History of Music

History of Music

Poll

What Does Music Mean to You? (Check ALL that apply)

• t helps me feel better when I’m sad or stressed

• It makes me want to dance or move

• It helps me concentrate or relax

• It’s just fun to listen to!

• I don’t think about it much—but I still hear it everywhere!

Music.  It can pump you up, soothe your mood, and even inspire you.  It can help you focus or help put you to sleep. 

 

But how much do you really know about it?

​Music

Mozart wrote his first symphony at only eight years old.  Bruno Mars was once the youngest Elvis impersonator in Hawaii.  Did you know your parents' taste in music might influence yours?

​Music

​The name Imagine Dragons is an anagram, but only the band members know what it is!

We hear music the way that we hear all noise: as sound waves.  A sound wave is a movement of air caused when something vibrates, such as an instrument or a speaker in a sound system.  

 

The pitch of a note is how high or low it sounds.  When a sound wave vibrates a lot each second, it makes a high note.  When a sound wave vibrates only a few times a second, it makes a low note.

​Music

Frequency is measure in Hertz (Hz), named after the German scientist Heinrich Hertz, who first showed that sound waves exist.

 

Humans can hear sounds between 20  Hz  (very low frequency) and 20,000 Hz (very high).  Many animals, such as dogs, can hear frequencies much higher than that. 

​Music

Dropdown

Vibrations that travel through air to your ears​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

If a sound has a high number of hertz (Hz), what does it sound like?

• It sounds low-pitched.
• It sounds muffled.
• It sounds silent.
• It sounds high-pitched.

For as long as we've been around to enjoy it, music has been a part of human history.  We play music to tell stories, for religious reasons, and just for fun.

 

Thousands of years ago, ancient peoples invented all kinds of musical instruments.

​The Earliest Tunes

The first musical instrument was the human voice.  The earliest singers - we're talking between 50,000 and 200,000 years ago-probably clapped their hands or banged rocks to keep the beat. 

The first known musical instruments date back about 40,000 years.  Flutes made of bones were discovered in caves in Germany. 

​Play Those Bones!

Medieval music comes from a time long ago, between the fall of the Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance. During this time, people played different instruments like the harp, flute, and drums. The organ was especially important in churches.

There were two main types of music in the Middle Ages. Sacred music was for religious ceremonies, and it was often sung in churches. One well-known style was Gregorian chant, a peaceful and simple type of song sung by monks. Secular music was for fun, like dancing or telling stories, and it was not tied to religion.

​Medieval Music

​Although it is difficult for us to know what the music of the ancients sounded like, they used music much like we do today: as entertainment, in religious ceremonies, and in drama.

As the simple music of the medieval period became more complicated, musicians began to need a system to write their music down.  Eventually, notation developed.  That meant composers could both preserve their work and share it with others, and more people could enjoy it.  Today, we can play music that's several hundred years old because of notation.  We can also write our own music for others to perform some time in the future. 

​So Noted.

The Renaissance, following the Middle Ages, was a golden age for art and music in Europe.  While Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece "Mona Lisa," great musicians and composers  were busy creating music for different instruments, composing songs and dances, and inventing new styles of music. The Renaissance introduced new ways of writing, playing, and even listening to music.

​Renaissance Rhythms

Beginning around 1600, the baroque musical era began, and it would last until about 1750.  Baroque music is beautiful and complicated.  

The father of baroque music was the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.  He was a skilled organ player and wrote a lot of pieces for the organ.  He genius has influenced rock and pop music. 

​Renaissance Rhythms

​Toccata and Fuge in D Minor, is one of Bach's most famous organ pieces.

Classical and Romantic Music

18th and 19th Centuries

By the mid-1700s, Orchestras, or large groups of musicians playing together, were becoming so popular across Europe that many classical composers started writing music specifically for them.  This led to a new form of orchestral music; the symphony.  

​Orchestrating Orchestras

Dropdown

​

Select answer

is the system we use to write down music so others can read and play it!

Don't tune out just yet.  While opera music might sometimes be hard to understand, it's actually a play, and the actors are singing their parts. 

​Opera

​German composer Richard Wagner believed opera should include every kind of art and he used music to heighten the drama of his stories.

One day in 1756, in Salzburg, Austria, a baby boy who would change the history of music was born.  His parents named him Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  He turned out to be a child prodigy, someone who shows true talent for a particular skill at a young age, and he was composing music by the age of 5.  Although he only lived to be 35, Mozart gave the world a huge amount of music, from symphonies to operas.

​Maximum Mozart

​Mozart was one of the first great composers to embrace the piano

Even if you don't know it, chances are you've heard at least some of Beethoven's music.  Ludwig van Beethoven is a towering figure in classical music.  He is considered to have been the greatest classical music composer of all time.  At the age of 29, Beethoven began to lose his hearing, but he continued to compose music even after becoming completely deaf. Mozart, and he helped create a new style of music.  

​The Best of Beethoven

Multiple Choice

What was Beethoven's biggest musical challenge?

