Teaching an ethnomusicology class would definitely be a challenge for me--I have never taught a class in my life and the topics within ethnomusicology are familiar but in no way an expertise in mine. Thus, to be able to convey the best lecture, I will need to draw upon music that seems most "American" to me--an eclectic range of genres that have taken over the popular music charts. Because America as a nation truly represents a "melting pot" of cultures, it is only fair to include a wide range of music to define American music. Such music genres I will include in the lecture are as follows: pop, r&b, country, and rock. Because I am no expert on American music, it makes the most sense for me to draw upon music that I have constantly heard in my life, so that I can add better input to the lecture that I present.
I. Pop Music
Characteristics: Pop songs normally have an easy melody to catch on to. The chorus is repeated a couple of times with verses separating the choruses, allowing listeners to easily learn the melody. The beat is also catchy; some of the most popular songs that Americans can identify come from these catchy and pleasing to the ear rhythms. The lyrics to pop songs usually relate to emotions and generally love.
Listening examples: Britney Spears' "Baby One more Time" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BclTRsTBZM) and Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL28kGHjPOQ) exemplify typical pop songs because of their catchy tunes.
Other comments: Pop music is heavily distributed through the radio as well as television. It is an essential part of popular music and often has global appeal beyond the United States
II. R&B music
Characteristics: This musical genre started out being played by mostly African-Americans and thus has great African-American influences. It combines such elements from jazz, gospel, and blues, which are genres historically affliated with black people. In contemporary terms, soul is often added as well. Historically from the 1940s, the musical format combined 12 bar beats with boogie-woogie and black beat.
Listening examples: Usher's "Burn" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8qwkIX23VQ) and Ne-yo's "So Sick" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QD_sMYhbnU) represent typical R&B songs that highlight the characteristic drum beats and smooth sounding voices.
III. Country music
Characteristics: The roots of country music stem from folk music, blues, gospel, and Celtic music. The music typically features guitars, drums, banjo, harmonicas, and mandolins. Although country music is sometimes considered synonymous with "western" music, the origins arise from the East coast, such as Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The lyrics often relate to every day life activities in great detail and the voice is often the focus of the song.
Listening examples: Faith Hill's "Breathe" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIp9vmH6ZYM) and Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T56vLzS5i5w) are good examples of country songs because they display the common guitar playing and the lyrics are stylistically country.
Other comments: There are many subgenres of country music. A few include country folk, Nashville Sound, Outlaw Country and Honky tonk.
IV. Rock music
Characteristics: Rock music is often identified by the instrumentation: guitar, drums and bass. Often times the music is "heavy" sounding and is enhanced by synthesizers and other electronic equipment. The melody is often followed by the harmonies of the electric guitar. There are different kinds of rock including a mellower soft rock in contrast to heavy metal style rock and emo punk rock.
Listening examples: Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW4VVVXSiEw) and Green Day's "American Idiot" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h4o8O_99XI) showcase the common instrumentation of rock--guitar, and drums, and bass.
