Dr. Terri Mitchell
1. Give a brief definition of the following: a rhythm b. beat c. melody d. harmony
2. Explain how Ragtime music combines the elements of both Europe and Africa.
3. What are the instruments found in a standard rhythm section?
4. How did the minstrel show change after the Civil War?
5. How did musicians make money prior to the 1900s?
6. Who was one of the most important songwriter in the 19th century? What styles did he compose in?
7. How was the music of the minstrel show different from other forms of popular song? What new ideas did it introduce into popular music?
8. What were both positive and negative contributions of the minstrel show in American life and popular song? (at last 2 each!)
9. How did James Reese Europe influence popular music? What dance did he help popularize?
10. What are the three main sources of popular music? What did each contribute to the popular sound?
11. What is meant by the blues form? Discuss the harmonic form and how the text (words) are organized.
12. Who was Bessie Smith? What style of music is associated with her and what are 3 contributions she made to popular music?
13. How did ragtime change the way African American composers viewed their own music?
14. What kinds of stage entertainment became popular after the Civil War?
15. What was the role of the concert band in the development of popular music?