Native American Music

There are no written records of Native American music because of…

Oral culture

The forcing of American lifestyle and religion

Evangelism

Trail of Tears

Force displacement of Native Americans

Pow Wow

A gathering of Native Americans

Vision Quest

The act of someone seeing a lesson and then writing a song about it (music was always linked to rituals and held spiritual power)

Efficacy

How well a song carried out a task (i.e. healing)

Vocables

Howls and yelps used in Native American music

The main instruments used in Native American music was…

Drums, flutes, and rattles

Plain Style

Typical pow wow style music with drums and yodels

Southwest Style

Long short beats with drums

Northwest Pacific Style

Use of totem poles with animals and music to convey storis

Ghost Dance

A sacred dance used as a resurrection to make the white people disappear