1920s Music Research Paper

Ben Wilson Mrs. Lankford U.S. History 3/21/24 The history of music Throughout history, there have been many, many different eras of music. One that stands out from the pack is the 1920s and the explosion of jazz. There are many reasons why this time in the industry was so influential for the following generations. Besides the different techniques, instruments, and tones used, this was the first time in history that music was largely a worldwide rage. The music and dances of the 1920s not only shaped this era but also laid the foundation for modern music, influenced the choice of instruments used, and revolutionized dance styles that continue to be seen today worldwide. With World War I ending in 1918, the 1920s were a time of celebration for many

Dancing also provides an amazing gateway to new music. Without dancing, jazz would not have taken off as much as it did in the roaring twenties. Dancing represented freedom and fluidity in the American public, allowing people to relax and have fun without having to worry about anything else. Dance also influences style and fashion. As people started to express themselves uniquely, fashion became a large part of that. Jazz was a massive way African Americans were able to share their culture with others in their community and with people around the world. A majority of the popular jazz artists were African Americans because jazz was seen as “black music”. In the beginning of the roaring twenties, jazz was seen as low-class music because most of the composers were African Americans, but as time went on, people of the middle to upper classes began to accept jazz, which helped with the racial gap a small amount. Even if it was just a bit in the grand scheme of things, the upper and middle white class accepting jazz helped African Americans become more accepted in