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Music
Music | Topics
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Learn about instruments and compositional techniques. Also, explore various musical styles and meet musicians featured on Knowitall.
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
Episode
11
Reggae music is a Jamaican style of music that has roots in African music and rhythm and blues, or early rock and roll. Reggae songs are usually about social issues, politics and the Rastafarian...
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Press play to hear the instrument.
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Episode
3
Enslaved Africans sang songs as they worked to help keep the pace of the task they were doing. A leader called out a verse or yell and others responded. This is the call-and-response singing tradition...
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Press play to hear the instrument.
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Episode
1
Music was an important tradition in Africa centuries before Africans were brought to America. Singing was a part of everyday life when people were at work, worship or play. The drum was the most...
Audio
Grades
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
Episode
10
Rhythm and blues was an early form of rock and roll but it also contributed to a smoother sounding musical style called soul. In 1960, Berry Gordy, Jr. began a recording label in Detroit, Michigan...
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
2
From the video production "A Collection of African-American Spiritual and Metered Hymns." Produced by Steve Sweeney.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
1
From the video production "A Collection of African-American Spiritual and Metered Hymns." Produced by Steve Sweeney.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
3
Vintage footage from "The Hired Hands Sunday Show," a 30-minute program aired on WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. Features Pappy Sherrill, Grady Lindler, and Ira Dimmery. 1961.