The History
of
American Music
Questions
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When was music first recorded and by what
means?
Why did people prefer cassettes over records in
the 1960’s?
How did Jazz entered American homes?
Where did R&B music came from?
What happened to Rock music in the 60’s?
Hip Hop is a_______________.
What are some slangs for rap?
Vocabulary
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Originated
Slang
Umbrella term & Umbrella Organization
Improvisation
Emerge
Subculture & Sub-genre
Music & Machines
The recording industry began in 1877 when
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph record
machine to record voices.
At the end of the 1920s, the Victrola, a wind-up
music player was invented. Millions were produced.
It became so popular that people started calling all
record players Victrolas. They could only play music
for four minutes at a time.
Music & Machines
Cont….
In the 1940s and 1950s, new records
called LPs were introduced. They were
made of tougher material and could
play for 23 minutes on each side.
In the 1960s, the compact
cassette, or cassette tape,
was invented. Cassettes
lasted longer than
records and could easily
be played in cars or on
small, portable players.
Now, most people
download their music onto
their computers using the
internet.
In 1980, the CD (or
compact discs) was
invented using laser
beam technology.
Jazz
The Jazz Age began in 1916 in New Orleans (a city in
America).
Jazz was invented by African Americans in the Southeastern
part of the United States by blending African and European
music.
Improvisation is an important part of jazz music.
Jazz music entered American homes through phonograph
records and radio broadcasts.
Related to Jazz is the Blues, which was also invented by
African Americans in the Southeastern United States,
specifically slaves working in the fields.
Rhythm & Blues
R&B emerged in the 1940s among African Americans in
cities.
It is characterized by a heavy beat. R&B was
important in the development of Rock & Roll.
The term R&B has been used as an umbrella term to
describe any music made by and for African
Americans: the Blues, gospel music, soul music, and
funk music.
Country
Country music was first a mix of traditional and popular music
from southeastern states in the 1920s.
Today, "country music" is used to describe many styles. Now the
genre includes popular music styles from the American west in
addition to the music from ______ states.
Common instruments in country music include guitar, banjo,
harmonica and drums
Originally, in the 1950s rock and roll combined the blues,
country music, jazz and gospel music. Then, in the 1960s, rock
music grew to include many other popular music forms and subgenres (punk rock, heavy metal, alternative rock, etcetera).
In addition to being a musical style, rock and roll is now part of
pop-culture. Rock and roll, through popular media (movies,
magazines commercials, etc) influences attitudes, fashion,
lifestyles and language.
Hip hop is a subculture that originated in African American
communities in the South Bronx borough of New York
City during the 1970s
Over the decades, hip-hop culture has spread all over the
world, creating a new dance form and new styles of dress.
The word “rap” is used interchangeably with “hip hop”.
Rap, speaking poetry to a beat, is the main ingredient
in hip hop music. Slang for the verb “to rap” include
emceeing, MCing, spitting and rhyming.
Videos
Mainstream
Music
Today
Speaking
Writing
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Pick a song you know you will always enjoy.
What’s the song about?
When do you usually listen to it?
When you listen to it, what does it make you
think of?
What kind of feelings does this song
provoke?