Country Music as Cultural Practice

Abstract

This chapter argues that country music should be examined first and foremost as social practice—as a driver of community expression and social capital through music, words, and dance. While country music functions in a multitude of ways, from narrative storytelling to commercial product and points in between, the commercial sphere of country music has been exhaustively examined. Scholarly inquiry into country music, rooted in the folk revival of the mid-twentieth century and significantly influenced by collectors (and collections) of commercial country music, has maintained a southern, commercial focus for much of the past half-century. As such, scholarly and popular understanding of what, where, and who country music springs from has ignored significant regional vernacular forms and uses of country music. Ethnographic inquiry has made it possible to tell the story country music culture and traditions. Murphy illustrates his argument with examples from New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and Atlantic Canada.

Country Music Education for Diverse and Inclusive Music Classrooms

“…Country music is a musical activity that is both folk (community based) and popular (mass media/commercial)." 4 According to the Country Music Association (CMA), the genre's largest trade organization, 31 percent to 56 percent of the population of the United States regularly consumes country music, making it one of our most significant forms of popular music. The CMA reports that roughly 90 percent of country fans are white, but since 2005, Black and Latinx audiences have grown significantly.…”

“…Based on their experiences teaching songwriting in university popular music courses, Stimeling and Katz argue that, "when combined with strong analysis and reflection components, composition and songwriting assignments offer rich opportunities for students to engage creatively with key musical concepts, to learn about musical structure and style through hands-on activities, and to reach a strong understanding of the various ways that music can signify meaning across time and social settings." 38 As mentioned at the outset, Clifford Murphy notes the storytelling roots of country music; 39 it affords students an ideal vehicle to explore and share their own stories, identities, and values. For practical songwriting strategies, we also recommend the work of John Kratus, who taught songwriting at the university level for many years.…”