Pop music class

I was so puzzled this semester about which Renaissance class would be the most appealing that I signed up for three - humor, music, and movies.  The first class of humor was not the least bit funny.  The second class (my first) of music was both funny and interesting.  So I never got to check out the movie class.

The coordinator of our music class presents top hits from various time periods, gives some background information, plays the tune/song and maybe discusses the lyrics.  The performers are also discussed - their history, success, other interesting facts.  He also plans to show videos but we haven't had enough time in the classes yet.

One of the items I found interesting was the development of records and sheet music.  Where would you expect to purchase sheet music in 1900?  Answer: your upscale furniture store!  At that time a piano was a common if not expected piece of furniture for the middle class household.  But it couldn't sustain a market and stores of its own.  To aid in the sale of pianos was sheet music sold in the same music store.  Records were often used to demonstrate what the piano could sound like.  As the 1900's progressed, record players became more affordable, and methods were developed to mass produce records, records became the dominant force in the market.