Tired of not knowing which bands/genres your friends are talking about? Or are you trying to find inspiration for your new musical style?

This course will guide you through the history of popular music from the 1950s to the 2000s, from Blues to Nirvana, and everything in between!

With curated Spotify playlists included, never again will you not have something to say when a conversation strikes up about music; you’ll be armed with musical trivia, facts, and knowledge of the key historical events that influenced iconic genres and artists.

Spotted the “retro” trend in music recently? Well, maybe you’ll find the “next big thing” hidden in our musical past.

Designed for anyone with an interest in popular music, for each genre you’ll learn:

• The defining characteristics

• Key artists

• Socio-economic influences

• Origins and legacy

Genres & artists covered include:

• Rhythm & Blues

• Country & Western

• Jazz

• Rockabilly

• Rock ‘n’ Roll

• Soul

• Motown

• Surf Rock

• Folk Rock

• The Beatles

• Psychedelic Rock

• Progressive Rock

• Heavy Metal

• Glam Rock

• Punk Rock

• Hip Hop

• House

• Techno

• Nirvana

• Drum & Bass

Boost your curiosity, explore your passion, and develop your cultural knowledge

We can learn so much from every single genre - whether it's a moral lesson from Bob Dylan and the Folk Rock movement, or a political lesson from the Sex Pistols and Punk Rock, or even a lesson in fun from the Glam Rockers.

Overview of the Course

Our course is aimed at anyone with an interest in the history of popular music. Whether you are in a band looking for a new style/sound, or just after some tasty pop trivia to wow your friends with, this is the course for you.

As you begin the course, you’ll look at Blues, Country, and Jazz: the early influencers of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the first true popular music genre. You’ll then be taken on an auditory adventure through time, looking at each genre under a magnifying glass, and examining the key artists, characteristics, and influences.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of where popular music comes from, and why it needs to exist, and you’ll have an arsenal of fun facts to share with your friends.

The Instructors

Jonathan Armandary taught Popular Music History at Leeds College of Music and has toured Europe in bands, as well as being an award-winning composer.

Tomas George has a MMus Masters Degree in Music Production and a BA(Hons) Degree in Music Composition. He is also the creator of some of the world's most popular music production courses - with over 275,000 students

You! You and your fellow students are an integral part of the course. By sharing your favourite bands, artists, and knowledge, you’ll help yourselves and others to expand your musical horizons.

Go ahead and click the enroll button, and we'll see you in lesson 1!