The Roots of

American Pop
Music
The Musical DNA of American Pop
Music can be traced back to Africa.
Like DNA, pop music has “building blocks”
that can be traced back to African music:
Percussion instruments

Syncopated rhythms
Got it?
Got it!

Call and response form

Polyrhythms
Expresses different emotions and/or
teaches a lesson
Folksong from Ghana
 Kids are play - ing.

Pine - ap - ple, pine - ap -ple, gua - va

Better watch your step there, Mis - ter!

So sor - ry! So sor - ry!

 Juba
Juba this and Juba that,
Juba killed the yellow cat.
Bend over double trouble Juba.
Ah, ah, Juba.
We bake the bread
and you give us the crust.
We beat the corn
and you give us the husk.
We cook the pig
and you give us the skin,
And that’s when my Momma’s trouble begins.
I say Juba (Juba),
 Spirituals
&

Coded Messages
 Follow the Drinking Gourd
Find the
hidden Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd
messages
For the old man is a-waitin' to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

[Verse 1]
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
The old man is a-waitin' for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd

[Verse 2]
Now the river bed makes a mighty fine road
Dead trees to show you the way
And it's left foot, peg foot, traveling on
Follow the drinking gourd

[Verse 3]
The river ends between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd The Tombigbee River meets the Ohio River
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinking gourd
Ostinato #1: Ostinato #2:
8
6
After 1st and 2nd “Follow” - 3 Two times
E B E B E’ 7
3 7 3 7 0 5
After 3rd “Follow” - 3 Two times
This week...
A. Tell everyone what
REALLY makes you sad.
I got a ton of homework,
No way I’ll get it all done.

A. Tell everyone what

REALLY makes you sad
AGAIN!
Said I got a big ol’ ton of homework,
No way I’ll get it all done.

B. Keep telling the story

and end with a rhyme.
I’m stuck here in my room
While ev’ryone else is havin’ fun.
Virtual Xylophone (VX) Play the 12-Bar Blues!
Blues
Formula I I I I
Root of
Chord C C C C
Root of
Chord on VX
1 1 1 1

1V 1V I I
F F C C
4 4 1 1

V IV I I
G F C C
5 4 1 1
 Improvise in the 12-Bar Blues!
Blues
Formula I I I I
E E E E
2 2 2 2

1V 1V I I
A A E E
4 4 2 2

V IV I I
B A E E
6 4 2 2
BL
T
U
H
E
E
S
N
B
L N
U O
E W
S