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.