2. Ragtime

After the Civil War, African American music became more popular. The work songs sung by the slaves in the fields, combined with African rhythms and marching band music, was put to a piano. The theme of the song was taken and shaken up; Ragtime was born. From its start in 1897, ragtime became incredibly popular. Its rhythms and harmonies were, and are, the basis for all other forms of Afican American music (Shadwick 14). Scott Joplin was one of the pioneers of ragtime. Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" became one of the most famous ragtime compositions. At the time when ragtime was gaining popularity, the Creole Marching Bands were also influencing the music of the times. These bands used ragtime as their main staple for music. One of the more famous bands of the day was Buddy Bolden's. Buddy Bolden's band was the first real jazz band (Shadwick 16). His powerful playing brought admirers from miles around. Although ragtime never truly died out, it evolved into what today is called Jazz.

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