Music 101   

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Ragtime Piano:

Jelly Roll Morton: "Tiger Rag" (Adam Swanson, piano) Ragtime music is an early form of jazz that was popular at the turn of the 20th century.  Watch as the pianist uses his whole forearm on the keys to make the sound of the tiger's roar!  Click here to listen to a short radio show about ragtime music.  

Bluegrass Band:

" Freeborn Man" (Tony Rice, guitar; Mark O'Connor, fiddle; Jerry Douglas, resonator guitar; Sam Bush, mandolin, Mark Schatz, bass; Bela Fleck, banjo)

Bluegrass is American folk music.  This video features Tony Rice playing the guitar in the flatpicking style.  It also includes many other bluegrass instruments.  Have you ever seen a mandolin, a steel guitar, or a banjo before?  You can read more about bluegrass and its instruments here.

Violin and Orchestra:

William Kroll: "Banjo and Fiddle" (Jennifer Pike, violin) Classical composers often take their inspiration from folk music.  Here, American composer William Kroll was inspired by bluegrass music.  Listen as the violinist plucks the strings to imitate the sound of the banjo and uses the bow when she wants to sound like a bluegrass fiddler.  

Voice (Broadway Singing):

Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (featuring Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins) The Broadway musical is America's version of the opera.  Broadway performers have to be great at singing, dancing, and acting.  Here the performers are doing all three at once!  

Concert Band:

John Philip Sousa "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (U.S. Marine Corps Band) A memorial day tribute to American music would not be complete without including a U.S. military band.  John Philip Sousa was actually the leader of the U.S. Marine Corps Band for many years, which inspired him to write his famous marches.  Learn more about Sousa and American military bands here.