Figure 1.--This cabinent portrait was taken at the Markley Studio in Chicago. The boys are not named, but seem to be a choral soloist and a violin accompaniest. Notice that the singer holding his music is wearing medals--presumably for his singing. The mothers have dressed the boys up in fancy velvet suits. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1890s. A reader writes, The boys here look to me to be about 12-13 years old, older than the age most boys wore Fauntleroy suits. The boy with the violin doesn't have ringlet curls, but his hir is longer than was common for boys his age at the time."

We do not know a great deal about the history of American music as it relates to children. The early English colonists were limited as to what they could bring across the Atlantic. Thus music in colonial America was limited. Another limiting factor was the attitude of the Puritans toward dancing and music. This attitude gradually faded, bith with the arival of the Scotts-Irish. And of course the southern colonies were never burdened with the Purtitan disdain toward meriment. Some of the most popular instruments were the violin, guitars (Baroque and English), dulcimer, harpsicord, and flute. Without modern electronic equipment, people had to make their own music. Most children who learned music probably did so from their parents. As the colonies became more established, the wealthy elite could afford to hire music and dancing teachers. Other children probably had limited opportunities to learn music unless their parents could teach them. The colonial music tradition was primarily English with the exception of the Scotts-Irish tradition. There was little cultural exchnge with Native Americans. There was, however, a significant interchnge with Aftrican slaves, although it was generally disguised until the more open ebvironment of the late 20th century. The only real original American music style is jazz which came from the Afro-American cultural tradition. The musical experience of American children did not begin to change until the late 19th century. The tremendous wealth generated by indistrialization significantly expanded the middle class and many of the newly affluent families, especially the mothers, wanted their children to acquire cultural refinements like music. In addition, for the first time in America, it was not just wealthy families that could afford a piano in the family. Children were required to take music lessons which quite a number of boys did not particularly enjoy. It is at this time that large numbers of immigrants come to America from a wide range of different mostly European countries. This significantly broadened and enriched the American musical tradition. Interestingly, while cultural refinements (music and dance) were forced upon many boys (girls seemed more receptive) was forced upon many boys in the late-19th and early-20th century, it would be music and dance that teenagers would most agressively use in the mid- and late-20th century to create a new indepehdent cultural identity. Our knowledge of music is very limited so we hope that readers will provide their insights here.

Music History

We do not know a great deal about the history of American music as it relates to children. The early English colonists were limited as to what they could bring across the Atlantic. Thus music in colonial America was limited. Another limiting factor was the attitude of the Puritans toward dancing and music. This attitude gradually faded, bith with the arival of the Scotts-Irish. And of course the southern colonies were never burdened with the Purtitan disdain toward meriment. Some of the most popular instruments were the violin, guitars (Baroque and English), dulcimer, harpsicord, and flute. Without modern electronic equipment, people had to make their own music.

Learning Instruments

Most children who learned music probably did so from their parents. As the colonies became more established, the wealthy elite could afford to hire music and dancing teachers. Other children probably had limited opportunities to learn music unless their parents could teach them. The musical experience of American children did not begin to change until the late 19th century. The tremendous wealth generated by indistrialization significantly expanded the middle class and many of the newly affluent families, especially the mothers, wanted their children to acquire cultural refinements like music. In addition, for the first time in America, it was not just wealthy families that could afford a piano in the family. Children were required to take music lessons which quite a number of boys did not particularly enjoy. Jews in particular seem to have promoted musical skills wih their children. I am not sure why this was.

Music Traditions

The colonial music tradition was primarily English with the exception of the Scotts-Irish tradition. There was little cultural exchnge with Native Americans. There was, however, a significant interchnge with Aftrican slaves, although it was generally disguised until the more open environment of the late 20th century. The only real original American music style is jazz which came from the Afro-American cultural tradition. The American musical traditions was signifcantly broadened with the arrival of a wider range of Europen immigrants in the late-19th century. This significantly broadened and enriched the American musical tradition. Of all the European groups, Jews seem to have had a particularly important impact on American music.

Instruments

We note American children playing many different musical instruments. We do not have alot of information on indidual insruments. The one we see the most commonly seems to be the violin. I'm not sure why the violin was so popular, but the photographic record certainly suggests that it was the single most common instrument in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. We think a lot of children also laned the piano, but many families could not affor a piano and of course home practice is critical to learning an instrument. We think the range of instruments became even more varied in the 20th century. I think the saxaphone became much more commn in the 1920s with the popularity of jazz. And in the 1950s the guitar began to becomne very popular.

Gender

Teenage Identity

Interestingly, while cultural refinements (music and dance) were forced upon many boys (girls seemed more receptive) was forced upon many boys in the late-19th and early-20th century, it would be music and dance that teenagers would most agressively use in the mid-and late-20th century to create a new indepehdent cultural identity.

Created: 4:32 AM 1/17/2008
Last updated: 11:49 PM 4/21/2008