This unique American sound grew out of ragtime music. Scott Joplin is the best known composer of ragtime . Jazz first appeared in New Orleans around 1895.
Jazz combines European and African styles of music.
For the first time in music history African American composers and musicians were being recognized for their important contributions to music, especially in the fields of jazz, blues, and ragtime . To learn how to listen to jazz, click here . To learn more about the history and styles of jazz, click here . If you have comments or questions please e-mail Principal Lana Tuemmler Ed.