As I have indicated in my initial blog post about culture, the U.S. does have it’s share of fine arts, including music. When it comes to American music, what/who do you think of? Do you think of people like Aaron Copland? George Gershwin? Samuel Barber? Leonard Bernstein? (These are composers from the classical music genre). Or do you think more of the jazz genre composers (jazz is a music genre having originated in the African-American communities (specifically in New Orleans)? Think Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Or maybe you are thinking more of the pop culture aspect of American music, including blues, country, bluegrass, americana, rock and roll, doo wop, techno, etc.

Music in the United States plays an important role in the expressions of the very diverse population. A lot of our music has been influenced by West African, Irish, Scottish and mainland European cultures among others. Some of the popular music here in the U.S. has gained a near-global audience. Many American cities and towns have vibrant music scenes, thereby supporting a number of regional musical styles.

Music plays such an important role in American life – such as politics, holidays, entertainment, and even education (though many schools unfortunately are cutting or diminishing their arts programs). For me, music has played an important role when I was in school (I struggled at times during my school years and music gave me the extra umph that I needed to keep on keeping on) and I know so many other kids in the past and currently who have been helped academically and socially through their participation in music. (I continue to play music to this day 🙂 ).

It is my plan to discuss some of the musicians who have helped shape and form the wide variety of American music within the context of American culture. I will discuss music from classical to jazz to the variety of folk music and will even touch on your everyday pop music, too. As indicated, music permeates American culture and life in such a variety of ways.