Ragtime

Ragtime & Blues
Scott Joplin

Before beginning to answer the questions below, please read about ragtime and early blues music at the links below first. Use the back arrow to return to these directions when finished reading. Look at the assignment questions before beginning so you know what information you are looking for. You should not have to complete additional research – all of the information you need is on the two reading pages.

To submit your assignment, type your answers into a word document and submit using the “Submit Assignment” link. Plan on about two hours to complete this assignment.

Link to Reading & Listening – Ragtime
Link to Reading & Listening – Blues
Use the back arrow to return to this page.

Questions

1) Define ragtime, and describe its origins. (What musical styles did ragtime evolve from?)

2) What is your reaction to the Cakewalk dance? Refer to the background in the reading and one of the video examples in your answer. Keep in mind that the videos were recorded after the slavery era, so the Cakewalk survived beyond that time period. (This is just your personal reaction to what you’ve read and seen, but for full credit, make sure your answer includes a comment about both the reading and one video.)

3) Search YouTube for three different solo piano videos in which you can see the player’s hands on the keyboard. Paste a clickable link to each video into your assignment. Provide a timing for each video where you can see a close-up or overhead view of the left hand in the video, and explain what you see and hear at that timing that suggests that this music is in ragtime, stride, or boogie-woogie style.

Beware: some "ragtime" and "stride" videos online are mislabeled. Make sure that the playing style you see and hear in the video matches the features of ragtime, stride, and boogie-woogie as described in the reading.

Video example of ragtime: This is a composed piece with "ragged" or syncopated rhythm. Give a timing for a close-up or overhead view of the left hand “bounce” as described in the reading (see the listening for "Maple Leaf Rag").
Video example of stride piano: In stride piano the left hand has the same "bounce" as in the ragtime example – but this piece should give the impression of being improvised by the pianist, or made up on the spot. Give a timing of a segment of the video where it sounds like the pianist is improvising the music as he or she goes.
Video example of boogie-woogie piano: In boogie-woogie, the left hand moves in walking bass or other repetitive patterns. Give a timing showing some of that style of left-hand playing.
4) What is your reaction to the piano roll technology? (Had you seen this before?)

5) Listen to Ma Rainey’s Countin’ the Blues.

Include one verse of the lyrics and explain how they feature an AAB text format.
Point out one timing in the video in which we can hear a "call and response" pattern between the singer and an instrument.
Link – Countin’ the Blues (链接到外部网站。)链接到外部网站。

Type your answers to the above questions into a word document, then upload the file using the “Submit Assignment” link.

Photo: Mural of Scott Joplin
Flickr Creative Commons