Etudes: The word étude is French for study, and obviously is designed for students. These are actually part of a larger body of piano solos, which includes ballades, waltzes, nocturnes and preludes. The earliest études were very technical and repetitive, but towards the mid-19^th century composers began to design études that could be used for performance as well as training. Frederic Chopin’s études are commonly regarded as the best of all time, and are the most frequently used in piano schools.

Sonata: The definitions vary depending on who you ask, but the generally accepted view is that sonatas must be from the classical period and be made up of three to four movements. This is not the official standard, but most sonatas fit this description. It’s an unaccompanied piece which means it’s not meant to be performed with any other instruments. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is probably the most well-known. Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in C and Mozart’s Alla Turca are also worth considering.

Concerto: A concerto is a larger work designed for an orchestral ensemble; a piano concerto puts the piano as the only instrument. Most concertos consist of three movements that go from fast to slow to fast, although this is not the standard. Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F is a popular piece, as are Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

Trio and Quintet: If you eventually do chamber music, the trio is one of the first genres you might work with. Trios consist of a piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello. Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major, D.929 is a favourite among students and teachers alike. Likewise, a quintet includes a piano with four other instruments; the most common combination is a piano, two violins, a viola, and a cello. The most famous piece, and one that most students come across at least once, is Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major.

When you have the budget, however, buying exclusive instrumentals may be more worth your money. Exclusive means that you pay for the rights to use the material, which in turn means that no one else can use the same track. The advantage to this is that you can be sure you get a unique sound. With royalty-free instrumentals, there’s a good chance that someone else is using the piece, and your material can sound eerily alike. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it can be an issue for people who value originality and creativity.

Price points vary for different hip hop tracks, from just a few dollars to several hundreds or thousands. It’s even possible to find the same track offered for free on one site and for an exclusive fee on another. This should be a cause for suspicion: there’s always a reason why a company would give something away. It could be that the sound quality is low, or that some of the notes are off-key. If it’s free, you can always give it a try and see for yourself. Sometimes the flaws are minor enough to fix in an editing program, and the time you spend tweaking is worth the few dollars you save.

Of course, this also means that paying for something doesn’t always mean you’ve got exclusive rights to it, although that’s the theory. When you find a good instrumental, look it up and see if it’s available somewhere else. You may find that it’s actually a royalty-free piece, or at the very least get it for less from a different dealer. You can also consider making your own beats. Both approaches are more time-consuming, but it’s an important investment—if you plan on doing this professionally eventually, you don’t want copyright troubles to get in the way.

One way around this is to use royalty-free tracks—pieces that are free for anyone to use, as opposed to exclusive tracks which can only be used once. An obvious drawback is that you’re probably not the only one using it, which can compromise originality. However, you can use editing software to tweak the sound, such as change the pitch or the tempo, so that it sounds more like your own. This is a popular solution for artists on a low budget, or those working on a demo.

Exclusive tracks give you the advantage of being the only one using the piece, which means you may not need as much editing. They cost a lot more, however, so they’re far more common among professionals. Also, if the track doesn’t quite match the song, a composer might run it through an editing program anyway.

If you have a good ear and the time to play around, you can also try making your own hip hop beats. Beat making software allows you to mix and match speeds, pitches, and other elements, as well as use a variety of simulated instruments. There are several free programs online, which can do the job if you don’t need that much functionality. If you plan on working on more projects and eventually making money off them, it might be a good idea to go for a more feature-packed paid program. Most of them offer 30-day trial versions so you can see which programs best suit your needs.

Finally, whatever your medium is, make sure you have a good set of speakers and other audio gear you might need (e.g. microphones). This ensures that you get accurate and consistent results—you don’t want your piece to sound differently from one computer to the next. When you go out and show your work to others—especially to potential partners or record labels—you want to make sure they hear it the way you intended.

Of course, as with anything that goes mainstream, not all hip hop videos are effective—a good number of them are just cashing in on the fad. One of the biggest myths is that it works wonders for your abs. It’s not entirely untrue—any exercise that makes you sweat and drives up your heart rate will burn fat if you stay at it long enough. What’s misleading is the claim that you can burn fat in your midsection by doing a certain dance move (usually akin to a crunch, but on your feet). Because you’re standing up as you do it, the effort tends to come largely from your feet, not your stomach muscles.

