MUSIC                    James Fenimore Cooper, an early American writer, once said, "The Americans are almost ignorant of the art of music." If that was once true, you would never know it today. Most Americans-even those without a musical bone in their bodies-have a favorite style of music. Many people enjoy classical and folk music from around the world. But other popular music styles in America were "made in the U.S.A."     Country and western music lies close to the heart of many Americans. This style originated among country folks in the southerm and westrn United States. Cuntry music tells tells down-to-earth stories about love and life's hardships. Guitars, banjos and violins--also known as fiddles-give country music its characteristic sound.  The home of country music is Nashville, Tennessee--music city U.S.A. Country music even has its own can enjoy music shows and fun rides. "The show in the United States,broadcasts country music live from Opryland every weekend."     Jazz music, developed by Afrian-Americans in the late 1800s,allows performers to freely express their emotions and musical skill. Instead of just playing the meloday,jazz musiciands improvise different tunes using the same chords. The peak of jazz music came in the 1920's, known as "the jazz era." this period produced musicians like Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. These musicians later created the "big band" sounds of the 1930s. Different styles off jazz developed in different cities, such as New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Kansas city. Composer George Gershwin brought jazz into the world of classical music With pieces like "Rhapsody in blue."        The 1950s saw the develpment of an explosive new music style: rock'n' roll. Performers like Elvis Presley and songs like bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" made rock music widely popular. This powerful music style addresses issues like love, sex, drugs, politics and death. Often it rebels amainst the accepted valuse of society. Rock concerts, featuring loud music and sometimes weird stage acts, have become a major party of American youth culture. Music videos on television have spread the message of rock to the far corners of the globe.       And the beat goes on. Pop music represents popular styles-like the music of Karen Carpenter-that have wide appeal.     "Golden oldies" from the past bring back pleasant memories for many. Rapmusic, which burst onto the music scene in the 1970s, is actually more like a rhyming chant. Rappers give a strong-sometimes vulgar-message about life in the streets. Americans have always been a religious people, and music has long been a part of their religious experience, as well. From colonial days, hymns and praise songs have enhanced worship. Negro Spirituals, such as "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," Today's Christian styles fit all musical tastes-from country to jazz to pop to rock to rap.     In America, music is a shared experience. People grow up with piano lessons, chorus classes and marching band practices. They there isn't anything else to talk about. If James Fenimore Cooper were here today, he would surely have to change his tune.