Scott Joplin:Ragtime King

BeatDetective Listening

Guide

Teacher’sPage

By Paul Provencio and Joy Agre

His Music

Scott Joplin - His MusicWhat made RAGTIME music different from other

music of the day?

Simply put, it was the syncopated melodies played over a steady almost march-like background beat that made it different from traditional music.

Film director George Roy Hill used Joplin’s music in his 1974 movie “The Sting.” After the film won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Musical Score, and Best Title Song, interest in ragtime music reached a new high.

Ragtime music evolved into jazz and today Joplin’s music is enjoyed in every corner of the world.

Scott Joplin - Exercises

Beat Detective

Listening

Scott Joplin Beat Detective

Objective: Guess who is changing the beat.

1. Start music. Form a circle with one person in the middle.

2. Middle person closes eyes.

3. Teacher taps a student on head, the “it.”

4. “It” starts tapping steady beat or motions in time with the steady beat. Everyone copies “it.”

5. Person in middle tries to guess who is “it”. When middle person guesses, “it” becomes new middle

beat detective. Game: Linda Roberts

Scott Joplin Listening GuideSuggested listening of Scott Joplin’s music

would include the following:

Maple Leaf Rag (1899)

The Entertainer (1902)

Peacherine Rag (1901)

Palm Leaf Rag-A Slow Drag ( 1903)

Treemonisha (1911)

The Sting Soundtrack (1973)

Scott Joplin Teacher Page

Read together the information about Scott Joplin’s music.

Look at the Listening Guide to select a piece to play externally for the class while doing the Beat Detective exercise. Follow the directions given for Beat Detective.