🎸Music History – Pop Music

What do you learn in History of Popular Music

You'll explore the evolution of popular music from the early 20th century to today. The course covers genres like jazz, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, examining their cultural impact and musical innovations. You'll analyze iconic artists, landmark albums, and technological advancements that shaped the industry. It's all about understanding how music reflects and influences society.

Is History of Popular Music hard?

Most students find this course pretty chill. It's not as theory-heavy as other music classes, so you don't need to be a musical genius. The main challenge is keeping track of all the artists, genres, and time periods. If you're already into music, you'll probably breeze through. But even if you're not, as long as you stay on top of the listening assignments and readings, you should be good.

Tips for taking History of Popular Music in college

1. Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
2. Create playlists for each era or genre you study
3. Watch music documentaries like "The Defiant Ones" or "Hip-Hop Evolution"
4. Attend local gigs to experience different genres live
5. Read artist biographies (e.g., "Life" by Keith Richards)
6. Use mnemonic devices to remember key dates and figures
7. Form a study group to discuss and debate musical influences
8. Practice identifying genres and artists in random songs

Common pre-requisites for History of Popular Music

1. Introduction to Music Theory: This course covers the basics of reading music, understanding scales, and grasping fundamental harmonic concepts. It's a great foundation for analyzing popular music.

2. World Music: This class explores musical traditions from various cultures around the globe. It provides context for understanding the diverse influences on popular music.

Classes similar to History of Popular Music

1. Sociology of Music: Examines how music shapes and is shaped by society. You'll explore topics like subcultures, music as protest, and the impact of technology on music consumption.

2. Music and Media: Focuses on the relationship between music and various forms of media. You'll study music in film, TV, advertising, and social media.

3. Music Business and Industry: Covers the business side of the music world. You'll learn about record labels, copyright laws, and how streaming has changed the game.

4. Electronic Music Production: Introduces you to creating music using digital tools. You'll get hands-on experience with software like Ableton or Logic Pro.

Majors related to History of Popular Music

1. Music Business: Focuses on the industry side of music, including marketing, management, and production. Students learn about contracts, copyright law, and how to navigate the ever-changing music landscape.

2. Ethnomusicology: Studies music in its cultural context. Students explore how music reflects and shapes societies around the world, combining elements of anthropology and musicology.

3. Audio Engineering: Concentrates on the technical aspects of recording and producing music. Students learn about acoustics, sound design, and how to use industry-standard recording equipment and software.

What can you do with a degree in History of Popular Music?

1. Music Journalist: Write about music for magazines, websites, or newspapers. You'll review albums, interview artists, and analyze music trends.

2. A&R Representative: Work for a record label to discover and develop new talent. You'll scout for promising artists and help shape their careers.

3. Music Supervisor: Select and license music for films, TV shows, or commercials. You'll need to understand how music enhances visual media and negotiate rights with artists and labels.

4. Radio Program Director: Oversee the music and content for radio stations. You'll choose playlists, develop station branding, and analyze listener data to keep the station competitive.

History of Popular Music FAQs

1. Do I need to play an instrument to take this course? Nope, you don't need to be a musician. The course focuses more on listening and cultural analysis than performance.

2. Will we only study American and British music? While there's a focus on Anglo-American pop, most courses also cover global influences and international pop scenes.

3. How much listening is required outside of class? Expect to spend a few hours each week listening to assigned tracks. It's basically homework you can do with your headphones on.