The First American Superstar: The Sousa Band

Have you ever made a hard decision? That’s what Mel has to do. He has to decide between has friends band garage or a career in a jazz band. While Mel may enjoy the time and band with his friends but he should do the Jazz band. Mel should do the Jazz band because we should always do what we can to get better at what we love. Even if that means we lose something else.

Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.

John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era. Sousa was born in Washington, D.C. on November 6, 1854, to John Antonio Sousa and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus. Born of both Portuguese and Bavarian ancestry. His father was Portuguese, and his mother of Bavarian ancestry. Sousa started his music education by playing the violin as a pupil of John Esputa and George Felix Benkert for harmony and musical composition at the age of six. At this time he also began studying voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn. He was found to have absolute pitch. When Sousa reached the age of 13, his father, a trombonist in the Marine

Most schools offer a variety of activities, classes, and clubs. I personally was never interested in school or anything to do with it. Then I came across band and was instantly hooked. Band has concerts, marching band, and you get to meet new people. Band is my favorite class and here are some reasons why.

Rock and Roll comes from the mid-1950s and is a combination of a blues, country music, and gospel music. Bill Haley and The Comets are considered the driving force behind the start of rock and roll. In the summer of 1955 Bill Haley and The Comets, had the first Rock and Roll song to be placed on the top of the Billboard best sellers, most played song on jukeboxes, and the most played by disc jockeys. Rock around the clock is a very iconic song written and performed by Bill Haley and the Comets, and is recognized as a timeless Rock and Roll song and showcases the bands western and country roots. Even though Bill Haley and The Comets had started the Rock and Roll genre, the audience wasn’t there and shortly died out. As a result, there

Louis, etc. playing with different musical groups as for musician that were needed but he could never stay long with one band. “He couldn’t stay long in one band too long because he was too irregular and emotional, and he was a one-man band himself,” bandleader George Morrison who Morton once played under said. Morton really wanted to stand out and be an over the top musician. After he left the groups he toured the south in a musician show for about a year and a half. In a bar somewhere in St. Louis where piano players hung out, Morton had to prove his skills by playing and reading music in

After leaving Bostic's band, Coltrane joined an old idol of his, Johnny Hodges, in 1953. Coltrane learned new styles from Hodges. He learned styles of stretching the notes, lingering, and caressing them. This was a very

At the beginning of the Civil War the armies needed to provide entertainment and comfort to their soldiers. There were many reasons music alleviated the negative experiences the soldiers were facing, but all mainly had the same goal, and that was to keep encouraging the soldiers to continue marching and fighting. Brass bands played inspiring songs designed to lift the spirits of the troops and the civilians who were listening, or

Rock ‘N’ Roll’s birth came after the Great Depression and World War II. It was in the 50’s called the baby boomers that started it all. It expanded the teenage population with 3.4 million babies born. The 1950’s scrap the ideology of a conservative family, where the father is the bread winner and the mother was a stay home mother. The young adults found an escape and enjoyment in Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Even before the war, music was a large part of entertainment to the American people. In the article Music of the 1860’s, it mentions how people would go to concerts that would be performed by bands to listen to music.

Mr. Bethel from childhood to about eighteen years old had always aspired to become a world renowned musician. When he made it to high school, he played the trumpet within the Charleston High School band. Although he played with a band, the passion of music did not begin here. Music became interesting for him as a small child. On about every Friday night, he and his family would go to a near neighbor’s house to watch a fight. At the end of these broadcasts, the United States flag would wave across the screen and in the background there would be an orchestra playing. Mr. Bethel mentioned, “I always wanted to be a background musician, playing in an orchestra”.

Throughout the history of the United States, war and political actions have played as several influences for practices. One practice that has a massive connection with war and politics is music. It has the capability to express protest themes such as anti-war or anti-establishment. Music can also set the mood for the entire environment, such as a depressed scene creates slow, or somber-toned music. Or if the setting is rebellious and ecstatic, musicians will want to create fast-paced dancing music. In this essay, I argue that American music plays a drastic part in war and political applications and in the history of the United States, the Prohibition Era, World War II and the Vietnam War have significant evidence to prove this ideology.

from big band to bebop. He did not always want to play the piano; he also had a love for

Country music is constantly changing, an example of this is how women are now viewed in country music. The American form of music became popular in the 1920’s, and continued to grow, artists of this era include the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and Vernon Dalhart. One of country’s most well-known female singers is Dolly Parton, becoming a major country star in the 1970’s. Dolly was one of the first female artists to challenge the gender stereotypes in country music, this major success led to her long career. She has contributed over 35 hits to country and popular music, including her album Coat of Colors released in 1971, by RCA records was the album that changed her career. The 8th solo album made it onto Time Magazine 's 100 Greatest

The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.