INDEX

1. Origins 2. Folk music 3. Jazz music 4. Rock and roll music 5. Pop music 6. Current music

2.1. Characteristics 3.1. Characteristics 4.1.Characteristics 5.1.Characteristics 6.1. Popular genres

2.2. Instruments 3.2. Subgenres 4.2. Instruments 5.2. Instruments 6.2. Popular musicians

2.3. Musicians 3.3. Instruments 4.3. Musicians 5.3. Musicians

2.4. Country 3.4. Musicians

2. Folk Music

2.1 CHARACTERISTICS

-As you might know, folk music is the name given to the traditional music from each different country.

-In the USA, there are different types of folk music (spirituals, work songs, Appalachian music, cajun music…), but the most popular one is country music

-It’s one of the oldest music styles from the USA.

- It was influenced by folk music from other countries such as: Germany, Africa, Scotland… And it influenced many music genres like: Gospel, blues, country…

2.2. INSTRUMENTS

2.3. MUSICIANS

2.4. Country Music

-Is country folk music?

-This music genre is considered by many as USA folk music, but others don’t think the same. So… Does Country music belong to American folk music?

Folk music appeared during the 50s, while country music appeared in the 20s; therefore means that when traditional USA music re-emerged, country music had existed for 30 years, so it can’t be considered as part of American folk music (but most people still do it). Clarification: American folk music can be considered as any kind of typical music from America (including medieval music) but, when it re-emerged, country already did exist, so that’s why some people consider it as folk music and others simply don’t.

-Country musicians:

3.2. SUBGENRES

-BLUES: This term might come from blue devils, which means sadness, disappointment, melancholy... They incorporated spirituals, work songs, simple narrative ballads, chants… Examples: B. B. King, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters.

-RAGTIME: It was a style of dance music and the most used instrument here was the piano. Musician examples: Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie Blake…

-SWING: It is one of the most popular danceable types of jazz. It’s the era of the big bands. Some examples of swing musicians are: Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman…

3.3. INSTRUMENTS

3.4. MUSICIANS

4. Rock And Roll

4.1. CHARACTERISTICS

-This music genre was born around 1954 with the recording of “That’s All Right” (Elvis Presley).

-It became really popular because of the advantages in technology: The television, the radio…; and because they wanted new music that didn’t represent the world as a happy and perfect place (especially after the wars, crisis…)

-This music genre was a revolution against the racist and puritan society.

4.2. INSTRUMENTS

4.3. MUSICIANS

5. Pop Music

5.1. CHARACTERISTICS

-This music genre was born in the 50s, but it became really popular in the 60s. It reached its peak of maximum popularity in the 80s.

-It’s a popular style of music, derived from black people’s musical styles (jazz) and folk music (especially British folk) and rock and roll.

- Historically, pop music was considered as any kind of music which wasn’t cult music.

-They’re are short songs, with catchy choruses and simple melodies.

-Some subgenres are: Pop rock, indie pop, electronic pop

5.2. INSTRUMENTS

5.3. MUSICIANS

6. Current music

6.1. POPULAR GENRES

All the music that I have mentioned before is still quite popular nowadays, but what kind of music do teenagers prefer now?

Well, based on some statistics: Pop, rock, indie and alternative music are the ones that they listen to the most.

6.2. POPULAR MUSICIANS