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African American Music Unit Test

Total questions: 33

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When a soloist sings a line and the group answers in echo behind them, it is called:

(a)  

2.

Slaves working in the fields would often sing this type of work song:

(a)  

3.

Slaves were taught Christianity in hopes that they'd be more _____. Instead, it gave them hope.

a)

Obstinate

b)

Obedient

c)

Oblivious

d)

Ostentatious

4.

Label these lyrics with the most likely genre they would fit into:

5.

Spirituals were often used by slaves as code songs to accomplish what task:

a)

Let each other know when the slave owners were coming

b)

Share stories and gossip

c)

Alert each other of plans to escape

d)

Communicate with their ancestors

6.

Match the following Spiritual with it's coded message:

a)

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

1.

prepare for escape

b)

"Wade in the Water"

2.

dogs can't track scent in the river

c)

"Follow the Drinking Gourd"

3.

the north star in the "big dipper"

d)

"Bound for the Promised Land"

4.

escape to the north/Canada

7.

What is the name of this ensemble that became successful singing African American Spirituals?

8.

Spirituals were performed:

a)

A Cappella

b)

With organ and tambourine

c)

With guitar and harmonica

d)

Only in church

9.

Besides Memphis, TN and the Mississippi Delta, another prominent city in Blues history is:

a)

Bronx, NY

b)

Chicago, IL

c)

Harlem, NY

d)

New Orleans, LA

10.

Two artists we discussed who are Blues legends are:

11.

What is the difference in sound between Delta Blues and Chicago Blues?

a)

Improvised vs. Rehearsed

b)

Acoustic vs. Electrified

c)

Electrified vs. Acoustic

d)

Featured Larger Groups vs. Featured Smaller Groups

12.

A prominent chord progression in music using the pattern: I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-V is called ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
12-Bar Blues
12-Tone Theory
12-Measure Beats
12-Blues Beat
13.

The first two instruments used in Blues music were ​ (a)   and ​ (b)  

Choose from the below words
guitar
harmonica
banjo
piano
tambourine
14.

What city is considered the birthplace of Jazz?

a)

Harlem, NY

b)

Chicago, IL

c)

Detroit, MI

d)

New Orleans, LA

15.

Which is NOT a reason that New Orleans was such an ideal place for Jazz to develop?

a)

It was a port city

b)

Segregation mixed the creoles and the slaves

c)

The mayor was interested in establishing a new art form

d)

Many festivals in the city and a need for musicians

16.

Choose THREE artist names from the options below and label the picture.

17.

You would NOT typically hear a​ (a)   ​ in a jazz band?

Choose from the below words
mandolin
trombone
bass
saxophone
drum
18.

Improvisation means:

a)

Accenting the off-beat

b)

Not reading note for note from a score of sheet music

c)

Singing with vibrato

d)

Singing without instruments

19.

Syncopation is:

a)

Accenting the off-beat

b)

Singing with vibrato

c)

Making it up as you go

d)

Singing without instruments

20.

Gospel could be considered a combination of which two forms of African American music?

a)

Spirituals and Jazz

b)

Hip-Hop and Spirituals

c)

Jazz and Blues

d)

Blues and Spirituals

21.

Who created gospel music?

a)

B.B. King

b)

Mahalia Jackson

c)

Aretha Franklin

d)

Thomas Dorsey

22.

Why were some people upset about Gospel music at first?

a)

They didn't like the instruments

b)

They thought it was too fast

c)

They didn't think it belonged in the church

d)

They didn't like the lyrics

23.

Which instruments will you most likely hear in Gospel music?

a)

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Organ, Tambourine

b)

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Harmonica

c)

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Violin

d)

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Saxophone

24.

Two ways Gospel singers use their bodies when they perform are:

(a)  

25.

Hip-Hop began in the ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
1970s
1950s
1960s
1980s
1990s
26.

Where did Hip-Hop as we know it today begin?

a)

Atlanta, GA

b)

Los Angeles, CA

c)

Detroit, MI

d)

Bronx, NY

27.

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental element of Hip-Hop?

a)

B-Boying

b)

DJing

c)

Twerking

d)

Graffiti

28.

DJ Kool Herc performed in exclusive clubs in Manhattan, shunning his Bronx neighborhood in hopes he would be famous.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

29.

What idea did Sylvia Robinson have that took Hip Hop to a new level?

a)

Include female rappers/MCs to diversify the music.

b)

Record hip hop and release it on an album.

c)

Add dancers to the stage show to make it more entertaining.

d)

Take hip hop on tour across the US to generate more interest in the music.

30.

Gangsta Rap is typically known for it's socially conscious, feminist, non-violent lyrical content

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

31.

In music, sampling means:

a)

Using someone else's lyrics and claiming them as your own in your song.

b)

Mixing genres of music hip-hop and country to create a new genre.

c)

Lip-syncing a part that is out or your range while another singer actually performs for the recording.

d)

Including part of a pre-existing recording by someone else in your work (rhythm/ melody/beat/vocals speech)

32.

Match the following by their genre:

a)
1.

jazz

b)
2.

blues

c)
3.

gospel

d)
4.

hip-hop

e)
5.

spiritual

33.

Listen to the following example - would you categorize it as gospel or spiritual?

a)

Spiritual

b)

Gospel