Monday, October 20, 2014

Native American Music

Aspen Haught

History Essay 

Native American Music





    The differences between modern and old Native American music has surprisingly, 

has not had a great change. Modern day Native American music still keeps its 

traditional and cultural based traits as like back in the day, when Indians and cowboys 

were spread across the whole United States. As like always, Native American music is 

still used today for ceremonial purposes, recreation, expression, and healing. The 

different instruments that Native American use, has influenced todays different styles of 

music and modern day motion pictures.

      Modern day Native American music can be found everywhere. For example, the 

distinct music can be found in motion pictures, television shows, and Academy Award 

winning movies. Today, Indians still live amongst us and are doing the same traditions 

and playing the same music techniques as like Indians years ago did so. Following in 

the footsteps of their ancestors, modern day Native Americans use music mainly in 

different types of ceremonies. In Native American ceremonies you can see different 

dances from different genders, home made instruments being played, and wild 

harmonies floating within the air and around a bon fire. The men and women of tribes 

sing separate songs and have their own dances from one another. The men typically 

dance around in a circle, while the women dance in place. During these ceremonies 

three different instruments are used to form the traditional music we all have heard at 

least once. Percussion instruments, wind instruments, and of course vocals all come 

together to make one ceremonial sound. 

        Every region of the United States, where the Native Americans have settled, have 

produced a great variety of forms and different sounds of music. Eskimo tribes music is 

the most simple of all the Native American music styles. Hopi, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes, 

which is located in the south west part of the country, produce much more complex 

sounding music. Even today, Native American music has impacted and influenced 

Modern Folk music the most. Both old and new Native American musics has showed 

and said the most important element of their music is the voice. Even though a majority 

of Native American music is only instruments, the voice is the most important especially 

in ceremonies. Also the unusual, irregular rhythms, and off key style is used with 

modern day music and life styles. 

     Even though some elements and little things have changed within Native American 

culture, modern day Native American music still keeps its traditional and cultural based 

traits as like back in the day, when Indians and cowboys were spread across the whole 

United States. Dancers still prance around the ceremonial fire in quick steps to keep 

up with the drums and different tribes also play instruments when having a mock-battle. 

The changes between the different times has not effected the traditional and memorable 

Native American traits.






I used this source to find the fine line between modern and the "western times" within the Native American music culture. This source gave me more information on the Western Times than modern day music we listen to today. 


Texas State gave me information more towards instruments and techniques the Native American used both today and back in the day. This source also gave me very well detailed names of the instruments. 


The Great Plains source gave me information on modern day use of Native American music and how it is used in modern times. This source also gave me information the different tribes and their music aspects. 


This source gave me information on the contemporary and modern music of the Native Americans. 


Info please gave me well detailed instruments and their techniques on how they used and made them. Not only did this source give me a lot of information but was very helpful.

History of the American Indians on history (Book)

This book source didn't give me too much information on my subject, but it did help me when writing about the Native American techniques. 









                                                  Indian Ceremony Involving Dancing








3 comments:

  1. I really liked the description of the ceremonial dancing. It was very descriptive and I could easily see how the ceremonial dancing was in that era.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This was an interesting article. I like the explanation, but no quotes or original analysis are present.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really like how you talked about Native Americans preserving their culture through the usage of music. Nice essay!

    ReplyDelete