Intro (5 minutes)
The United States of America is a country where many cultures come together making it hard to define a specific type of music that represents its true diversity. However, modern rock and roll has diversity that shows the multiplicity of American culture as expressed through music. Although originating from the blues, jazz, and other outside influences, American rock music has become a popular phenomenon that has developed out of modernity as well. I would pick this music to represent America because of it has arguably the most different cultural influences. By modern, I mean rock music from the late 1980's to the present.

Instrumentation (10 minutes)
I would begin by talking about the typical instrumental arrangement of a rock band. Usually there is a western drum set, consisting of three tom drums, one snare drum, one or two bass drums, and anywhere from two to eight cymbals. The drums are played with wooden sticks, except for the bass drum and the high hat cymbal, which are played with foot petals. Most bands have one electric bass guitar, but some have stand up bass or no bass at all. Most modern bands have one or two electric guitars and play acoustic guitar on some of their softer songs. Some bands have a keyboard player or mixer as well. A lot of times there is a designated lead singer who does not play an instrument, but sometimes people playing instruments sing lead and back up vocals.

ex. Avenged Sevenfold "Bat Country" (2 electric guitars, drums, electric bass, lead singer)
White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" (drums, 1 guitar + vocals)

Song form (10 minutes)
Typical popular rock songs follow verse-chorus form. Many songs are strophic, repeating the same melody with slight variation. The texture of the typical rock song is homophonic, with a lead singing part supported by back up singing and the instruments. However, this becomes slightly more complicated in certain genres. Sometimes the guitar can be playing a melody with ornamentation, making it heterophonic. Most songs are not polyphonic because they have a lead singing part.

Guns and Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" (heterophonic)
Green Day "When I Come Around" (homophonic)


Aesthetics (15 minutes)
Each band dresses differently depending on the type of rock music they play. Tight pants and long hair are two traits commonly associated with rock music, but many band members in modern times have shorter hair and do not necessarily wear tight clothing. A lot of bands wear shirts of other bands that were their influences. The worst thing to do if you are a rock band is wear your own shirt. People lose respect for bands that do that. Most rock concerts are performed in a performance stage setting, with a clear division between the audience and the band. A band’s stage show highly depends on the type of music they play. For example, a metal show often involves flashing lights, fire, smoke, and a lot of movement on stage, while an indie show may be more “laid back,” with fewer lights and less stage movement.

Bullet for my Valentine picture (Metal aesthetic)
The Killers picture(alternative aesthetic)

Audience Interaction (15 minutes)
The interaction of the audience depends on the type of rock music as well. Audience members typically sing along with the songs they know and rock their heads back and forth with the rhythm while pumping their fists in the air or displaying the universal “rock on” symbol with their ring finger and pinkie. Some concerts involve “mosh pits,” where people form a circle and run into each other, ideally without knocking anyone over. For audience members, rock music plays a large part in personal identity. A person is partially judged by the music that he likes and listens to because there are certain stereotypes associated with people that listen to each genre.

Video: Thrice show (mosh pit)
Video: Lighter wave (softer songs)

Cultural Implications (20 minutes)

Rock music is a large part of American culture, including advertising, politics, business, etc.

Politics: ex. Rock Against Bush
A bunch of punk bands got together and made a CD of songs that criticize bush before the 2004 election. Many bands use the stage as a political platform to express their views and criticisms.
ex. G8 summit concerts organized by Bono from U2
Famous bands came together to play to demonstrate their support for Bono's ultimatum for the G8 summit and what it should accomplish.

Advertising/Business
ex. Car commercials
Car commercials often play rock songs to make their cars seem more "hip" or "cool." Rock Music has become a widely used tool for advertising and business to sell and promote products. Many people feel that bands are "selling out" if they give their music to advertising, and to a certain extent they are. It is a fine line between "selling out" and making popular music that sells a lot.

Culture
ex. Carlos Santana featuring Rob Thomas "Smooth"
This is just one example of how rock music is influenced by outside sources. Carlos Santana originally played music in Mexico, but became very popular in the US, incorporating Latin jazz into rock music.

Drugs
Drugs are often associated with Rock and Roll music, and the reality is that many people associated with it do use them. However, it is important not to stereotype because there are many "straight-edge" rockers who do not even drink alcohol. In fact, there is a whole genre of music dedicated to this principle alone.

Genres (35 minutes)

Punk Music: Originated in the 70's with bands such as the Ramones, and the Talking Heads. Oriented around simple chord patterns and melodies with distorted guitar. Songs are short with busy upbeat drum rhythms.
ex. “Prayer of the Refugee” by Rise Against shows an example of harder melodic punk music that has been influenced by metal.

Indie Rock: Also originated in the 70's as a spin off of punk music with bands such as REM. This music is very popular on college campuses. Usually the guitar is clean. The music is oriented around simple melodies with rhythmic variation in the guitar and drums. Sometimes keyboards are used.
ex. “Gone for Good” by the Shins. (talk about influence of country blues)

Alternative Rock: This category is very large, including pretty much anything that does not fall under one of the more specific categories of rock music.
“Read my Mind” by the Killers would represent the new trend for synthesizers that is coming back into modern rock.

Metal: Metal has loud distorted guitars and upbeat drumbeats. Songs are usually longer and more complicated than typical rock songs. There is a focus on the lower ranges and higher ranges of sound, also called the "scoop" sound. Many songs are heterophonic in this genre. There is also a genre called Metalcore, which has screaming instead of singing and more intense paced music.
Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” (popularization of metal music)
Trivium "A Shot to the Head of Trepidation" (metalcore)

Grunge: Consists of loud distorted guitar with simple melodies that do not have ornamentation. Related to punk music, but slower paced and grittier singing style.
“Smells like Teen Spirit.”

Conclusion
American Rock music embodies many ideals and many cultures that represent the diversity of American culture. The constant cycle of outside influences makes it an ever evolving genre of music with many different sub-genres that are evolving as well. There is no other music in American culture that shows such diversity and remains popular today. Rock music will continue to change and adapt for many years a come, making it a mainstay in American popular culture.