Author: Ransom Carlson

There is some debate about the beginning of music. The oldest instrument is recognized to be a flute, and while we may never know how old the very oldest of the flutes may be, carbon dating has taken a couple examples with at least 35,000 years ago from ivory, and about 60,000 years ago for a Neanderthal version.

Many of the earliest flutes could have non-durable materials. Animal skins, bone, wood, and other materials that degrade over time have also been used to create instruments like flutes.

While we may never know when exactly the first flute was created, this is the beginning of our musical journey. Over the last several thousand years, we’ve created so many different instruments out of a wide range of materials. Knowing where we began, where do you think we’re going to go from here?

Check out these pictures of old flutes:

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/art-music/musical-instruments/ancient-flute

Neanderthal flute – NMS

The theme for April is ballads. A ballad is a form of verse, often but not always set to music. This art form is usually a narrative, telling a story.

Ballads may have begun in France, from the chanson balladée or ballade. They were also very common in Britain and Ireland, and spread through Europe, the Americas, Australia, and North Africa. Ballads might be in any kind of verse, though we often think of them as songs, in quatrains, with forms like ABAB or ABCB.

A few top power ballads: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith, “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Open Arms” by Journey, “I Do Anything for Love (But I won’t Do That)” by Meatloaf, “Alone” by Heart.

In other news, my son came home ecstatic last Friday. He had done a musical game at school called Staff Champion. He broke the school record of 19 or 20 correct answers in 30 seconds with 30! He’s been a student here at MTMS for a couple years, and he loves utheory.