Check out how artists and musicians developed their craft and their importance in shaping and expressing history.
Ragtime is a novel turned into a musical that tells the story of American Americans, immigrants, and wealthy Americans. It touches upon subjects like racism, class distinction, political corruption, and police brutality. One of its most iconic songs is “Make them hear you.” This song is about telling the stories of …
Marian Anderson was a contralto singer who overcame Jim Crow America to become one of the most legendary singers in history. Born in Philadelphia in 1897, Marian started her singing career in the Union Baptist Church youth choir. The conductor, impressed by Marian’s talented voice and ability to sing any part of a hymn, whether it …
Florence Price composed over 300 musical works, and she became the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphony composer. Price was well aware of the obstacles she would face, as evidenced by her letter to Serge Koussevitzky, a legendary conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where she said, …
Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop, and Rap consist of hard-hitting beats from either drums or synthesized beats (computer-made beats). Even though the culture was formed in the 1970s, Rap music was not entirely into the public eye until the 1990s where artists Like Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. were approaching …
An Alternative Rock Genre coming from Seattle Washington, Grunge exploded in the early to mid-’90s as acts like Pearl Jam and Nirvana overtook the mainstream. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as self-doubt, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, psychological trauma, and a desire for freedom. Using the handout at home, talk about the last …
Rising in popularity in the 1980s, Feminist art wanted to invoke more emotions and bring forward a standard message more than any art form to come before them. This movement was about women expressing themselves as equal to men through art for the first time. In what is known as …
In the 1980s, music was dramatically changed by the introduction of MTV (Music Television). This meant that music videos became more and more necessary for artists to gain popularity (especially with the youth) and sell records. Greater importance was placed on the appearance of musicians, and gimmicks became commonplace. A …
Disco originated as a genre of dance music in the late 70s from the urban nightlife scene and can be traced as a reaction to the popularity of rock music at the time and the stigmatization of dance music. Disco was a polarizing genre even when it was popular. What …
