There is evidence that music and people have always co-existed. Even toddlers sing to themselves. Music is used to convey joy and pain, hope and fear.
Music inspires soldiers in battle and expresses the love people feel for each other.
Historically, music has been a representation of society and sometimes has sought to challenge the limits of what is generally accepted. Americans have realized there are many different approaches to difficult issues and many ways to communicate ideas and beliefs. Today's popular music is often about what people think as much as it is about what they feel. Children will learn how each generation's music was a representation of society. Children will learn how today's popular music represents what some groups of people think and how it is used to communicate those ideas.