Global Music Autobiography
I was born in Clover, South Carolina; where country music reigns king so I had a very limited musical background except for my grandfather who was from the Seneca Lake area in New York. My grandfather, on my mother’s side, is Native American and would very often pull out his record player to play some of his more traditional songs, as he and I played with his many train sets. Unfortunately, my grandfather died when I was six and so I no longer had that musical influence in my life, but it still holds a place in my heart as some of my favorite memories.
I was born in Clover, South Carolina; where country music reigns king so I had a very limited musical background except for my grandfather who was from the Seneca Lake area in New York. My grandfather, on my mother’s side, is Native American and would very often pull out his record player to play some of his more traditional songs, as he and I played with his many train sets. Unfortunately, my grandfather died when I was six and so I no longer had that musical influence in my life, but it still holds a place in my heart as some of my favorite memories.
Soon after his death, my family moved to upstate New York, to a small town near Keuka Lake called Penn Yan. Penn Yan also happens to be just a few miles from Seneca Lake, which is an area of Native Americans that was discussed in class today. This was also the place where my grandfather came from although I am unsure if the Six Nations Tribe is the one he was affiliated with. When I saw the Pow Wow video in class it reminded me of some of the things he would talk about. For example, the dances he saw at the Pow Wows and how he never did them himself because he was bad at dancing(which he passed down to me).
Although there were some people we knew in New York who were Native American, the only musical culture I was introduced to there was South African from my music teacher in the second grade. Her parents came from South Africa and she would show us the music that her family plays at home. The music she showed us was mostly just instrumental with drums and shakers, but on several occasions, I do remember hearing metal or bells. I do not remember much about the music very well, but I do remember marching around the room with our little drums trying to play the songs and I really enjoyed the music because it reminded me of Lion King.
One of my favorite musical influences is from my best friends when I was a teenager. When I was in high school, I had a lot of friends who liked Kpop, which is music popular in Korea. They would listen to it non stop for hours and they would try singing it in Korean and it was hilarious watching them try to sing it and have no idea what it meant. It is a part of my most fun memories with my friends. I am excited to create new memories with the new music I find and to share with my friends and family.
Hi Courtney,
ReplyDeleteJust like your grandfather, my grandfather who had been born and brought up in the countryside, always puts out his recorder to play some of his traditional songs. This had made me appreciate the beauty and the uniqueness of music in the older times.
It's so cool how you were able to connect what you learned from your grandfather to what we learned in class. It sounds like he made a profound influence on your life, and that's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe Lion King got me into African styles of music; I can relate pretty well to your experience with your teacher. I also loved how you mentioned casual exposure to K-Pop with your friends: music finds its way into our lives from the most everyday experiences to the most profound.
It is good that your grandfather talk to you about his culture. It is always good to learn about our ancestor's culture and history. I also have friends in high school that liked kpop, did you know that kpop group do not consist of koreans. I also like the music.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that your grandfather talk to you about his culture. It is always good to learn about our ancestor's culture and history. I also have friends in high school that liked kpop, did you know that kpop group do not consist of koreans. I also like the music.
ReplyDeleteI have some Native American lineage as well, though it's a little further back. It's so cool that you were able to experience that style of music as such an early age. Kpop is not my personal style, but I am fascinated by the allure and culture surrounding it and how it has skyrocketed as a popular genre not only in Korea but all over the world!
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