What is it? Where did it come from? What can we learn from this type of music?

Folk music is music created and performed by common people (not the rich) and passed down from generation to generation.

Folk music is found in every culture and is created by the common people of that culture. Since every culture is a little different, there are many types of folk music. Indian Folk  Musicians Chinese Folk Musicians  How are all types of folk music the same?

American folk music comes from the common people of America. America, however, is made up of many cultures. The folk music is therefore a blend of many cultures. When immigrants came to America, they sang the songs of their previous cultures. Their previous culture was a part of their identity and helped them remember their past. As different cultures shared songs with one another, musical ideas began to mix together. Thus... American Folk Music

Most folk songs are traditional songs that are past down from previous generations. In many cases, no one knows who first sang them. Folk songs are rarely ever written down. Instead, people share them to one another orally (by singing). Because these songs aren’t written down, they change over time (words may change; melodies may lengthen or shorten; two or more songs may be mashed together).

Because folk music was created by the common person, any instrument s/he owned could be used. The more popular instruments include: Guitar Double Bass Fiddle Banjo Mandolin Dulcimer Harp

When slaves had no instruments, they made music with their voices. Other musicians create their own instruments out of what they found around the house. These groups were called Jug Bands.  From the movie “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas”

Folk songs usually have lyrics and those lyrics are often just as important as the melodies. Folk song lyrics deal with almost every type of human activity (work, religion, love, family). Some folk songs describe history so it’s never forgotten. Other folk songs are fictional and have little meaning. Instead, they are meant for celebrations, for dances, and for enjoyment.

In America, there are a few types of folk songs we find again and again. The first is a ballad. A ballad is a song that tells a story, often times about real events. Another type of folk song is the spiritual. A spiritual is a song that deals with religion. African-Americans sang many spirituals... some were about their beliefs and others were about escaping slavery and finding freedom.

In additional to ballads and spirituals, many types of folk songs deal with activities or situations: These are some (not all) Work songs Prison songs War songs Songs for children Dances (Reels, Square Dances)