Country: America’s Country: America’s MusicMusic

Early Influences and InstrumentsEarly Influences and Instruments

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains

Birthplace of Country MusicBirthplace of Country Music

Appalachia is a thirteen Appalachia is a thirteen state region that state region that stretches along the stretches along the Appalachian mountain Appalachian mountain range, extending from range, extending from southwestern New York southwestern New York State to northeastern State to northeastern Mississippi.Mississippi.

Log Cabin Symbolized FrontierLog Cabin Symbolized Frontier

Appalachian forests Appalachian forests provided plenty of logsprovided plenty of logs

Cabins were simple and Cabins were simple and fairly quick to buildfairly quick to build

No sawmill was needed No sawmill was needed to cut timber into boardsto cut timber into boards

Thick walls made log Thick walls made log cabins warm in wintercabins warm in winter

Early Settlers Lived Off the LandEarly Settlers Lived Off the Land

Old-Time EntertainmentOld-Time Entertainment

But people who lived in log cabins on the But people who lived in log cabins on the frontier were a long way from the city.frontier were a long way from the city.

Television and radio had not been invented.Television and radio had not been invented. Neither had movies or video games.Neither had movies or video games. In the evening, there was only a fireplace or In the evening, there was only a fireplace or

candle for light. So reading was difficult.candle for light. So reading was difficult. What could people do to entertain themselves?What could people do to entertain themselves?

People Made Their Own MusicPeople Made Their Own Music

Musicians were much in Musicians were much in demand on the frontierdemand on the frontier

When a wagon train went When a wagon train went west, people liked to take west, people liked to take musicians alongmusicians along

In the evening, people In the evening, people would listen, sing along, or would listen, sing along, or even dance even dance

What instruments were What instruments were popular in Appalachia?popular in Appalachia?

Old-Time Country InstrumentsOld-Time Country Instruments

What instrument is What instrument is played by the musician played by the musician on the left?on the left?

What instrument is What instrument is played by the musician played by the musician in the middle?in the middle?

What instrument is What instrument is played by the musician played by the musician on the right?on the right?

Which of the instruments is Which of the instruments is missing from this picture?missing from this picture?

History of “Drum with Strings”History of “Drum with Strings”

The banjo originated in The banjo originated in Arabia, came to West Arabia, came to West Africa with IslamAfrica with Islam

African version had African version had drumhead over a body drumhead over a body made of hollow gourdmade of hollow gourd

Enslaved Africans Enslaved Africans adapted instrument adapted instrument design to North design to North American materials American materials

Early Banjo PlayerEarly Banjo Player

The Banjo: Key PointsThe Banjo: Key Points

Banjos have how many strings? [five]Banjos have how many strings? [five] How did the banjo come to the U.S.? How did the banjo come to the U.S.?

[Enslaved Africans in the South created [Enslaved Africans in the South created instruments that resembled African instrument instruments that resembled African instrument with a drum-like body]with a drum-like body]

How is the banjo played? [held in lap, plucked How is the banjo played? [held in lap, plucked or strummed]or strummed]

How does a banjo sound? [tinny, metal sound]How does a banjo sound? [tinny, metal sound]

From Spain via IrelandFrom Spain via Ireland

The modern guitar has The modern guitar has its roots in Spainits roots in Spain

A smaller-bodied A smaller-bodied version was created to version was created to accompany Irish singersaccompany Irish singers

When they immigrated When they immigrated to the United States, to the United States, musicians from Ireland musicians from Ireland took the guitar along took the guitar along

Passing Time at SeaPassing Time at Sea

The Guitar: Key PointsThe Guitar: Key Points

Guitars have how many strings? [six]Guitars have how many strings? [six] How did guitars first come to the U.S.? [The How did guitars first come to the U.S.? [The

Irish adapted Spanish guitars and brought them Irish adapted Spanish guitars and brought them when they immigrated to the U.S.]when they immigrated to the U.S.]

When was the guitar introduced to the U.S.? When was the guitar introduced to the U.S.? [in the 1800s, or the 19th century][in the 1800s, or the 19th century]

How is the guitar played? [held in lap, How is the guitar played? [held in lap, strummed or plucked]strummed or plucked]

Fiddle or Violin?Fiddle or Violin?

Scots-Irish immigrants Scots-Irish immigrants brought the fiddle to the brought the fiddle to the United States United States

The fiddle is the same The fiddle is the same instrument as the violininstrument as the violin

But fiddlers have a But fiddlers have a different way of playingdifferent way of playing

They seldom use vibratoThey seldom use vibrato Most set the fiddle up so Most set the fiddle up so

they can play quicklythey can play quickly

Can you spot the fiddler?Can you spot the fiddler?

The Fiddle: Key PointsThe Fiddle: Key Points

Fiddles have how many strings? [four]Fiddles have how many strings? [four] What is the fiddle made of? [wood]What is the fiddle made of? [wood] Who first brought the fiddle to the U.S.? Who first brought the fiddle to the U.S.?

[Scots-Irish][Scots-Irish] How is the fiddle played? [It is rested on the How is the fiddle played? [It is rested on the

shoulder and bowed or plucked.]shoulder and bowed or plucked.] When was it introduced to the U.S.? [1700s, or When was it introduced to the U.S.? [1700s, or

the 18th century]the 18th century]