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A common view by older people is that all the new music sounds the same. Is this because pop culture takes up the majority of the music world? Or is this because they need some new hearing aids? Music evolves like people evolve. It changes and grows with how it needs to, to survive. If the demand is for music of a slower tempo, then a slower tempo song will be made. But how did the demand grow to be all about pop? Let's go back to 40,000 years ago, when the Aboriginals invented "music".

Before the settlement of the Europeans, Melbourne was the land of the Aboriginals. Aboriginals made their instruments out of woods, plants and other natural resources. One common instrument, still used today, is the didgeridoo. The didgeridoo was made out of a hollowed out tree trunk and was painted using crumbled rock and water. This mix was painted onto the wood using sticks. Wax was then added to the top of the instrument to make it softer on the lips of the player. Another instrument that is very commonly known is the clap sticks. Clap sticks were made out of wood and painted, very similarly to the didgeridoo. To play they were banged together. These were used to make a beat to basic songs.

Way after the time of the Aboriginals, many styles of music were explored. From sea shanties to instrumentals inspired by the European music, every style had the chance to shine. Years after these fazes passed, opera took over. Dame Nellie Melba created the birth of opera into what was modern Melbourne then. Dame Nellie was an incredible musician born in Richmond, Melbourne in May 1861. Her talent started to show while she was attending Presbyterian Ladies' College. Her talent was obviously going to take her places, and even now, she is a commonly known name and is often put together with the general growth of opera.

After the time of Dame Nellie Melba, many other operatic styled artists came through and rose to stardom, though none were as commonly known as their predecessor. When opera was not as hugely popular, the growth of what are now some of the biggest music venues began. The Esplanade Hotel and many other of its kind, opened in the 19th and 20th centuries. In these hotels singers and musicians were hired out to perform for the entertainment of the hotels patrons. When this time finished, so too did the construction of Melbourne’s theatres. The next faze that took over the streets was that of musical theatre. Although musicals were popular, they did not last. After this time there was not too much happening in the scene of Melbourne’s musical scene.

The next period in Melbourne’s musical history was a period called the “Little Band scene”. This era was made up of the 1970’s and ‘80’s, when Melbourne’s musicians were highly inspired by musicians from America and England, revolving around the punk/rock genres. The next faze had to be LOUD! It was what people wanted. In the late ‘70’s sound restrictions came into place, but weren’t really used until the late, late ‘80’s. Neighbourhoods around venues commonly used for musicians in the CBD were often complaining about the noise levels raised, and eventually the sound restrictions were firmly put into place.

After sound restrictions weren’t as firmly enforced, pop oriented music was brought in. Demand grew for music of a faster tempo and beat, and a higher melody pitch. Pop music just so happened to be the answer. Artists such as Missy Higgins and others were brought out, from the amazing streets of Melbourne, to the stage of international stardom. From there Melbourne’s music has gone up and out. Not only has this music scene grown incredibly, it still has a tonne of room left to just continue to do just that... Grow.

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