Popular Music Theory exam (popular music from 1950)

[Colashark]

Hi All,

I'm currently studying for my Grade8 Popular Music Theory exam with the London College of Music here in the UK. Basically there are 6 sections, these are:

1 Scales and Keys
2 Chords
3 Rhythm Notation
4 Knowledge of Popular Music
5 Harmony
6 Transposition

For sections 1,2,3,5 and 7 i am working on the things that are likely to be asked in the exam and am confident that i'm ready to sit my exam now, it is section 4 that is more a question of research than knowledge of music theory.

I have the grade 8 handbook with what is required for the exam so am wondering if anyone (JonR ?) can help or point me in the right direction, i will write out what the handbook suggests is required:

"Section 4 - Popular music.

A good knowledge of the history of popular music from 1950, including an in depth knowledge and understanding of popular music styles, grade 8 requires a detailed knowledge of:

a) At least 2 different styles of popular music, so you should research the following information:

i)the main features of each style
ii)the main exponents of each style
iii)when each style was developed and played
iv)how each style developed
v)how the styles have been influenced by musicians who were active before 1950
vi)how the styles have been influenced by technical innovations
vii)how the styles have been influenced by societal context
viii)how the styles have been influenced by other forms of music.

b) The careers of at least 3 groups, vocalists or instrumentalists (one should be well-known for more than one style of music), you should research the following information:

i)dates of the musicians' careers
ii)the main features of any musical styles played
iii)how the styles developed
iv)same as a v
v)how technical innovations have influenced the style of music
vi)how the musicians contributed to the development of a style of music
vii)how their musical styles have been influenced by societal context
viii)how their musical styles have been influenced by other forms of music


All of the questions in the exam will be selected from the above list.


Basically i'm not really up to speed on the music of the 1950's, i'm not adverse to doing the research required (this section is worth 15% of the final marks) but would be grateful for any suggestions of artists that would be interesting to look into. Maybe some blues or jazz musicians from that era that could be desribed as innovators and would supply answers to the required questions if i do my research ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul.

[Colashark]

*For sections 1,2,3,5 and 6

is what i mean to avoid any confusion.

Thanks

[JonR]

It says "history of popular music from 1950" (assuming this is a direct quote).
I take this to mean "beginning in 1950" - IOW up to the present day. It doesn't mean "music of the 1950s". You can pick any 2 styles you like, from any time in the last 57 years!

However, you also need to state "how the styles have been influenced by musicians who were active before 1950".
Obviously the more recent the styles, the more tenuous the link... ;)
But I'd say, for any kind of rock music, you need to look at 1940s R&B artists like Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters. Rock'n'roll came from them.
Maybe also country acts like Bob Wills, Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers.

[John The Wolf]

definatly talk about elvis, the information about him is flooding the net and he's been intronised in the blues hall of fame, the rock hall of fame AND in the gospel hall of fame so there you go, you got your artist influent in more then one domain