Current Events Analytic Response

The CD is one of the most controversial issues in music today. While almost all professional musicians still use them, sales of CDs have been rapidly declining for years. This is primarily due to the rise of Internet sites that allow for free downloading of music. People usually will not go out and buy a CD when they can obtain the exact same material for free from their own home. There is debate over whether or not this is actually hurting artists, as more people will hear their music, which could help to build a strong fanbase. Regardless, these new forms of downloading music are changing the industry, for better of for worse. Now that most people buy just one song off iTunes, or download only the tracks that they want to hear, the idea of a concept album will be much more rare. It will still happen, just as some people still buy records, but it will not be attemped as often. While most mainstream musicians suffer greatly from the lack of CD sales, underground bands have not had as much of a problem keeping their sales up. Generally, the less mainstream a band is, the more devoted their fans will be, although there are less fans. While those who argue that CDs aren't dead and/or dying point out that CDs make up 3/4 of all music sold, they don't give any tmeframe for that, and probably have no way of knowing exactly how much music is downloaded illegally from many interenet sites, so this statistic is flawed. They do make a good point when they say that CDs aren't completely done, they are just becomnig more and more difficult to sell. It is possible that CDs will come back if the methods of CD sale are completely revamped to keep up with the changing times. For now, we know that the music industry is changing, we just don'tknow where its going.

"What Am I Doing Blogging?"

In reading this blog and power point presentation, I feel that I have gained some perspective on religion's effect on education, and the underlying reason for both viewpoints on integrated religion on school. Many argue that religion should be taught separately from academics, and the government has made it clear that they will teach evolution and not creationism. I think that this is the right call, because creationism has already been proven wrong, and I don't understand how people still support. In her blog, Val used a political cartoon to portray the effect that teaching creationism would have on academics. To me it seems like a step down intellectually from what we have now, considering where science is today. I agree with her ideas on the subject: "No teacher should be pressing ideas or beliefs on another. If a student wants to learn about his or her religion, he or she can find time to do so outside of school." This entire belief is backed up by the basic ideas of being an American. Freedom of religion is a guaranteed right, and I don't see how this freedom doesn't apply to schools. It makes no sense that people feel that they have the right to override this freedom, just because they want to force their beliefs on others.

Chronicles of the Chosen One

Carl's Blog was focused on Hispanic immigrants to the United States, and it covered a very large spectrum of their situations, ways to fix them, and ways people have already tried to fix them. The presentation is laid out in a very clear, easy to understand way that covers the entire issue. He talked about their lack of education, and how there is a cycle that is keeping Hispanic immigrants down, forcing them to keep low paying jobs. Carl also wrote about this issue from the point of view of a short story by Thomas Rivera. I also learned about civil rights leaders, like Cesar Chavez, who fought for illegal immigrant's rights by forming the American Farm Workers Association. The statistics used to back up his information were very effective too, showing not only the tiny amount of money that immigrants make, but the way that it ruins the economy. His message on what it means to be an American also spoke to me, as it showed how Hispanic immigrants have no opportunities, while many others do.

The CD is Not Obsolete

This opposing article point out that while many mainstream artists have suffered the effects of music pirating and downloading on CD sales, music retailers that cater to customers with specific tastes and carry specialized selections have not been hit by the dwindling CD sales of major label artists. Also online retailers like Amazon have continued to sell CDs. "It is the old methods of selling CDs that are dying off, not the CD itself—at least for a long time." This article also point out that CDs make up 3/4 of all music sold. While they believe that CDs are still alive, they see that it is becoming more and more difficult to sell CDs.

Daniel Gross. "The CD Is Not Obsolete." At Issue: What Is the Future of the Music Industry?. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 11 Feb. 2010 .

The CD is Obsolete

"The hard copy, album-form compact disc will die. It is happening," says Don Gorter, chair of the Music Business Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In this artice, it is stated that a fundamental change in the conception of music, and the way it is bought and sold, is not only on its way, but already here. We see this in technological advancements like iTunes and other internet sites that allow for free, and often illegal, ways of obtaining music. The recording industry as we know it is completely reinventing itself, as not only ways of buying and selling music are being completely changed, but ways of recording it as well. While in the past musicians have had to go into studios to get a high quality recording, it is easier than ever to get this quality in any home studio.

The record industry is also allowing people to purchase or download one song, as opposed to entire albums as it was in the past. This will completely change the future of music, and in my opinion, it is for the worse. Many older albums from bands like The Beatles, and Pink Floyd were concept albums, where the entire album was one piece of work composed of different songs that tell one larger story. This gave a more intimate connection between the listener and the music, which is something I've always enjoyed. The CD is becoming more and more obselete, and while it is inevitable because of the changing record industry, I think that it will have a negative impact on music to come.

