He persuaded Joplin to write down, publish and think seriously of the compositions he had been improvising (Reed, 50). Otis became more conscious of Joplin’s genius while watching him perform in various places. Joplin met with another rag pianist while performing in Chicago, Otis Saunders. As Joplin excelled, he began to teach music he was inspired to make his initial efforts of composition when he formed and led an organization with a community of people with similar interests (Reed, 49). His development resulted in great improvisational ability and growing popularity while still in his teens (Reed, 47). Joplin’s use of syncopated patterns, blue notes and melodies were influenced by the black heritage reminiscent of banjo and fiddle tunes. Weiss had a significant impact on Joplin and helped him shape his impressive musical prowess and ambitions toward high artistic goals (Berlin, 7).
KING OF RAGTIME FREE
Julius Weiss was one of many who gave free lessons to young Joplin.
In addition to going to school Joplin would study with several music teachers who recognized his talents. Joplin was influenced musically by both parents as his father was a violinist and his mother played the banjo and sang, despite their separation in his youth (Reed, 47). His birth date was narrowed down after some research to November 1868 in Texarkana, Texas where his family lived. While his widow, Lottie Joplin, was submitting information to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), she had given faulty information and so Joplin’s exact birth and death dates are unknown. Joplin was proclaimed a genius and admired for his music by many musicians when he composed his first publications in 1899 (Berlin, 3). He was an African-American that believed he could “overcome the obstacles of background, class and race through hard work and education” (Berlin, 3). Often called the king of ragtime writers, Scott Joplin was born to the first post-slavery generation. Scott Joplin used his musical prowess to portray his thoughts on society through his many compositions as he did in his famous ragtime piece, The Entertainer, composed in 1902. It is sometimes used to express events taking place in society, or ironically, used to express what one would want society to be. Music is loved on a global scale and is created and used in various ways.
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