Interpretive Musical Jam about Amish technology/community

"Gut-n-owned!" (Amish greeting)

-The Amish have been around for more than 300 years.
-About 233,000 adults and children live in North America and over half of the population is under 18 years of age (looks like they'll be sticking around)
-Every 20 years the population doubles!
-They live in 27 U.S. states and the province of Ontario

Amish Population by State (2009) *ordered by population


State/Province Estimated Population

Ohio...................................................................56,430
Pennsylvania.....................................................51,435
Indiana..............................................................39,960
Wisconsin..........................................................15,525
Michigan............................................................10,530
Missouri ............................................................10,125
New York.............................................................9,585
Kentucky..............................................................7,830
Iowa.....................................................................6,480
Illinois...................................................................6,210
Ontario.................................................................4,590
Minnesota............................................................3,375
Tennessee.............................................................2,295
Kansas...................................................................1,755
Maryland..............................................................1,350
Delaware................................................................1,215
Montana ..................................................................675
Oklahoma.................................................................675
Virginia....................................................................540
Arkansas.................................................................405
Colorado...................................................................405
Maine......................................................................405
Nebraska..................................................................405
West Virginia............................................................405
Florida......................................................................135
Mississippi.................................................................135
North Carolina...........................................................135
Texas........................................................................135
Total: 233,145

The Amish trace their roots to the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland in 1525 at the time of the Protestant Reformation. They are a Christian Church, giving special emphasis to simplicity, community, the authority of the local church over the life of its members, separation of church and state, and pacifism.

The Amish reject computers, radios, cars, televisions, and most electricity from public utility lines.

"The Amish do not consider technology evil in itself but they believe that technology, if left untamed, will undermine worthy traditions and accelerate assimilation into the surrounding society. Mass media technology in particular, they fear, would introduce foreign values into their culture. By bringing greater mobility, cars would pull the community apart, eroding local ties. Horse-and-buggy transportation keeps the community anchored in its local geographical base."

In order to slow down social change, they avoid all things that seem to connect them to the world where this change is occurring every minute. However, they do not reject all modern technology. The rules for what is accepted are largely determined by the local church and are based upon what will help or hinder the community. Many groups modify technology to fit their cultural values.

Gelassenheit (Gay-la-sen-hite): yielding oneself to a higher authority.

The Amish value community and tradition over choice and individual rights. They're dedicated lifestyle and resistance to change play as great models for us to follow, especially if we feel our social capitol is beginning to fall. Of course, we don't have to go to quite such extremes, but outsiders can join!...unless you are shunned.

In this lab, we had an interpretive jam about the Amish community and their lack of technology. Note that only traditional acoustic instruments are used and and no electronics were needed. The different instruments (some thousands of years old) represent the different changes of musical technology and how they bring people together. The song, (sung in the style and setting of a Bob Dylan show) explores the life and well knit community of the mighty Amish.
***there was no tobacco or illicit drug use in the making of this video**