MUSC 3385 History of Popular Music

Ch 1: Themes and Streams of American Popular Music, pp. 1 - 19

Name _Derrin Lee
______________________________________________________________

Type your responses to the following questions. Include the page number(s)
in your responses. Multiple pages will be stapled together. Include this sheet.
1.
How does the chapter define popular music? How do you define it? Music that
is mass-reproduced and disseminated via the media (2); Music that has been listened
to a lot by Americans; Music in any genre that has obtain the popularity and is
being reproduced by others
2.

Theme I. Explain how the book suggests we can critically listen to popular music.
Explain what specific parts of music we can listen to. How do we use these? It suggests
that we should find out the message in the music and its cultural purpose or even the
historic value behind the music; It says we can listen to hooks, riffs, groove, and even the
timbre of the music. (3-4)
3.

Theme II. How does pop music promote identity over a lifetime? What is
stereotyping? What examples are found in pop music? Pop music promote
identity overtime by the more you listen it unknowingly affects how you portrays
gender identity, culturally ways like what masculine and feminine is and even how
to act your ethnicity and even teaches language; stereotyping is organizing people
into different categories. This can be found in music videos with women portrayed
as sex symbols or even with men being hood and or gangsters or rednecks. (4-5)
4.

Them III. What types, and in what ways, has technology impacted the growth of pop
music? Explain at least four examples. How has technology impacted true musicianship?
Digital recording, computerized sampling, and internet based radio has impacted the growth
of pop music by allowing it to be heard and recreated by anyone who hears it. Mass media
helped pop music to become mainstream through shows like MTV; digital recording has
taken over from analog recording and puts everything in a computer based program,
Sampling allows one to take certain parts of songs that they like and copy it and use it to
their liking or even recreating it, Internet radio has allowed listeners to be exposed to all
kinds of music around the world, and DJs gave listeners a new way of listening and mixing
songs together to create a new sound; Technology has killed true musicianship because now if
you want to hear something being played you can look it up or go find someone on the
internet to play and teach you the song. You basically are being spoiled. (6-8)

5.

Them IV. List and explain at least four roles and careers have been created due to the
music industry. How has the music industry changed from the beginning to the present?
The composers and lyricist help compliment the performer strong attributes. The arranger
decides how best the song will be intrepid by the key of the songs and even the
instrumentation that best suits what he or she is looking for. The A&R looks for new talent.
The producer brings everything together and makes the music comes alive as well as
keeping the business side going too. The music industry is now based on capitol and on how
much money can be made which in turn has demoted the quality of talents in the industry.
(9-10)
6.

Theme V. Explain the difference between musical centers and musical periphery.
List the specific markets/demographics each represented. It is where power, capitol, and
control over mass media are concentrated with New York, Los Angles, and Nashville being
the major centers; The musical periphery are the smaller institutions that are not in the
mainstream. African Americans, Latin, Jewish, Poor whites communities are some
periphery. (10-13)
Every aspect of popular music that is today regarded as American in character has sprung from
imported traditions. These source traditions may be classified into three broad streams:
European, African, and Latin.
7.

Describe the European stream. Explain the musical elements contributed to

American music. How did it impact early American music? What European
cultures or countries are represented in this stream? The European stream was
heavily drawn upon ballads which told stories often about an event that has taken
place. It was drawn from folk traditions which passed down music by word of
mouth. Elements that contributed to American music were elements like ballad
opera which consisted of regular people singing music in English, another one is
dance music which took out the country dances and influenced more of the couple
dancing like the waltz and gallop; Irish, Germany, French, and the Caribbean.
8.

Describe the African stream. Explain the musical elements contributed to

American music. How did it impact early American music? What African
cultures or countries are represented in this stream? The African stream started
in the 17th century where Africans were brought over from Africa to America.
Syncretism was created a mixture of African and European traditions; Elements
like polyrhythms, call and response, riffs, timbre are found in American music from
this; Bases of music was used during the creation of movies and minstrel shows;
Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica. (15-17)
9.

Describe the Latin stream. Explain the musical elements contributed to American
music. How did it impact early American music? What Latin cultures or
countries are represented in this stream? Has a blend of African, Europe, Spain,
Portugal, and France musical traditions; Elements that Latin music has are
elements like the Habanera rhythm (3-3-2) beat, Tango which is a ballroom duo
dance, Salsa, samba, and rumba which were popular dance styles in Latin America
(17-18)

10.

What do you think: Does our present music reinforce/promote stereotypes?

Explain your response (see #3). Our present music I believe in some ways
reinforce unity and uplifting like in neo-soul and gospel/Christian music but with
other forms of music like R&B and Rap and even country has been given the idea
that sex sells and shows how even though that we as a country are in some ways
unified we are still divided