51

Lesson 51 of 84 · Music History

30 XP🎻 Music History Hall

African American Musical Innovation (Part 2)

🎵Stage Brief #51

The recording industry began in the late 1800s with Thomas Edison's phonograph.

🎯 Your mission

Find what made this music change everything.

⚡ The twist

Every musician you love stole from someone else first.

🎧

Listen for this

🎧 What instruments are NOT here that we'd hear today?

🌟

Artist Spotlight

🌟 Louis Armstrong invented modern jazz singing by accident — he dropped his lyric sheet on stage.

🤯

Mind = Blown

🤯 Beethoven's 9th symphony is the song the European Union plays for itself.

Learn about african american musical innovation (part 2): recognize the style of classical vs. romantic music

What You'll Learn

The recording industry began in the late 1800s with Thomas Edison's phonograph. It changed how people access and experience music.

1

Recognize the style of Classical vs. Romantic music

2

Identify the origins of jazz and blues

Check Your Understanding

Question 1 of 3

What genre originated in New Orleans around 1900?

🌍

Where you hear this in real life

Today's pop hit borrows from 70 years of music history without anyone noticing.

🏆

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Listen to one song from before your parents were born this week.

👨‍👩‍👧

For the dinner table

Tell me about the music you loved when you were my age.

🎯

Next Smart Lesson

We'll pick a music lesson that matches exactly where your ear is right now.

🔔Share card

Share this music lesson

Send it to a parent who wants 5 minutes of music with their kid — no instrument required.

Ready?

African American Musical Innovation (Part 2)

Find what made this music change everything.

Full screen — no distractions

🖨️

Checkout complete lesson on Music History for 7th Grade

Get the full Music History track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty

Browse our shop to find activities your kids will love

African American Musical Innovation (Part 2) — Music History | 7th Grade Music | LittleActivity