Daniel B. Wood. "The CD Is Obsolete." At Issue: What Is the Future of the Music Industry?. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 11 Feb. 2010 .

Literary Analytic Response

"Sonny's Blues," was a short story written by James Baldwin. It tells a story of two brothers who lived in Harlem. While the older of the two was a teacher, the younger aspired to be a jazz pianist. The story is told from the perspective of the older brother. The younger brother's name is Sonny, and his older brother doesn't think that playing jazz is a good idea. This is representative of how music affected American History, as Sonny strived for some form of success in life, and couldnt obtain it the way that the already wealthy white people could. Music was his only option if he wanted to get out of Harlem. Eventually, the narrator decides to give Sonny a chance, and lets him live with his wife, because she has a piano. Sonny practices the piano nonstop when he lives there, from the time when he gets home from school, which he actually never went to very often because he was playing jazz and doing drugs with his "jazz friends" in Greenwich Village. The way that he played, without stopping at all for whenever he was home until everyone went to sleep, was representative of his attempt to escape from Harlem. He eventually is arrested in a heroin bust, after being kicked out of his school for not attending class. After getting out of rehab, Sonny meets his brother, who recently lost his two year old daughter, giving him some insight to Sonny's problem. Sonny goes back to Greenwich Village to play with his old jazz friends in concert. The narrator goes to see Sonny play for the first time. He sees that Sonny is highly revered for his musical talent.

Later Jazz to Modern Jazz

As swing music grew into the most popular form of music in America, musicians became more and more likely to play jazz and experiment with the style of music. With rapid and diverse population growth and concentration of people in cities, along with the introduction of the mass media, it became easier for the music to become widespread. Big band leaders like Duke Ellington were the first to become famous. He directed his big band from the time he started it in the mid 1920's until his death in 1974. Throughout this entire time period, he managed to maintain popularity with his innovative swing music. In the 1940's and 50's, a new form of jazz, called bebop, emerged. This style was generally played by smaller combos as opposed to big bands. Musicians like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane pioneered this complex, demanding, style of jazz. The improvisation became more difficult than ever, as they experimented with constantly changing harmonic variations and rhythms. Not only did they push the boundries of music at the time, but they pushed the boundries of their social standings, as many bebop musicians also were very involved in the civil rights movement.

"jazz." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2010. .

Research Analytic Response

American music really didn't change much from the European music that they were rooted in for quite some time. Until the blues became more prominent in the 1900's, American popular music remained the same for an extended period of time. People used the same music over and over for worship and social gatherings. This might have been the cause of the music that came later, like blues and jazz. There had been so much repetition before that people really liked the idea of improvisation in music. Both blues and jazz have roots in African and American music, so without both of these cultures, this music would never have been formed. Without this music, there would not only be much less of the music we have today, but less cultural connection between whites and blacks. Contributions from musicians like Ma Rainy led to the rise of the blues in America. She was only one of the musicians who helped the blues gain popularity in the early 1900's, and her music, along with her contemporaries, led to early New Orleans jazz. This jazz evolved from playing blues in a swing style to playing more and more complicated big band arrangements and exploring the boundries of harmony, rhythm, and the different textures that a band can create in smaller combos. While big band leaders wrote music that is still often played today, much of the progress in jazz today is in the form of smaller combos, consisting of two or three musicians in a rhythm section and a few soloists, usually playing saxophones or trumpets. The development of bebop led not only to a more advanced, complex form of jazz, but it led to more cultual connection among African Americans that helped begin the civil rights movement. I believe that without this style of music, the civil rights movement would have been significantly less effective.

Sonny's Blues

James Baldwin wrote this short story, "Sonny's Blues," about two brothers from Harlem. One of these brothers was a teacher, and the other aspired to be a jazz pianist. The narrator of the story was the older brother, the teacher. The younger brother, Sonny, knew that he had very little future for himself and that music was his only way of getting success. His brother, the narrator, doesn't think that playing jazz is a good idea for Sonny, because he could have a much better future. Sonny takes great offense to this, and says that his brother is ignorant for not knowing anything about jazz or believing that it is a bright future for Sonny. The older brother eventually decides that he will support Sonny's music, and let him live with his wife, Isabel, because she has a piano. The only exception is that he has to go to school. Eventually, the school sends home a letter, telling Isabel that Sonny hasn't been going. He has been going to Greenwich Village, and hanging with his jazz friends, probably doing drugs. After dropping out of school and leaving Isabel's house, Sonny joins the navy. He eventually comes back to New York, and The narrator hears about him in the paper, as he was involved in a heroin bust. Sonny is taken to prison and forced to detox. After he gets out, he meets with his brother, and they are completely distant from one another. Sonny is going to be playing piano at the Greenwich Village, and he asks his brother to go. His brother reluctantly agrees. After arriving there, he begins to see how revered Sonny his for his playing. His talent on the piano is incredible, and he amazes his brother, who had never heard him play. The two brothers develop a connection, as the narrator sees the reason why his brother wanted to be a musician.

