Year 9 Autumn term Knowledge Organiser for Music
What is Hip-hop? Origins and History of Hip-Hop
Hip-hop music focuses on rhythm rather than melody Rap, as it is known today, began in New York. When and harmony. It is characterised by: Jamaican sound system culture arrived there in the late 1970s, rapping it had a history of MCs toasting - speaking over tracks played by the DJ - to entertain the crowd and keep them engaged. use of samples From this, a new style of music emerged, known as hip-hop. use of programmed beats Hip-hop gave the world some of the first popular rappers, DJing along with beats made by DJs scratching and cutting together parts of records. What is Rapping? A whole culture was created around hip-hop, with graffiti art Rapping is rhythmical, rhyming, semi-spoken recitation. and B-boys dancing to the music. Often the lead vocal is joined by another member of the Rappers combined rhymes with beats to make entertaining group who: music for parties. These lyrics would often brag about being doubles the last word of some lines the best MC, and rap battles became a way for two MCs to decide who was the crowd’s favourite. adds answering phrases As rap progressed, rappers moved from simple rhymes to adds spoken ad libs more complex lyrical patterns, including poetic techniques Hip-hop Key Terms like internal rhyming or assonance. Rakim and Big Daddy Kane were some of the first artists to use this more lyrical Key Term Definition style, which paved the way for global superstars like Tupac, MC Master of Ceremonies, another term for a rapper. Biggie Smalls, Nas and Jay-Z. Taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and Rap broke through into the UK in the 1970s and 80s. The Sampling reusing it as an instrument or a sound in a different song. London Posse and the Cookie Crew were two successful early British rap groups. Beat The pulse/heart rate of the music. The low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a low Bass Line Key Hip-hop and Rap Artists pitched instrument. Vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum Post Malone, Khalid, Drake, Lil Nas X, Travis Scott, Juice WRLD, DaBaby, Beatboxing machines with the mouth. Cardi B, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z. Year 9 Autumn term Knowledge Organiser for Music
Sampler DJing Key Terms
A sampler is a device that can take any sound that is put Key Term Definition into it, process it and play it back. Mixing When records are mixed together. A sample is a digitally recorded fragment of sound: it could Changing the speed at which a record is played be a bass guitar riff, a song chorus, the sound of breaking Beatmatching so that its tempo matches that of the song glass, or indeed anything. currently playing. Cueing Finding a suitable point on a record to mix in. Beatboxing Sounds When a DJ uses the equaliser to create a more Blending Sound Sounds like a seamless sounding mix. ‘B’ Kick Drum Pitch Shifting Changing the speed of the record. ‘T’ Closed Hi-hat Moving a vinyl record back and forth, using ‘K’ Closed Hi-hat Scratching different cross fader techniques to cut sound in and out. ‘Ts’ Open Hi-hat The act of manipulating two or more samples in Beat juggling ‘P/pf’ Snare Drum order to create a unique composition. ‘Chish’ Crash Cymbal When a digital sampler is used to repeat a Looping Use Boots and Cats as your starting point to beatboxing and develop from there. sample over and over again.
Rap Key Terms
Key Term Definition Couplet A pair of rhyming words. Internal Rhyme/ Assonance Matching the sounds of words within lines as well as at the ends of each line. Grime A type of rap from the UK with high energy, electronic sounds, and new flows and rhyme patterns. Large outdoor speaker systems which originated in Jamaica and were often run by a group of DJs Sound System and MCs.
Beatboxing Vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines with the mouth. Year 9 Autumn term Knowledge Organiser for Music
Creating Beats Using Samples on BandLab Writing lyrics for a Rap
BandLab is a form of software used to create, compose and 1. Think: Choose your topic and let your imagination run wild. produce music. To get started, many artists freestyle for a bit and write down every thought, idea, and emotion that comes to mind. Use this Music software that is similar to BandLab, such as as your inspiration. GarageBand, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton, Cubase and 2. Create a hook. The basic layout for a rap is intro, verse, Audacity. chorus, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, outro. Many rappers start By pressing on ‘Browse Loops’ once launching BandLab, or writing the hook (chorus) first. The hook captures the theme of the rap, and clicking ‘Loops’ in the bottom right corner, you can use conveys its message to the audience. Rappers and lyricists in general start with this because the chorus is what people remember and take from a rap. various premade samples to create your own beats. It sets the rhythm and flow, and inspires what is said throughout the rap. 3. Write lyrics. Use the brainstorming you did along with your chorus as a guide for what you are writing about and to build onto your ideas. Keep in mind that you have to maintain a rhythm since rap is music as well as poetry, and both follow a beat. Some lyricists listen to a beat as they write to help keep their rhythm. 3. Be personal. Don’t lie in your raps about who you are, but to get your point across, you might want to use use hyperbole (an extreme exaggeration). Lines usually rhyme in couplets in a rap. Always keep your message and audience in mind. Choose a certain genre of samples and click on one to play it. Double click to add the track 4. Organize. Once you have an idea of what you want to say, organize your to your composition. ideas. Break them up into verses while you keep in mind the layout for most basic raps. Mix various samples together and experiment with different sounds. You may end up 5. Memorize. Being able to recite your words from memory allows you to producing something that is very innovative keep the flow and rhythm of your rap song. So practice, practice, practice! when you experiment. Use a variety of drums, Read and reread your piece until you’re sick of it. Play around with the bass, synthesisers and keyboard sounds. tempo to see what sounds better with your style. Don't be discouraged if you trip up on your words. Build up the textures slowly from thick to thin Rap and perform. With the rhythm down and the words in order to contrast the sections. This means engraved into your memory, you’re ready to rap. Record creating and building a variety of layers. Thin Texture Thick Texture yourself rapping in front of a crowd or even alone in your Tutorial at: https://youtu.be/72zRWpmlrr8 room, and share it on the site along with the lyrics! Year 9 Autumn term Knowledge Organiser for Music
The Elements of Music: “Mad T-shirt” Note Durations and Rhythms—Complex
Element Definition Note Symbol Technical Name Note Duration Melody The main tune or musical theme. Semibreve 4 beats
Articulation How the notes are played. Dotted Minim 3 beats Minim 2 beats Dynamics How loud and soft the volume is. Dotted Crotchet 3/4 beats Texture How the layers of sound fit together. Crotchet 1 beat Structure How sections of music are organised. 2 Quavers 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 Harmony The supporting chords used with the melody. 3 quavers in the time Triplet Instruments The apparatus used to create music. of 2 beats Rhythm The pattern of notes and their durations. Quaver 1/2 beat y Tempo How fast or slow the speed of the music is. Semiquaver 1/4 beat
Reading Music on the Stave Dynamics: Key Terms
Treble Clef: Played by the right Bass Clef: Played by the left Dynamic Symbol Italian Term Definition hand with higher pitches. hand with lower pitches. Crescendo Gradually get louder
Lines of the Stave Spaces of the Stave Diminuendo Gradually get softer Fortissimo Very Loud Right Hand E G B D F F A C E Forte Loud (Treble Every Good Boy Deserves FACE in the spaces Piano Soft Clef) Football Pianissimo Very Soft
Left The Keyboard Note Names and Pitches and Finger Numbers Hand G B D F A A C E G (Bass Green Busses Drive Fast Always All Cows Eat Grass Clef)