Native America 
    Native Americans use music during dances and pow wows. These are ceremonies held for the purpose of dancing, rather than religious reasons. Pow wows are famous for their use of bright colors and fast, exciting dance. Pow wows today are held all across North America. They have one drummer and many singers. The head singer chooses what activities will occur during the pow wow and who will participate. Some pow wows honor families or organizations with a song that was written especially for them. During the song, those being honored will dance around the circle. The drums used are made from a wooden shell covered with rawhide. The drumsticks are thin fiberglass rods with a leather handle and padded head. Drummers make their own songs and are expected to sing during the entire pow wow.

China 
    The people of China use music for dances, religious ceremonies, and parades. Two common dances are the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance. The Lion dance is a central feature of many celebrations in China. It is perfomed by one family. This celebration may be used to present new infants or honor parent's birthdays. The dance combines counterpoint, rythym and chants as a priest reads from a scroll. The drumbeat is constant and may be accompanied by gongs and cymbals. The Dragon dance is used for good luck and fortune. The dragon is believed to chase away devils. There are twelve dancers and one drummer participating in this ceremony.

Italy 
    The main form of Italian music is the opera. Operas are stories about myths and tragedies. Different cities in Italy produced different kinds of operas. In Florence, operas were about Greek tragedy. In Rome, the Catholic Church influenced operas. In Naples, operas were humerous and referred to as comic operas. In Venice, operas were developed for public entertainment. Only the rich could afford tickets to these performances. Operas were also used as commercials.

African America 
    African American music is written in several different forms. These are spiritual, blues, ragtime, jazz, rythym and blues, and rap. Spirituals consist of mainly religious themes. Blues music talks about the hardships of life. Blues singers worked mainly with jazz bands or pianos. Ragtime is characterized by sincopated melodies over an accented bass. Ragtime is mainly accompanied by piano. Jazz uses maching bands or solo piano. Jazz originally came from New Orleans, Louisiana. The most dominant jazz musician was Louis Armstrong. He was a great improviser and scat singer. Rythym and blues music is categorized into the areas of jump blues, club blues, black rock-and-roll, doo-wop soul, Mowtown, funk, disco, and rap. Rap music incorporates pre-recorded music, electronic synthesizers, drum machines, or electronic and digital sampling. One rhyme verse is recited over a recorded or live instrumental background. Rhythmical scratching sounds may be added while a rapper sings or recites rhymed, syncopated lyrics.

Ireland 
    Irish traditional music is European music which has been passed down from one generation to the next. Most Irish music comes from the past. Styles change very slowly so the music is still much like it was long ago. There are only slight changes in the music over periods of time. New songs are often written to existing tunes. Irish music is used for recreation and at social gatherings. Instruments used include the fiddle, whistle, flute, and accordian.

Mexico 
    Music in Mexico is used mainly for fiestas. Fiestas can be classified in four ways: Ancient Agricultural Calendar Fiestas, Patron Fiestas, Pilgrimage Fiestas, and Religious Fiestas. Agricultural Fiestas center around the harvest of corn. Patron Fiestas celebrate the founding of towns and groups. Each group is identified during these fiestas. Pilgrimage Fiestas involve visiting other areas to strengthen relationships among different communities. Religious Fiestas honor sacred images and saints.

India 
    The people of India use music for meditation, concentration, and worship. Two parts of Indian music are the Raga and the Tala. The Raga is the musical mode for the event. The Tala is the recurring rythyms in the music. The rythym reflects the Hindu idea of religion that a person is born, lives, dies, and is reincarnated. Indian musicians use music to create a variety of feelings. The melodies can bring out the deepest emotions and moods. Two strains of music are South Indian music and North Indian music. South Indian music is articulate and organized. North Indian music is less organized.

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