Country: America’s Music Early Influences and Instruments

Appalachian Mountains Image Source: http://www.appalachianregionscience.usgs.gov/appal/ pictures/html/pages/landscape_jpg.htm

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. Downloaded from Google Images on 7/30/07. Original source: www.umich.edu/ ~econdev/arc/index.html

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 Downloaded from: www.galenfrysinger.com/ appalachia_museum.htm

Early Settlers Lived Off the Land Sheep grazing at the Museum of Appalachia. Downloaded from: www.house.gov/wamp/ anderson_sheep.shtm

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?

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? homepage.mac.com/ crabtree/otm.htm

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? Charlie Poole bacm.users.btopenworld.com/

Which of the instruments is missing from this picture? Chasin Steel www.bjorgensonbluegrass.com/ Festival/

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

Early Banjo Player www.wpclipart.com/.../ banjo/index.html

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]

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 www.whug.com/guestbook/ guestbook_Add.asp

Passing Time at Sea www.katewegner.com/ booking/

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]

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

Can you spot the fiddler? www.pembrokeshire-folk-music.co.uk/ Artist%20P...

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]