V-Cert Music Technology
Producing Dance Music
UNIT 6 – Stage 1
Samuel Ondercin
NAME…………………………………………………………..
YOU WILL: Understand key features of dance music styles and structures
UNIT 1: Marking
Criteria
Pass
Merit
Distinction
1.1 - Identify the main dance 􏰀 music
styles
Candidates identify the main 􏰀 dance
music styles
No Merit for this AC
No Distinction for this AC
1.2 - Identify musical and cultural
developments that have influenced
the main dance music styles
Candidates identify musical and
cultural developments that have
influenced the main styles of dance
music
No Merit for this AC
No Distinction for this AC
1.3 - Describe the main rhythmic
features common to dance music
styles
Candidates describe the main
rhythmic features common to dance
music styles
Candidates demonstrate critical
understanding of the main rhythmic
features common to dance music
styles, giving a range of examples
Candidates demonstrate critical
judgment in the exploration of a
range of rhythmic features
1.4- Describe the main structural
features common to dance music
styles
Candidates describe the main
structural features common to
dance music styles
Candidates demonstrate critical
understanding of the main
structural features common to
dance music styles, giving a range of
examples
Candidates demonstrate critical
judgment in the exploration of a
range of structural features
1.5 - Describe the sounds and
instrumentation common to dance
music styles
Candidates describe the sounds and
instrumentation common to dance
music styles
Candidates demonstrate critical
understanding of the sounds and
instrumentation common to dance
music styles, giving a range of
examples
Candidates demonstrate critical
judgment in the exploration of a
range of sounds and
instrumentation
Producing Dance Music
1.1 – You should produce a timeline showing a variety of different styles of
popular dance music. You should include Bands/Artists from the 1970’s, 1980’s,
1990’s, 2000’s to present day.
1970s –
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
Genre - Disco
Year – 1977
1970s and 1980s
Marvin Gaye – Lets get it on
Genre – Soul / Funk
Year - 1973
1980s Depeche Mode – Just can't get enough
Genre – Synth pop
Year – 1981
Michael Jackson – Rock with you
Genre – R&B
Year - 1980
1990s a 2000s
1990s –
Elton John – Something About The Way You Look Tonight
Genre – Soft Rock
Year - 1997
Robson a Jerome - Unchained Melody
Genre – Pop
Year – 1995
Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta Paradise
Genre – West Coast Hip Hop
Year - 1995
2000s –
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg - The Next Episode
Genre – Rap
Year - 2000
The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
Genre – Hip House
Year – 2009
Kanye West – Gold Digger
Genre – R&B
Year - 2005
2015
2015 –
Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars
Genre - Funk
Year – 2015
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Genre - Disco
Year - 2015
Ellie Goulding - Love me like you do
Genre – Synthpop
Year - 2015
Producing Dance Music
1.2 – Pick a minimum of 3 bands or artists from your timeline and give specific
details about them. For example you could name some of their songs/tracks.
You should also try to give some specific musical characteristics of the tracks.
Coolio
Songs/Track • Gangsta Paradise
• 1,2,3,4
s
•
Rollin with my homies
Michael Jackson
•
•
•
Thriller
Beat it
Smooth criminal
Instruments Synths, Turntables,
Drums, Bass Guitar,
used
Keyboard, Computers, Piano, Lead Guitar,
Voice
Wood Block, Voice
2
interesting
facts
• Best know for writing the
Grammy wining single
Gangsters paradise
• Coolio signed to Tommy
boys record
• Part of Jackson 5
•
Two of his albums
are the most selling
albums in the world
Depeche Mode
•
•
•
Just cant get enough
Heaven
People are people
Keyboards, Guitars,
Singer(s), Drums, Flute
•
•
One of the most
successful band of their
era
They still continue to tour
today
Producing Dance Music
1.3, 1.4, 1.5 – Now think about the different styles of pop music. You should now
describe some of their key features.
TIP: Add some hyperlinks to musical examples of the style to support your
description. (feel free to change any genres listed). The table below is a guide.
You may wish to produce 1 slide per style showing your musical features.
Rhythm Feature
Structure
Instrumentation
Disco
Four-on-the-floor rhythms
with guitar driven energy
often with syncopated bass
lines
Verse and chorus
structure
Keyboard, Voice
Guitar, Drum kit,
Club Dance
four-on-the-floor rhythms
extensive use of samples and
loops syncopated riffs
Drop sections,
Instrumental sections
Computers, Drum
machines, Vocals, CD
Deck, Synths
House
Music
Four to the floor drum
rolls syncopated high
hats
Verse chorus structure,
Strong instrumental
sections,
Drum machines,
Vocals, Synths
Techno
Four to the floor
syncopated riffs
Simple harmonic
structure verse chorus
structure
Drum machines,
Vocals, Synths