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ScotlandMusic Technology

Developing Understanding of 20th and 21st Century Music

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the early 20th century genres and styles in SQA Higher Music Technology, and how do you recognise ragtime, blues, jazz, swing and big band by ear?

Recognising early 20th century genres and styles: ragtime, blues, jazz, swing and big band, their key features, instrumentation and place in the timeline of 20th century music.
Early 20th century genres and styles for SQA Higher Music Technology: ragtime, blues, jazz, swing and big band, their defining features (syncopation, the 12-bar blues, improvisation, the swung rhythm, the big band lineup) and how to recognise each in the listening exam.
13 min answer →

What are the electronic and contemporary genres in SQA Higher Music Technology, and how do you recognise synth pop, dance music, hip hop and R&B by ear?

Recognising electronic and contemporary genres: synth pop, house, techno and dance music (EDM), hip hop and rap, drum and bass, and contemporary R&B, their key features and the technology behind them.
Electronic and contemporary genres for SQA Higher Music Technology: synth pop, house, techno and dance music (EDM), hip hop and rap, drum and bass, and contemporary R&B, with the defining sounds, rhythms and production techniques that let you recognise each by ear.
14 min answer →

What are the rock and pop genres in SQA Higher Music Technology, and how do you recognise rock 'n' roll, rock, pop, soul, disco, funk, reggae and punk by ear?

Recognising rock and pop genres and styles: rock 'n' roll, rock, pop, soul and Motown, funk, disco, reggae, punk, new wave and indie, their key features and instrumentation.
Rock and pop genres and styles for SQA Higher Music Technology: rock 'n' roll, rock, pop, soul and Motown, funk, disco, reggae, punk, new wave and indie, with the defining features, instrumentation and rhythms that let you recognise each in the listening exam.
14 min answer →

What music concepts must you identify by ear for SQA Higher Music Technology, and how do melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, texture and structure help you describe an extract?

Identifying music concepts by ear: melody, harmony, rhythm and tempo, timbre and dynamics, and texture and structure, the listening vocabulary used to describe and analyse 20th and 21st century music.
The examinable music concepts for SQA Higher Music Technology: melody, harmony, rhythm and tempo, timbre and dynamics, and texture and structure, the listening vocabulary used to identify features by ear and describe 20th and 21st century music in the question paper.
14 min answer →

What Scottish and world music styles appear in SQA Higher Music Technology, and how do you recognise Scottish/Celtic music and world music by ear?

Recognising Scottish and world music styles: Scottish traditional and Celtic styles (including Celtic rock and folk) and world music, their characteristic instruments, idioms and how they appear in 20th and 21st century music.
Scottish and world music styles for SQA Higher Music Technology: Scottish traditional and Celtic music (jigs, reels, the pipes and fiddle, Celtic rock and folk) and world music, with the instruments, idioms and rhythms that let you recognise them in the listening exam.
13 min answer →

How have technological developments shaped 20th and 21st century music, and how do you explain the link between technology and musical style for SQA Higher Music Technology?

Explaining how technological developments relate to 20th and 21st century music: how recording, amplification, electronic instruments, multitrack, sampling, MIDI, the DAW and digital distribution changed how music was made and heard.
How technological developments shaped 20th and 21st century music for SQA Higher Music Technology: recording and amplification, electric and electronic instruments, multitrack recording, sampling and drum machines, MIDI, the DAW, and digital distribution and streaming, and how each changed musical style.
14 min answer →