• He couldn’t play the piano

• His limited exposure to other musicians.
• He had a limited memory

• He became deaf

Dropdown

Mozart start composing music at age ​

Select answer

The Romantics often created musical pieces that celebrated the hero character, typically a lonely guy or girl who rebelled against authority and wasn't afraid to express his or her feelings, no matter the cost.

Musicians themselves also came to be viewed as heroes-today we'd call them celebrities.  The most talented among them, known as virtuosi, drew huge audiences and often sold out their performances.  Virtuosi were kind of like today's popstars.

​Totally Talented

​Frederic Chopin was considered a piano prodigy.

Because of its physical separation from Europe, the United States has developed many different types of music throughout history.

Native Americans had their own traditons of song and music, as did the people who emigrated there across the centuries.  While the various types of music started off separate, slowly they began to influence each other as people traveled more and shared ideas.  

​Only In America

American soldiers sang  to keep their spirits up during the Revolutionary War.  One favorite tune was "Yankee Doodle," which had been written by a British commander to mock American soldiers.  However, the idea backfired.  Americans liked the catch tune and made it their own. 

During the early 19th century, marches made their way off the battlefield and into popular music.  

Military bands grew in size and often played for civilian (nonmilitary) audiences.  

 

During the American Civil War, Union Army band master Patrick Gilmore wrote "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," which was a huge hit when he toured, playing to large audiences. 

​Only In America

American soldiers sang  to keep their spirits up during the Revolutionary War.  One favorite tune was "Yankee Doodle," which had been written by a British commander to mock American soldiers.  However, the idea backfired.  Americans liked the catch tune and made it their own. 

Match

Correctly match the following.

• Ancient Times

• Medieval Times

• Renaissance

• Baroque

• Classical

Used with simple instruments

Gregorian chant in churches

Music printing spreads

Fancy, decorative style; Bach

Mozart and Beethoven

• Used with simple instruments

• Gregorian chant in churches

• Music printing spreads

• Fancy, decorative style; Bach

• Mozart and Beethoven

Thoroughly Modern Music

In the early years of the 20th century, technology and society were changing fast.  This era saw the invention of radio, film, and the recording industry, which led to big changes in music. 

​Early 20th Century

People might listen to it all over the world today, but country music roots are from the United States.  

The rise of the radio in the 1920s helped to transform country folk music into a highly popular music style.  Western movies also played a part, because many movies heavily featured country songs.  Most country songs told a story.  

​That's So Country

​Country music evolved and changed throughout the 20th century and it now includes a wide range of styles.

The Blues started in the southern US in the late 19th century. 

 The term "blues' was used to describe the gloomy nature of the songs.  And they really were gloomy, often telling stories about poverty, slavery, unhappy relationships, violence, racism, and death.

​Belt Out the Blues

Robert Johnson, "Ramblin On My Mind"

Jazz developed in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The word "Jazz" means upbeat and lively.  

One of its unique features is improvisation; jazz performers improvise, or make up, some of the music as they play.

​A Jazzy Start

The Big Band Era refers to a period in the 1930s and 1940s when large jazz orchestras, known as big bands, became incredibly popular in the United States. Big bands typically consisted of 10 to 25 musicians playing a variety of instruments. This era marked a golden age for swing music, which was the dominant style at the time.

As the US emerged from the Great Depression, the public wanted to be entertained.

​Swing Sets

Glenn Miller's band included some of the greatest songs of the swing era.  Miller joined the US Army and put together an all-star band to entertain troops.  But in December 1944, the airplane he was on vanished midflight between England and Paris.  He was never heard from again.

Multiple Choice

What era is Glenn Miller most famous for in music?

• Disco era
• Rock and Roll era
• Big Band era
• Jazz Age

By the early 1940s, many fans had grown bored of swing, because it had all started to sound the same; it had become too mass-produced.  

People were looking for the next big thing and that's when bebop was created. 

Boppin' to Bebop

Aretha. Elvis. James Brown. The Beatles.  The second half of the 20th  century would see the rise of gospel, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll.  

Play It Loud!

Rhythm and Blues, commonly known as R&B, is a genre of popular music that originated in the 1940s and 1950s in the United States.  And it quickly proved popular.  It was above all music for people to dance to. R&B music is known for its emotional, expressive vocals, often dealing with themes of love, heartache, and personal struggles. The style often is best remembered today as being one of the main influences on rock and roll.  

​We've Got The Blues

Song in the background is Bo Diddley, "Who do You Love" an example of Rhythm and Blues 

Funk is a style of music that started in the 1960s and became popular in the 1970s. It mixes soul and (R&B), but focuses a lot on the beat. Funk music has a groovy, danceable rhythm with strong bass lines that make people want to move.
The lyrics are fun and often talk about dancing, partying, or feeling good. Funk also has a fun, call-and-response style, where the lead singer sings something and the instruments or other singers reply.

​Get Funky

James Brown's album Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud, released in 1969, is widely considered the first funk record. 

Disco is a style of music that became popular in the 1970s, known for its dance beats and upbeat tempo. It’s all about having fun and dancing to a steady, catchy rhythm. Disco music features a strong four-on-the-floor beat, where the bass drum hits on every beat, making it easy to dance to. Disco was most popular in nightclubs, and people would go out to dance to these songs all night.

The soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever was a sensation in 1977, and the disco craze exploded around the world.  

Disco

Gospel music comes from African American churches and is full of powerful singing, clapping, and spiritual messages. It often talks about faith, hope, and praising God. Gospel music uses strong vocals, choirs, and call-and-response singing that makes it feel uplifting and emotional.

Soul music grew out of gospel in the 1950s and 1960s, mixing it with rhythm and blues (R&B). Soul keeps the emotional and powerful singing of gospel but adds lyrics about love, life, and feelings.

Giving Praise

​Aretha Franklin first sang in church.  She became known as the "Queen of Soul"

Match

Correctly match

• Focuses on overcoming struggles

• Rhythmic, danceable beats with a focus on funk grooves

• Dance music associated with 70s club

• A deeply emotional genre rooted in African-American church traditions

Blues

Funk

Disco

Gospel

• Blues

• Funk

• Disco

• Gospel

Rock and Roll burst onto the scene in 1956 with the song "Rock Around the Clock" and music was never the same again.  An immediate hit with  young people from all backgrounds, rock and roll gave rise to a whole new youth culture.  Many adults were horrified by the new music-they disapproved of its strong beat and thought it was dangerous.    

Everybody Rock!

The 1960s saw a wave of British music crash onto North America's shores.  Led by bands such as the Beatles and The Who, this British invasion (as it was called) changed music forever.  Many American artists were inspired by the British bands.    

The British Are Coming!

During the 1970s, Rock music started to develop many distinctive sytles.  Musicians were constantly looking for new directions which led to lots of new types of rock.  

Rock Styles!

Heavy metal takes its name from the loud and distorted guitar playing that is featured in this style.  Guitarists often use long solos to show off their skills .

The band Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple came to be known as the holy trinity of heavy metal. 

Heavy metal changed into a more popular type of music called glam or hair metal.  The name came from the long hair of bands such as KISS, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, and Poison.  But thrash metal acts such as Metallica also thrived.    

Metal Heads

Punk Rock is all about attitude.  It is an aggressive music style that was a reaction to the softer rock and disco music of the mid 1970s.  

Fashion was a key part of the punk movement, from clothes to hair to makeup.   

Such a Punk

Dropdown

​

Select answer

instrument is most important in rock music.

As the 1980s began, there were so many different music styles that some fans grouped themselves into "tribes."  People who belong to the same tribe like listening to the same music, wearing similar clothes, and behaving in a similar way.

Because we can instantly access any music we want to hear, tribes don't exist in the same clear-cut way.  

What's Your Tribe?

Hip-hop started in a poor New York City neighborhood in the 1970s.  Bringing together rap, DJing, dance, and graffiti or street art, hip-hop is not only a type of music but a way of life.  

The term "rap" started out as slang for a particular way of talking, especially among African Americans. 

Hip With the Beat!

Electronic dance music (or EDM)  got its start in Chicago and New York, when DJs started mixing different styles of music.

They wanted to create a sound that was entirely focused on dancing, making rhthms that continued from one track to the next.  These days, there are a huge variety of EM styles.  

Dance to the Music

Daft Punk is a French EDM duo known for playing a blend of house, funk, techno, and electronic pop mixed with everything. 

Mexican music is full of energy, emotion, and tradition. It uses vocals, instruments like guitars, trumpets, and accordions, and often tells stories about love, family, culture, and pride.

🎺 Popular Mexican Music Styles:

Mariachi – Traditional music with big hats (sombreros), violins, guitars, and trumpets. Often played at parties and celebrations.

Ranchera – Emotional songs that often talk about love and heartbreak. Usually sung with strong, powerful voices.

Tejano – A blend of Mexican and American music, popular in Texas. Uses accordions, keyboards, and danceable beats.

Norteño – Features the accordion and bajo sexto (a type of guitar). Has a strong rhythm and is popular in northern Mexico.

Corridos – Storytelling songs that describe real people, events, or struggles. Modern versions are called corridos tumbados (Peso Pluma’s style)
Mexican music began gaining popularity in the United States, especially in Texas and California. It became more widespread in the 1940s and 1950s, when mariachi, ranchera, and norteño styles were played on Spanish-language radio stations and at community events. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, Tejano music grew in popularity—especially with artists like Selena, who helped bring it into the mainstream.

Today, with artists like Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, and Grupo Frontera, Mexican music is reaching global audiences through streaming and social media.

Mexican Music Style

Match

Correctly Match

• Queen of Tejano music

• top in corridos tumbados

• banda and norteño group

• King of the Accordion

Selena

Peso Pluma

Grupo Frontera

Ramon Ayala

• Selena

• Peso Pluma

• Grupo Frontera

• Ramon Ayala

Genre-Hopping is nothing new in music.  The Beatles played pop, hard rock, and blues in the 1960s.  Many performers in the 21st century, such as Ed Sheeran, the 1975, Lana Del Rey, and THEY., are difficult to fit into a category and have been praised for their abilty to produce different sounds.  Even Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and the The Weeknd could argue their music does not conform to a genre.  

Breaking the Mold