Scott Joplin

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/scott-joplin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Scott Joplin born?November 24, 1868
2. Where was Scott Joplin born?Texarkana, Texas, USA
3. When did Scott Joplin die?April 1, 1917 (age 48)
4. What is the career?Concert pianist, composer, music teacher, and aspiring opera composer
5. Who was Scott Joplin?Scott Joplin was a talented pianist and composer born in 1868 who became known as the "King of Ragtime." He helped make ragtime popular across the United States.
6. What is the Maple Leaf Rag?The Maple Leaf Rag is a famous piano piece Joplin published in 1899. It was the first major hit in ragtime and set a new standard for the style.

Ragtime: A genre of American music popular from the 1890s to 1910s, characterized by its syncopated (off-beat) rhythmic patterns and often performed on the piano.
Syncopation: A rhythmic technique that emphasizes beats or parts of beats that are normally unstressed, creating a distinctive 'swinging' or 'bouncy' feel.
Opera: A dramatic art form in which a story is told primarily through music and singing, typically featuring a large ensemble cast and orchestral accompaniment.
Posthumous: Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the person's death.