Category Archives: Music

what genres of music did she (or does she still) perform-What instrument(s) does she play? In interviews, has she discussed her female identity and how it affects her career?

Paper 3 Female musicians have always played a significant role in popular music. Choose one of the following three female musicians and complete the task and questions below: Memphis Minnie (born Lizzie Douglas) Carole King Patti Smith Briefly discuss her career and musical contributions. In what genres of music did she (or does she still) […]

How would you characterize his/her/their music-Has the artist discussed his/her/their relationship to the whiteness of rock?

Paper 4 By the late 1960s, rock had become a genre almost totally dominated by white artists. Consider the following non-white rock artists: Carlos Santana Joan Armatrading Living Colour Choose one artist and briefly discuss their biography and career. How would you characterize his/her/their music? Has the artist discussed his/her/their relationship to the whiteness of […]

Identify, list, and describe in as much detail as possible two musical elements (e.g., instrumentation, form, subject of the lyrics, or vocal delivery style) that the two songs in each pair have in common, and two elements where they differ.

Son House, “Walkin’ Blues” and Elvis Presley, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”  The blues had a profound impact on early rock and roll. With this pair of songs that include one blues and one early rock and roll song. Your task is to identify, list, and describe in as much detail as possible two musical elements […]

What are your impressions of the two pieces-Did you prefer one more than the other-if so, why?

Written Assignment 4: Jazz-Rock Fusion For this assignment, you will be listening to two jazz-rock fusion pieces: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet (1966), and To the End of the World by The Pat Metheny Group (1994). Listen to both pieces attentively, and answer the following questions: Listen to Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, one […]

Does he ever use chords? Using counter numbers, at what point does he introduce his trademark “octaves” sound to his solo?

Written Assignment 3: Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery Milt Jackson (vibraphone) and Wes Montgomery (guitar) are both considered outstanding performers on their more uncommon jazz instruments. For this assignment, you will be listening to two pieces that highlight these two players and their instruments: Django played by Milt Jackson (v), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath […]

Are there other, nonverbal ways of communicating with and receiving knowledge from participants?

Your final project will involve reporting on a festival celebrating an ethnic heritage that is different than your own. Hopefully there will be some festivals that will be allowed to take place as events start opening up here in California. Ideas for festivals include attending a Pow Wow, Chinese New Year, Nowruz (Persian New Year) […]

What ways has hip-hop transformed as a musical, cultural, and/or political voice in the last year (either in the United States OR internationally)?

Weekly reflection 10 We would like you to select a news article or opinion piece related to hip-hop culture and the Covid-19 lockdown and/or political protest and transformation. Have you come across news features or analysis that indicate where the live music industry and hip-hop might be headed? In what ways has hip-hop transformed as […]

How the progress of jazz styles reflects the cultural changes of the century -How the general ethos of dominant culture is evident in the world of jazz

Jazz History Answer this question: How are the history of black ethnic struggles in the United States and the history of jazz connected? Consider the following issues: Black culture in a white society during the twentieth century The role of jazz musicians, both black and white, in advancing integration, fighting for civil rights, and using […]