What Is Ragtime?

The pianist and scholar Terry Waldo takes you through the history and styles of Ragtime in this Jazz Academy video! Find out what made Ragtime a truly unique American art form, and how it came to influence Jazz.

Terry Waldo - Piano
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Aaron Chandler - Sound Engineer
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Seton Hawkins - Producer

Recorded August 13, 2013

[Suzy.E]

Rag always brings me back to a time where I’d sit at the piano and just watch my grandpa play. It seemed so impossibly fast and difficult and larger than life. I don’t think I could ever get tired of listening to some good ragtime ❤️

[bjorningelstam]

Some of these comments are so butt-sore. Waldo is a master of traditional jazz and ragtime. He is 73 and share his wisdom with us for free. Aaaaand whatever some people may think, Ragtime is not the same as "classical music". There is room for mistakes and some improvisation and Mr Waldo swings his ass off every time he plays. True master and a great guy!

[jsbg]

Scott Joplin is an unsung legend. Growing up in St. Louis we would all go to his house when we had field trips in grade school.

[ribusgan]

Starting to learn Pian at 50, in a country (India) which has its own deep and profound musical tradition and repertoire, it is very difficult even to dream to play somwhat at 1/4th the competency of this man in my lifetime.
But dream I will, so that I can play like this, in my next life. :-)

[WarrenPostma]

I have yet to hear someone make musical history as fresh and accessible as this presentation does. I feel like I could reach out and touch what Ragtime is, and something essential about American music and musical history.

[witneyskye]

Thank you so much for the history lesson. I now have a greater fascination for Ragtime. I'm never too old to learn something new and fabulous. You are a wonderful teacher. I wish I had you for a music history prof. in university. I would have attended every single class! What a performance! Second to none.

[OnlySiedah]

Dude, this man's music teacher was Eubie Blake! Whaaaat?!! No wonder he plays like that. I was absolutely enthralled by the richness of his playing and stories.
Gotta say, thank you Mr. Waldo.

[gbfgs]

I came here for one of my school assignments, but I thoroughly enjoyed this video and Mr. Waldo is a gifted storyteller. Thank you for such an enjoyable video.

[Midnight_Ranger]

love this ragtime piece's resolution everytime

[Harlem]

to put it in the simplest terms, rag time essentially was taking the idea of classical invention and placing the melodic structure to place emphasis on either the up beat of a quarter or on beats 3 and 4, depending on tempo; though this usually means the up beat (i.e. the speed of an eighth note) due to the general speed of a rag. This is contrasted to the speed of a military march which usually has the heavy feel of quarter notes regardless of the speed its preformed, as after the tempo is accelerated bast a certain threshold, it will assume the feel of cut time as opposed to the time of 4/4 or 2/4 which is requisite of a rag.

[arieyorsson]

He's an amazing pianist. Scott Joplin originally played it much slower. But some people prefer it fast, and that's okay.

[jazzykevin]

I've seen Terry perform at the J.W. "Blind Boone ragtime and early Jazz festival" he is absolutely awesome.

[edwarddoran]

TERRY - YOU ARE THE GREATEST. I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN COLUMBUS THIS YEAR. NANCY CLAGETT AND I ARE SO PLEASED TO HAVE MET YOU 15 YEARS AGO. YOU ARE A GREAT GUY, WHO IS THE BEST RAGTIME ENTHUSIAST IN THE WORLD.

[NoBing.]

writing a paper for my final in my college class, this episode helped a lot, great video!

[jellyfishj]

heard him live at Newport. wonderful, wonderful, and oh yeah, wonderful

[aryotaheri]

Wow, what a brilliant man! I could listen to him talk/play for hours.

[davidg-igvj]

Amazing. I have never actually seen anyone play Ragtime before. It's very fast. I can't imagine how much practice it must take.

[rociodeleonpantoja]

I am so impressed, I want to play the piano so bad. Ragtime is so beautiful and fun!

[edwarddoran]

HI TERRY - I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND HEAR YOU ON NOV. 25TH IN COLUMBUS. YOU TUBE BRINGS BACK MEMORIES AS WELL AS EDUCATE ME AND OTHERS ON THE HISTORY OF RAG TIME. NANCY AND I FEEL HONORED AND BLESSED THAT WE MET YOU AS A PERSON. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR RAGTIME. THE JESUS RAG IS WAITING TO BE COMPOSED BY YOU FOR ME IN HEAVEN OR WHEREEVER.
NANCY CLAGETT AND I THANK YOU.

[frequencyfluxfandango]

Thanks for the music pal, As a bad piano player, it fascinates me to see/hear all this. I wish I could play like this. Loved the history of it all too. just to say... Thank You sir.