Hayes School of Music

Lesson 5: The Family Tradition from Old Time to Bluegrass

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The Carter familyThe Carter Family recorded music starting in 1937 and opened up the Old Time songs to the radio listening public. Many people consider Old Time music to be the precursor to the later commercialized styles of Country and Bluegrass music styles.

Bluegrass music was eventually born out of the Old Time tradition when Bill Monroe and his "Bluegrass Boys" added 3-4 part harmony singing, blues-influenced mandolin and the African-derived banjo, which has become an icon of Bluegrass Music. Old Time and Bluegrass musicians usually identify as one or the other, but scholars do not always agree on the exact boundary between the two styles.

National Standard #9: Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture

Objectives

  • Students identify how music fulfills a variety of purposes and musicians perform in a variety of roles.
  • Students identify bluegrass instruments, including banjo, mandolin and fiddle.
  • Students identify distinguishing characteristics of Old Time and Bluegrass Music.