That being said, hip hop fitness training is effective in other ways. For instance, it’s a great source of cardio, an essential aspect of every fitness plan. Fast, upbeat dancing helps you reach your target more easily than regular dance or beginner aerobics. The trick is to challenge yourself; keep it up instead of stopping as soon as you start getting tired, which is what a lot of people do. If you’re new to exercise, start small—follow the dance for ten to fifteen minutes at a time, then add five minutes to your routine every week. As soon as a certain routine becomes too easy for you, do something different or try doing it for longer.

Your choice of music can greatly affect how well hip hop training can work for you. This is especially true if you tend to lose focus or get bored easily. Most videos come with catchy music that can keep you going for hours, but if this doesn’t work for you, try muting the video and putting your own music on. Or if you already know the moves, do it without the video and try tailoring the workout to suit your particular problem areas.

The grind basically involves two or more dancers rotating their bodies while staying very close together, touching at times. Obviously there are sexual undertones to this move, and that’s what most people notice when they first see it done. It doesn’t help that grinders are often seen in night clubs. But the hip hop grind isn’t just an outlet for youngsters’ raging hormones. Depending on how you see it, the move can be a test of flexibility and balance, a show of rhythm to match that of the music, or the core of a really good workout routine.

A common variation is “freak dancing,” or “freaking” to some circles. It’s basically the grind in a form that’s less inhibited and more daring—and almost expectedly, more popular in younger crowds. Think of it as a beat-driven and energy-fueled version of dirty dancing. If you have the energy for it and the right music is playing, this is one move you’ll want to try at least once if you’re a big hip hop fan. Of course, you’ll want to do it where appropriate—most schools have banned it from student performances and the only safe place to do it is an adult venue, such as a hip hop club or bar.

Hip hop grinding is also among a number of dance styles that have been picked up for fitness purposes. Along with pole dancing, it’s one of the most popular dances in fitness classes, mostly because of the core workout it provides. It’s especially useful for toning the abs and improving flexibility, as well as getting a good dose of cardio.

Needless to say, upbeat rap music lends itself best to hip hop grinding. Some people prefer instrumental music, while others don’t mind the words—it’s a matter of personal choice. Catchy songs work great because you can time your moves according to the beats, and if you’re doing it for fitness, there’s a lot of repetition worked in. Whatever you choose, of course, the most important thing is to get into the music and do it for fun!

Folk and hip hop are tied together by their focus on community. Both forms evolved from people wanting to identify themselves as a group, whether ethnic, social, political, or artistic. The earliest folk and hip hop songs were about the artist’s love for his own kind. They both trace their roots to everyday people airing out their thoughts about life, work, and society—and have since branched out extensively to cover every theme under the sun. Whatever’s in your head, there’s a hip hop or folk singer somewhere singing about it. It’s a testament to the universal power of music to bring people together.

To be sure, both are still separate types of music, but they share a surprising array of sentiments. For example, hip hop is generally thought to have started some 50 years ago in the African and Hispanic communities of New York, particularly the Bronx. It was a way to express one’s thoughts on cultural issues, such as racism and discrimination. Folk singers, on the other hand, wrote pieces about labour, poverty, and the struggle to keep families together. Religion and immigrant life are also common themes, especially in hip hop outside North America. These are issues that are closely linked in history; they happened to evolve and thrive in different geographical areas, but their roots are essentially the same.

With the Internet helping the spread of music along, it’s become easier to mix musical styles—and it didn’t take very long for folk and hip hop to find each other. From local acts to big international names, hip hop artists are incorporating folk elements into their music, and folk singers are teaming up with rappers to expand their repertoire. The results range from awkward to mediocre to unique and exceptional—and as is often the case in music, some like it and some do not. One thing’s for sure, though: when you listen to these songs, it’s easier to see how two seemingly separate communities can be brought together by a common desire for expression.

If you’ve hung around hip hop circles, you may have heard artists talk about flow. It’s an important part of hip hop writing. Flow refers to the way words are sung or rapped in relation to the rhythm; a good hip hop flow has the two elements in perfect unison. Some of the most memorable hip hop songs feature well-timed poetry and precise timing, with key words falling on all the right notes. It’s subtle, but it does a lot more for the music than it’s often given credit for.

