The Musical Roots of the Surf Sound (Elementary School)

In this lesson students will investigate the history of surfing and surf culture, and discover the musical characteristics of Surf Rock by visiting four listening stations featuring Chuck Berry-inspired electric guitar riffs, rich vocal harmonies, a production aesthetic influenced by Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” recordings,  and the liberal use of “reverb” effects facilitated by technical innovations to Fender amplifiers in the early 1960s.