The White Lantern
World Culture Scot Joplin Scott Joplin was born in Texarkana, Texas in 1868. Even though his parents didn’t know any black men who made a respectable living from music, his mother was sure he was destined for a musical career. She worked hard to pay for his piano lessons until music teachers started offering to teach him for free. Joplin probably didn’t go to school until a teenager because schools for black children were scare. He practiced hard and at 17 he left home and began playing in bars. He played at The Silver Dollar Saloon in St.