N4 Popular Music

Find definitions and examples for concepts introduced at National 4 level for American Music.

Here are the different catagories:

Instrumental Music

Vocal Music

Music Styles

Tempo,Dynamics, Rhythms and Notation

Learner Revision 

Instrumental Music- Saxophone

This Instrument belongs to the woodwind family. It uses a single reed which is attached to a plastic mouthpiece. This is placed between the lips, and the air travels between the reed and plastic mouthpiece, and into the instrument. The Saxphone can be heard in Orchestras, Big bands, Jazz groups, Wind Bands and pop groups.

Here is an example.

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Instrumental Music- Trumpet

This instrument belows to the brass family. Air vibrates through a players lips, into a mouthpiece which is connected to the instrument. The trumpet is the smallest and highest instrument in the brass family. 

 Here is an example.

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Instrumental Music- Trombone

This instrument belongs to the brass family.  Air vibrates through a players  lips into a mouthpiece which is connected to the instrument. Trombones are very good at doing a glissando.  It is the only brass instrument that has a slide instead of valves.  
            
Here is an example.

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Instrumental Music- Tambourine

This instrument belongs to the percussion family. It has a wooden or plastic frame, pairs of metal jingles attached, and is mostly played by the hand striking or shaking the instrument. It is untuned as it cannot play a range of notes.

 Here is an example.

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Check out the moves on this Tambourine player!!!

Instrumental Music- Triangle

This instrument belongs to the percussion family. A piece of metal in the shape of a triangle, open at one corner, and struck with a metal beater. It is an untuned percussion instruments as it cannot play a range of notes.

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The Hi hat Cymbals are on the left of this picture- Notice also the Hi hat stand just below the Cymbals. This is the pedal that you open or close.






Look at this Video on the right to see an unbelievable drum solo featuring the Hi hat Cymbals.

Instrumental Music- Drum-kit(Hi Hat)

These belong to the percussion family. Used as part of a drum kit, they consist of two cymbals (one upside-down) that are hit with a stick or brush, and opened/closed with a foot pedal.

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Music Styles

Ragtime

A style of dance music which became popular at the end of the 19th century and which helped to influence jazz. It features a strongly syncopated melody (meaning the notes don’t always fall on the beat) against a steady, simple accompaniment played as a vamp.         

Here is an example                     

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Vocal Music- Backing Vocals

Backing Vocals

Singers who support the lead singer(s), usually by singing in harmony in the background.

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Music Styles

Swing

A jazz style which started in the 1930s and was performed by a big band. The numbers and types of instruments in the big bands increased during this period, through the influence of swing.

Glenn Miller was one of the leading figures in swing music.

Here is an example

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Vocal Music- Scat Singing

Nonsense words, syllables and sounds are improvised (made up) by the singer. Sometimes the singer is imitating the sounds of instruments. Used mainly in jazz singing.

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Here is the very famous Ella Fitzgerald. She was a very influential singer in the Jazz scene. Listen to here unbelievable scat singing!

Tempo

Rallentando

The tempo (speed) of the music gradually slows down.

(Abbreviation 'rall'.)

Rhythms

Syncopation

Strongly accented notes playing off or against the beat. Syncopation occurs in all kinds of music.

In the first example (see notation), the notes are played at the same time as each beat.

Dynamics

Mezzo Forte

Mezzo forte (or mf) stands for fairly loud volume.

Notes

Dotted Rhythm

A long note followed by a shorter one or a short note followed by a longer one, as in a Scotch snap. Often used in a Strathspey.

National 4 Popular Music Quiz

Now that you have learned all of the concepts at N4 level, see how well you know them by taking the online test! 

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