Activity & Discussion

Students are provided with a chart on which they will list and compare ways people sold and listened to music in the 1900s (20th century) and today. Encourage students to look around the gallery to get ideas. Some examples for the 1900s include sheet music, live performance, records, and radio. Examples from today may include any of the previously listed or streaming, digital files, cds, etc.

Then, ask your students about what they've observed. What's changed and what's stayed the same?

1900s Now

Discussion questions:

Did you read about any musicians in the gallery that you had never heard of before? If so, what did you learn about them?

How do you think New York City could influence the music that artists make here? What lyrics or sounds would make you think a song was made in NYC?

Suggested Writing Prompt:

Explain how the ways in which people sold and listened to music have changed from the 1900s to today and discuss the reasons for these changes.