Country and Western Culture: Music, Dance and Lifestyle
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Country and Western Culture: Music, Dance and Lifestyle
Barn Dances
Music
Square dance - four couples make a square
- most complex dance (most steps to learn)
- "caller" calls out steps for couples to follow
Circle dance - basic steps to learn
- dancers follow circle around
- always changing partners
Line dance - most popular and simple
- dancers in a line, repeated choreography
- no physical contact between dancers
Music in the Classroom
Folk music - originated in the US in the Appalachian region. Derived from Irish and
Scottish traditional music. Very community-oriented and the artists weren't necessarily trained in music.
- Protest songs (economic stability, civil rights)
- Worker's rights (switch from agricultural to industrial society)
Country music - Very broad genre of music
- Evolved from folk music.
More commercial and varied - has been
mixed with rock and pop in recent years.
- Rural life
- Love songs
Preschool/Elementary school lesson on Johnny Cash
http://misterjulian.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/preschool-music-lesson-plan-country-music-feat-johnny-cash.html
Popular songs that come from folk music
http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/
Using modern country songs to analyze lyrics and meaning, practice pronunciation, learn customs, etc.
- Tim McGraw - Miranda Lambert
- Keith Urban - Carrie Underwood
- Rascal Flatts - Faith Hill
Barn Dances
Origins
- Comes from the British Isles and Europe.
-The nobility had ballroom dances, and the common people created their own, more informal version.
- Modern barn dancing originated in the 1860's in England and Scotland.
- Held to celebrate a holiday, a birthday, a wedding or the raising of a barn.
History in the US
- European immigrants brought these traditions with them (late 1800s).
- The result was modern US barn dancing, which includes square dance, circle dance and line dance.
Purpose today
- To keep the tradition alive
- For people who live in rural areas to come together as a
community and have fun!
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Instruments
Using Barn Dances in the Classroom
http://www.theranchatrockcreek.com/blog/summer-barn-dance/
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Instruments in the Classroom
Circle dances
- Heel Toe Polka (with tutorial)
- Cotton Eyed Joe
Square dances
- Do-si-do (song and dance for young learners)
- Traditional Square Dance video
Line dances
- Achy Breaky Heart
- Good Time
- Virginia Reel (more complicated - for older students)
- Text on Virginia Reel and Square dances
- American line dance information and online quiz
Fiddle Accordion
Autoharp Mandolin
Guitar Banjo Bass
Zither Washboard
Dobro
American Roots Instruments - Detailed texts on each instrument
http://www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs_arm_instruments_innovations.html
Instruments in Country Music - Detailed explanation and short recording for each
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/ContentPages/instruments-in-country-music#.WKqydfnhDIU