Lesson: Types of Popular Music

Level: Primary and Middle

Objective: Introduce the musical genres of bluegrass, country, R&B, blues, folk, rap, and rock.
Students will be able to identify different styles of music and musical instruments.

Core Content:

AH-E-1.1.38            AH-M-1.1.38
AH-E-1.1.39            AH-M-1.1.39
AH-E-1.2.32            AH-M-1.1.310
                              AH-M-1.2.32
Assessment: Students will identify individual instruments and classify them according to family. Students should
be able to distinguish between musical forms and compare them verbally. (For middle school students): Students 
should be able to suggest examples of how specific music styles reflect culture, time and place.
           
Lesson Description: Play a sample song from each genre once, and ask students to listen for the 
following musical instruments: (for primary): guitar, fiddle/violin, harmonica, drums, saxophone. (For middle 
add): electric guitar, bass, piano.

Discuss how the same instrument can sound different ways depending on how it is played. Discuss the 
similarities and differences in genres. Play the samples again and ask students to identify the musical style. (For
middle): Divide students into groups and assign each a song.  Have students analyze and deliver oral reports on 
the meaning of the lyrics and/or the time and place in which a song was created. 
Materials needed for this lesson: Samples of songs from the various musical genres and a tape or CD player. 
Some music collections may be available from your public library. Suggested songs:
  • Bluegrass: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" - Bill Monroe
  • Country: "Keep on the Sunny Side" - The Carter Family
  • Blues: "Stormy Monday" - B.B. King or "Crossroads" - Robert Johnson
  • R&B: "Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding
  • Rap: "The Message" - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (This song does not contain explicit lyrics but it does refer to the reality of inner city life. Listen to the lyrics before playing it for your older students.)
  • Rock: "Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Bill Haley and the Comets
  • Folk: "Barbara Allen" - Jean Ritchie
Suggested followup activity: Contact the Kentucky Historical Society for a list of local musicians. Invite one or two to the school to demonstrate. Lesson by Amber Ridington and Jennifer Small, Program in Folk Studies, Western Kentucky University.