The World of Music

       Hey everyone! In this blog I am going to interview my mom and ask her some questions about what it was like growing up with music and how she relates to it!  Childhood Questions:      Me: How important was music to you and your family when you were younger?     Mom: Very important. We always played musical instruments and sang all the time.     Me: What was the most popular music growing up?     Mom: Gospel music and R&B.     Me: How did music shape your childhood?     Mom: I learned how to play a musical instrument at an early age so music was always something that made me feel good, I was in chorus in high school and sang in the choir at church. I could always find a song to cheer me up and encourage me. I could always find a song for every mood.     Me: What is an early memory of music?     Mom: Learning how to play the piano when I was 6. It was a learning process...

      In this blog I will be discussing the history of gospel music and how it developed into what it is today! I grew up in a Christian household so I have listened to gospel music my whole life! It is my favorite genre of music and some of my favorite artists are Kirk Franklin, Johnathan McReynolds, Naomi Raine, and Maverick City Music! But, we will talk more about that later!       Gospel Music is essentially the act of preaching in a musical setting. It helps Christians grow their faith and grow closer to God. It originated in the Southeast of the United States and it began to become popular around the 1930s. Gospel Music emerged from spirituals and hymns that were sung during the times of slavery. One of the people that helped develop gospel music is Thomas A. Dorsey. According to the Library of Congress, he is known as "The Father of Gospel Music". Though, because of his associations with despised secular music styles around that time, he was rej...

      In the music industry, artists and performers are held to gender stereotypes. These stereotypes affect the clothes artists wear, the genre of music they make, and how they are seen and thought of in public. Men are more inclined to prefer genres that are more vigorous, more complex, and that strengthen their interpersonal relationships, such as Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, Jazz, and Rap. So, in this blog I will be talking about why more men sing these three genres of music.      Heavy Metal and Hard Rock is mostly played by men because of their high levels of testosterone. It is considered a form of protest music, existing to rage against societal ills and corruptions of power. It is aggressive and abrasive. Guns N' Roses is a popular American Hard Rock band from Los Angeles, California. This group heavily toured the West Coast club circuit their first years before embarking on the Appetite for Destruction Tour. They later produced "Sweet Child o' Mine" whi...

    Ever since I was little I have wanted to go to Italy! I am in love with the food that has originated from Italy, so I think it would be really cool to go there and experience the foods that I love, such as, pizza and pasta. So I decided to do this blog on the type of music you would hear at Italian weddings and ceremonies!     One of the most important things at a wedding is the music! Music elevates the mood and the atmosphere, so having the right choice of music is very important! At Italian weddings that songs usually played are Vivo per Lei by Andrea Bocelli and The Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni.      Andrea Bocelli is an italian singer from Lajatico, Italy. He was born visually impaired and became completely blind at the age of 12 following a football accident. Since 1994, he has recorded 15 solo studio albums and 9 complete operas. He has sold over 75 million records worldwide. Vivo per Lei means "I live for Her" in ...

Hey everyone! My name is Ariel, and I am a freshman! I also play volleyball here at Converse! I have been playing volleyball since I was 11 and have fell in love with the sport ever since! My twin sister, Ariana, also plays volleyball and we have done everything together! When I was in 6th grade I decided to sign up for band. I wanted try it since I love music and wanted to see if I would like it! So, my band teacher has everyone play different instruments, such as, the trumpet, clarinet, flute, and more! They gave each person directions on how to play each of the instruments and depending on how well we did, they assigned us to an instrument. The instructor assigned me to the clarinet! I loved the clarinet and became very good at playing it! Though, in 8th grade I decided to quit band because I wanted to focus on volleyball. Sometimes I wish I still knew how to play the clarinet, but maybe I will get back into it after college! Right now, Jonathan McReynolds is one of my favorite arti...