My topic is popular music in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. I would like to find out how popular music may have spread, especially before the invention of the phonograph. I also would like to learn about the musical instruments used and how they evolved into what they are now. Popular songs also interest me, and what genres of music they were in. Most likely not all of this can be in my paper, but I’m not quite sure where I want to go with my paper just yet. I think it would be very interesting to see how music from the 18^th and 19^th centuries has affected all types of music today. I would also like to find out who shaped this music and who popular composers, musicians, and singers were, and if and how people got to know about them and how people heard their songs. Even though I am not musical at all, I love listening to many different types of music, and I think it would be interesting to see if the music I listen to today has been influenced by music in the past. I would really like to learn about the different types of music and musical instruments in the different regions of the country. It would also be interesting to find any overlap between the regions. I am dedicated to learning and writing my paper about the popular music in the 18^th and 19^th century, how it evolved, and how it may affect music today.