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.
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