There will be five listening examples on each
test. You will be asked to state:
-
the song title (not too difficult since
the lyrics usually contain the title ;-)
-
the artist/band
-
a musical characteristic based on what you hear
(This must be more than simply stating "guitar," for
example. If you happened to mention guitar, you would need
to describe what the guitar is doing--something like:
guitar is playing easy fills behind lead singer, etc.)
-
another musical characteristic, or, the
song decade (not a brainteaser on this test, but it may
become more challenging on later tests).
Most of the questions will be multiple choice.
A few will be matching or short answer. Content will be based
on the text and class lectures ... no matter how boring they
may be.
Know the time frame when rock music became
established.
Know which three musical styles merged to form rock
music, and which had the greatest influence.
Be able to describe cover and crossover
songs.
Know what Tin Pan Alley contributed.
Be familiar with what the Majors were.
Know who the Big Six rock artists in the '50s
were, and something about each one.
Be familiar with the origins of the term "to
rock."
Know who was the premier rock deejay in the '50s.
Have a handle on what song is considered by some
rock historians to be the first rock tune.
Be able to name artists associated with each of the
three styles which merged to form rock.
You will be given a list of musical characteristics
of the various '50s styles. Be able to match each list with
the appropriate genre.
Know what key ingredient resulted in the development
of rock as a separate style.
Be familiar with the entity known as the 12-bar
blues progression (in terms of its general makeup). You won't
have to be a music major to get this one.
Be able to identify the first rock tune to make its
impact on the national popular market (No. 15 on Billboard's
best-selling list).
Know what rock tune was catapulted to fame via the
movie, The Blackboard Jungle.
Be able to identify the contribution that rhythm
made to rock music.
Be familiar with the primary characteristics of the doo-wop
style.
