Music Capital of the South

1. Explain why Atlanta has a successful music industry.

2. What makes Georgia one of the major players in the music industry?

3. Have students look at Unit 8, Chapter 22 of the Our State and Our Nation digital textbook. The section titled "Georgia's cultural achievements" goes into detail regarding Georgia's music history. Have students trace Georgia's modern boom in country, R & B, and hip-hop music production to its historical influences in soul, jazz, gospel and bluegrass music.

1. Discuss with class the importance of music in the lives of teenagers. How many students play a music instrument? How many want to have music as a profession?

2. Make a list of all the types of music there are in the world. Take a poll to find out which type of music is most popular.

3. Georgia has a rich music history. Explore the different types of music in the state by visiting the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. If you cannot actually go to the museum, assign a virtual online visit. Small groups can choose a particular music style or artist to research and report back to the class.

hip hop/rap: a type of music that usually consists of a rhythmic style of speaking (rap) over backing beats performed by a DJ using a turntable

blues: a vocal and instrumental type of music first used by slaves and African Americans who adapted it from spirituals, work songs, field holders, shouts and chants, and simple; refers to sad and melancholy rhythms, lyrics, and “blue” notes

rock ‘n roll: a form of music that evolved in the 1940s and 1950s in the U.S.; boogie woogie with a back beat performed by one or two guitars, drums, even string bass, piano, and saxophone; a mix of blues, gospel, and folk music; had a “beat” and was easy to dance to

classical: music from about 1600-1900 and based on Western liturgical and secular music of these times; encompasses those periods identified as Baroque, Classical, and Romantic

jazz: purely American music form that began around 1900 and came from African-American communities who adapted their blues into jazz and ragtime

spiritual: gospel and other music originating in churches and sung in many denominations; originated from African spiritual sung by slaves as they worked

1. Explain why Atlanta has a successful music industry.

We have an international airport that gives access to many different kinds of music. Many producers and studies are located here. The cost of living is less than other large cities and there is a diversity of talent represented. Rap, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and country entertainers come here to perform. Necessary technology is available. Atlanta has been called the “Black Mecca” because we have a lot of African-American artists.

2. What makes Georgia one of the major players in the music industry?

One of the main reasons for the influx into Georgia of agents, musicians, recording studios, etc. related to the music industry is that which made Georgia grow in the first place: geography and transportation. The accessibility of Atlanta and Georgia to worldwide transportation has made the state attractive to many industries, and the music industry is one of the major ones. Radio stations play all kinds of music and afford a "stage" for new artists. In addition, theaters and clubs abound for all genres of music. Georgia has become the birthplace of music groups and those who want to expand their careers in music. The transportation system - major airlines and railroads - and Georgia's location as the gateway to the south has made it accessible to anyone wanting to make a name for themselves in this industry. With fewer people, competition to be heard and seen, is less in Georgia than in New York or Los Angeles. Agents wanting to find new talent abound in this industry. There is certainly no shortage of them in the state.

3. Have students look at Unit 8, Chapter 22 of the Our State and Our Nation digital textbook. The section titled "Georgia's cultural achievements" goes into detail regarding Georgia's music history. Have students trace Georgia's modern boom in country, R & B, and hip-hop music production to its historical influences in soul, jazz, gospel and bluegrass music. 

Answers will vary.