1. The Modern Era 1900-present While some composers on the twentieth century remained in the romantic style, most composers moved on. The only rule was that there are no rules. New music, new styles, new ideas.

2. The reason that composers wanted to completely change the face of music was mostly because the old systems were growing so overused that they were becoming limiting factors. A large question looming over composers was "what do you do when everything's been done already?".

3. Technology became a key factor in the music of this era. The recording tape came to be used widely. Electronically created sounds were used in combination with other electronic sounds or played together with traditional music instruments. The use of the computer in the field of music has given it a totally new outlook. Computers have also been made to imitate the sounds of real instruments and are widely used for composing music.

4. 4’33”, one of John Cage’s most famous pieces, is “performed” by a pianist who sits unmoving in front of a keyboard for four minutes and 33 seconds. The members of the audience are expected during this time to listen to the sounds that occur around them.

5. The Modern period has been largely focused on redefining music as we know it. The twentieth century has been a time of musical experimentation, as composers have tried to redefine every aspect of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, and even the qualities of sound itself.

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