the Christian church. As the acceptance of African Americans increased, their music also was also accepted into white society and directed where music evolved. Without the influence of black culture, the progression and sounds of western music would have never been possible.

    Read More

  • Romantic Music In America

    506 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Senior Thesis Raft Draft: Graphic Design

    803 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music plays a huge role in all the people. Music can help ease stress and calm the body down, music can be used to pump our minds when we're feeling sad. It is proven that music affects our emotions, “When we listen to sad songs, we tend to feel a decline in mood. When we listen to happy songs, we feel happier. ... About 22.2 percent of people said that they listen to music between one to two hours every day, where another 22.2 percent said they listen at least five hours a day” . Like how art comes in many forms so does music. Music can vary from really loud music to really slow music and a lot in between. For example, there is classical music which can be used to calm down a body and sometimes help people distract themselves from things, and there is hip-hop or rap music which can be used during a party to lighten the mood and get in the zone to have a good time. Music can be used to help people express themselves. Artists write their music in a certain genre or a certain way because it helps them pertain themselves to others. Music helps people throw out their feelings and tell people their stories. For example, Taylor Swift writes about her breakup and

    Read More

  • A Brief History Of African Music Through The Colonial Period

    1522 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • musical influences

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    Musical preferences are as diverse as the people who listen to them. Different types of music have different reputations; heavy metal music is often labeled as "negative," yet others find it a harmless form of music. It is my belief that music may have some sort of effect on the listener, but nothing serious and nothing damaging. The behavior of a person is purely their own, whether it be caused from their parents telling them no or a kid they hate at school spoke with them; however, this is by no means the musicians’ faults.

    Read More

  • Music in the Caribbean

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music is a form of communication, letting others knows what is going on in the country, political, social or economic and any other problems the people of the Caribbean faced. With so many different ethnic backgrounds in the Caribbean, they are people with Asians, Indians, and Africans descents. This created a language and culture barrier but each ethnic background shared a common link music. Music bridged the gap between the different ethnicities Music is part of everyone’s culture especially here in the Caribbean. Our culture is recognized worldwide for its music. The Caribbean has different genres of music such as calypso, reggae, dance hall, zouk and many others. Our music has roots in both African and European cultures. The drum rhythm comes from the African in...

    Read More

  • The Career Of Musician

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music and the need for music has been around almost since the beginning of time, but just in this century, there has been many changes to music and how its made. Starting in the 1900s, the common music genre were ballads and religious music, although a new type of music was creeping up from the south, ragtime. Ragtime being a happy, upbeat type of music, and was considered by I...

    Read More

More about The Origin of American Music

Open Document