Scott Joplin (1868-1917) Scott Joplin Is “The King of Ragtime.” He Was

Home , Scott Joplin, The Entertainer (rag)

Scott Joplin his musical training, Scott went to (1868-1917) school, then to practice his piano. Daddy thought teenage boys should work for a living, but his mom was relentless. Thankfully….. Scott traveled the country singing, playing banjo and playing the piano.

Scott Joplin is “The King of Ragtime.” He was born in Texas in 1868(? no one is exactly sure) to a former slave dad, and a free- born black mom. He grew up He developed the music that playing the banjo, and being really became known as ‘Ragtime. He talented. His mom arranged wanted his music played in piano lessons for him, and Scott ‘raggedy time.’ It was to get soared to greatness. faster and slower as the When he was a teen, his father performer wanted, never in abandoned their family, he perfect measured tempo. He wanted Scott to work for money became the master of Strident for the family, but his mother piano, a form of piano playing insisted he was too talented. that has the left hand moving up Scott’s mom spent all their extra and down the bass notes of the money on supporting Scott and piano.

His most famous piano music is probably “The Maple Leaf Rag,’ and “The Entertainer.” You know the entertainer, because it is a popular song for the Ice cream truck! His song “The Entertainer” was also the theme song for a popular movie in the 1970’s called “The Sting.” Joplin contracted syphilis in his young adult life and suffered with it for many years. It eventually caused dementia and he died in 1917.

He also wrote two operas, and 1. Describe who Scott Joplin about 60 musical compositions was. altogether. Here was a talented 2. What instruments did Scott musician that certainly played in Joplin play, and which one saloons and disreputable places was he most famous for? to make a living, but never had to 3. How did Scott make a living succumb to playing in Minstrel as a musician? shows. 4. How do most people first hear Scott Joplin’s music? 5. What different kinds of music did Scott Joplin write?