Country: America’s Music

1. Country: America’s Music Early Influences and Instruments

2. Appalachian Mountains

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

4. Log Cabin Symbolized Frontier • Appalachian forests provided plenty of logs • Cabins were simple and fairly quick to build • No sawmill was needed to cut timber into boards • Thick walls made log cabins warm in winter

5. Early Settlers Lived Off the Land

6. Old-Time Entertainment • But people who lived in log cabins on the frontier were a long way from the city. • Television and radio had not been invented. • Neither had movies or video games. • In the evening, there was only a fireplace or candle for light. So reading was difficult. • What could people do to entertain themselves?

7. People Made Their Own Music • Musicians were much in demand on the frontier • When a wagon train went west, people liked to take musicians along • In the evening, people would listen, sing along, or even dance • What instruments were popular in Appalachia?

8. Old-Time Country Instruments • What instrument is played by the musician on the left? • What instrument is played by the musician in the middle? • What instrument is played by the musician on the right?

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

10. History of “Drum with Strings” • The banjo originated in Arabia, came to West Africa with Islam • African version had drumhead over a body made of hollow gourd • Enslaved Africans adapted instrument design to North American materials

11. Early Banjo Player

12. The Banjo: Key Points • Banjos have how many strings? [five] • How did the banjo come to the U.S.? [Enslaved Africans in the South created instruments that resembled African instrument with a drum-like body] • How is the banjo played? [held in lap, plucked or strummed] • How does a banjo sound? [tinny, metal sound]

13. From Spain via Ireland • The modern guitar has its roots in Spain • A smaller-bodied version was created to accompany Irish singers • When they immigrated to the United States, musicians from Ireland took the guitar along

14. Passing Time at Sea

15. The Guitar: Key Points • Guitars have how many strings? [six] • How did guitars first come to the U.S.? [The Irish adapted Spanish guitars and brought them when they immigrated to the U.S.] • When was the guitar introduced to the U.S.? [in the 1800s, or the 19th century] • How is the guitar played? [held in lap, strummed or plucked]

16. Fiddle or Violin? • Scots-Irish immigrants brought the fiddle to the United States • The fiddle is the same instrument as the violin • But fiddlers have a different way of playing • They seldom use vibrato • Most set the fiddle up so they can play quickly

17. Can you spot the fiddler?

18. The Fiddle: Key Points • Fiddles have how many strings? [four] • What is the fiddle made of? [wood] • Who first brought the fiddle to the U.S.? [Scots-Irish] • How is the fiddle played? [It is rested on the shoulder and bowed or plucked.] • When was it introduced to the U.S.? [1700s, or the 18th century]