Tommy Cronin Music Blog

     When most people think about music, they usually focus on the artist who wrote the song. But honestly, performers are just as important. They’re the ones who actually bring the music to life and make it something people can connect with. A really good example of this is The Piano Guys. They take already existing songs and turn them into something completely different by mixing classical instruments with modern music.           The Piano Guys are from Utah, and they are made up of pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, producer Al van der Beek, and videographer Paul Anderson. They first started out making videos in a piano store, but once they began posting on YouTube, they blew up pretty quickly. What makes them stand out is how they mix classical music with pop songs and add really cinematic videos. Instead of just playing music, they turn it into a full experience, which is a big reason why they’ve gotten so popular. ...

     When most people think about music, genres and styles like rap, pop, and country often come to mind, especially in North America, if you travel down south, however, you will find a different style of music. A blend between African rhythms and Spanish Melodies create an incredible sound that is energetic and groovy, but also filled with rich culture and history. This music I am describing is the Music of Cuba.      The music of Cuba has its own unique sound because like I mentioned, African traditions bring the element of complex rhythms and special percussions, while the Spanish influences the guitar and also the melody. Unlike lots of music that we hear on a daily basis, the music of Cuba tells the stories of every day life, it is not as much for entertaining purposes. The music is mainly used during celebrations, storytellings, and community gatherings. This makes the music very important to the culture and shapes how it is created and performed. Cha...

    Music is always evolving, whether its the instruments, the artists, the genres, and many other things. Technology and personal taste are constantly changing and the music adapts with it. Music genres are no different. Sometimes, in genres, the most interesting sounds come from mixing completely different styles together. One genre that shows this really well is country rap, sometimes called “hick-hop.” Country rap blends the storytelling and rural themes of country music with the beats and vocal style of hip-hop. Over time the genre has changed a lot, especially in production and popularity. By comparing earlier country rap with modern country rap, we can see how the genre moved from Point A to Point B.      One of the earlier songs that helped bring attention to country rap is “Deliverance” by Bubba Sparxxx (2003, United States)( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9pX1R0nJXg ).  This song mixes hip-hop with strong Southern and country influences. On...