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Colonial America (1492-1765)

Music and Dance

Music and Dance
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   9.06

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    minuet, socialize, ceremonial, finding, entertainment, military, stylish, behavior, musical, marches, colonial, social, industrious, classical, opposite, especially

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Music and Dance
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     The colonists didn't have much time for fun; they were spending their time building their own houses and finding their own food. In fact, the colonists had to do everything for themselves so they were constantly busy, but everyone needs a break now and then. When the colonists were ready to take a break, they had to provide their own fun too.
 
2     In colonial times, music and dance served the practical purpose of providing a way for the colonists to relax and socialize. Without any of the ready-made entertainment that we have today, live music and dances became very popular in the colonies.
 
3     Colonists played a variety of musical instruments. In fact, colonists played most of the instruments that we would hear in a band concert today. They played drums, trumpets, trombones, violins, and flutes. They also played harmonicas, organs, guitars, and other instruments.
 
4     Musicians played all types of music; they played ballads, folk songs, military marches, and classical music, but dance tunes were popular favorites.
 
5     One musician was all that was needed to provide the music for a fun evening of dancing, although for especially large occasions, several musicians might play as a group. A violin, or a fiddle, was the most popular instrument for dance music. Flutes were popular too, and there were several types of flutes including fifes and recorders. However, if there were no violin or flute players in town, any instrument would do.

Paragraphs 6 to 12:
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