Where I am now

So far, I've really enjoyed learning more in-depth about music, but I think that there is plenty more to learn. I think that jazz has the most depth for what I'm trying to learn. I already know a decent amount about it, but there is definately tons mroe to learn, and I already have a number of connections found between trends in American history and different styles of jazz. I think that this will be a fun area for me to explore.

Early Jazz

Early jazz, which began primarily in New Orleans, was used as a way to bring a culture of African Americans together after the Civil War. They didn't limit themselves to playing with only one another, but people of all races and cultural backgrounds. This mixture of cultures included French, Spanish, Italian, Jewish, and Irish influences, but primarily African influence. Exotic musical elements from these cultures met to form what we know today as American Jazz. Much like America became a "melting pot" of cultures, Jazz became a "melting pot" of musical culture, allowing most people to enjoy it because of its roots in music that they already knew. In the early 1900's, small groups of musicians would play this heavily blues-influenced music, with a new, Africian-influenced, swing style, and a powerful focus on improvisation. This style of music evolved from small ensembles into large swing bands, and jazz gained massive popularity. Entertainment became a mass industry as more and more immigrants poured into cities. Jazz had quickly spread throughout all major cities in America.

Ma Rainy

Ma Rainy, a famous female blues singer born in the late 1800's, is often known as the "Mother of the Blues." She reached her peak of popularity in the 1920's, and during this time recorded over 100 songs. As her nickname indicates, Rainy was largely responsible for the popularity of the blues in America. Without Rainy, blues may never have become the popular music form in America that it was in the early 20th century, and Paramount Records (the company that she was signed to) may never have become the major record label that it did. She clearly held a great deal of influence over the music of her time. Many people look at blues as a root for a great deal of popular American Music that came after it. Both the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have inducted her into their memberships because of her work and its influence on early rock and roll. Ma Rainy's music has great influence over much of the music that is well known and appreciated today.

Blackwell, Amy Hackney. "Ma Rainey." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 2 Feb. 2010. http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/.

The Beginings of Music in America

Initially, American music was rooted in European music, and early settlers used it primarily for worship and social gatherings. Over time, settlers became less and less educated in music, while the first settlers were able to sing, read music, and play instruments. Not only did musical knowledge begin to decline, but ability to keep a precise tempo, rhythm, and pitch began to disappear. During the 18th century, many reformers began working to educate people musically by creating singing schools, choirs, and choral societies. The reason that these reformers felt singing was important to society was because of its use in religious worship and as a social pasttime. Most of this music kept its roots in European compositions by composers such as Johan Sebastian Bach and Joseph Hayden. In the 1700's, the first musical instruction book was published, showing a path to a more formal, writen out, way of passing down music, as opposed to the oral traditions of the past. Later in American history, during the slave trade, more outside influences would be brought into American music from Africa, forever changing the path of American music.

American music." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com.

Initial Thoughts on the Arts

America is, and always has been, greatly influenced by arts of all forms. Visual, musical, and theatrical arts have been used throughout American History as a means to convey a message about the conditions of society at the time. People find a deep connection with many of these art forms, whether it is because of finding parallels between their lives and the art, or just because they find it appealing. This connection is something that i have felt with music ever since I started playing guitar. I have always loved to listen not only to the music, but the message that it conveys. This message is not only found in lyrics, but in the melodies and chords. When listening to the music of our history, from blues and jazz in the earlier 1900's to the beginnings of rock in the 50's and 60's, it is apparent that music was an important art to society, as it brought together cultures in difficult times. I would like to explore these ideas further, as I haven't really studied them in-depth; I only have ideas of what I picked up along the way. In reaserching the influence of arts (particularly music) on the history of America, I would learn a lot about the reason why something that I love is so important to the world today.

Peoria Trip

Tomorrow, I'm goin to Peoria with a small portion of the jazz band to play a composition by Aaron Zemach, "Cholic Clown," at the IMEA State Festival. Zemach wrote this piece as an assignment for jazz band last year, and sent it to IMEA as part of their jazz songwriting competition. It's a great piece, and clearly IMEA agreed, as it won first place in the state of Illinois. Bonus: I get to miss school.

In our next concert with the ful band we'll be playing a cool cover of a Beatles song, "She's Leaving Home," which Mr. Brame has a link to on his blog: http://deerfieldband.blogspot.com/.
That's it.