In the 1890’s, two styles of music flourished in New Orleans: ragtime and blues. Ragtime was created by Black piano players in the cities of the midwest and drew from drew from many earlier musical styles: African-American spirituals and minstrel songs, European folk melodies and military marches. It would be America’s most popular music for the next quarter of a century.

In this lesson, students will learn about one of the musical styles from which jazz emerged: ragtime. Students will become familiar with the history and characteristics of this style through listening to and analyzing examples. Students will also learn about the most important composer in the history of ragtime: Scott Joplin (c. 1868-1917).