One way to get your flow right is to listen to other hip hop songs, and note how the drum sequence matches the words and vice versa. Many writers come up with the words first and then try them out on different beats. The more songs you listen to, the more you’ll get a feel of what beat works with which words, taking into account the meaning and mood you have in mind. Be careful not to copy flows from existing songs; the mistake is easy enough for new writers to make, but it can be a costly one.

Rhyme is also essential to hip hop writing, as songs over the decades have demonstrated. Although it’s not necessary—many popular rappers have made hits with far-from-perfect rhyming—it helps pull the piece together and allows for better flow. Your rhyme scheme can remain the same throughout the song or change as it progresses, but if you choose the latter, try to use no more than three patterns in one track. Too many melodies is as hard to write as it is to listen to.

Finally, you need to stick to a theme. We’re talking between songs, not between lines. You don’t have to write about the exact same thing every time, but your collection does need some coherence. For example, a group of poems about change, friendship, and identity struggles can fit under the theme of young adulthood. The most reliable trick is to bank on your own experiences. If you write honestly about what’s on your mind, your songs will come together on their own.

“Low Bap,” as the music is called, is characterized in large part by a relatively slow tempo and lyrical focus. The rap isn’t as fast and the beats aren’t as strong, and there is more focus on the words to the song than to its melody. Like many of its global counterparts, its words offer perspectives on politics and society, with hints of existential thinking in many popular pieces. The group Active Member, which rose to popularity in the 1990s, is credited with popularizing the style, although it had been around for decades before. Today, Low Bap bookstores, concerts, shows, and festivals have sprung up alongside the music.

The name itself doesn’t mean anything; it was coined by Active Member to refer to its own brand of hip hop. However, it has come to represent the specific views of the Low Bap movement, which is to practice what you preach and vice versa. The groups that have followed Active Member don’t necessarily follow the so-called Low Bap Manifesto, although many do, but their main characteristic is still their “mellow rap” style.

Many followers of Low Bap differentiate it from hip hop itself, although strictly speaking, the music fits into the genre. It does hold a much larger influence on Greek culture than American hip hop does in North America; one important reason is that Active Member has become deeply involved in the community and encourages youth to participate in its endeavors. It also has a stronger “music as a way of life” approach; as a case in point, hip hop bookstores are relatively scarce in the U.S., whereas they are the norm in Greece.

Because of its focus on youth and community activities, Active Member has largely dissociated itself from groups that have sprung up from its influence, although they continue to make music. Nonetheless, they have started a movement that has touched young and old fans alike, and made themselves an indelible part of Greek culture.

Not surprisingly, African influences abound in hip hop styles, especially in North America. Men tend to have low, tapered cuts, Mohawks, rat tails, and other elements designed to warrant a second look. Those with low cuts often have logos or designs shaved onto the scalp—this usually requires a skilled barber as the design involves some precise handiwork. As men’s hairstyles go, this is arguably among the most high-maintenance.

Another popular style in hip hop circles is the faux Mohawk. It’s a little more toned down than the original Mohawk, which nowadays is more associated with punk rock culture. The sides of the head aren’t completely shaven, but cut noticeably lower than the middle strip. Others choose to add a rat tail, or a strip of uncut hair starting from the back of the neck. Surprisingly, this is also quite hard to maintain: if not regularly groomed, it can look scruffy and out of place.

Women’s hairstyles are a lot more varied. There are hip hop hairstyles for almost every hair type, length, and color. The most recent trend is the asymmetrical angled bob, where the hair is cut short but a little longer on one side. The difference can be as subtle or severe as you wish. Curly hair can either be pinned down or allowed to flow freely, but usually kept short. Cuts are best kept even as slants don’t show as drastically in curls.

For a bit of nostalgia, many hip hop fans now sport afros, which was one of the first markers of hip hop culture. If you have naturally kinky hair or fine curls, this look will be easier to pull off, but there are ways to make it work on other hairstyles. Like the rat tail, it also calls for a bit of maintenance, such as avoiding split ends (they make the strands droop) and applying volumizer to help the hair hold its shape.

Whatever you choose, you want to choose a cut that works with your lifestyle—avoid the high-maintenance ones if you like to stay active, or go for them if looks are a priority. More importantly, choose one that reflects your tastes—after all, hip hop is all about freedom of expression!

OutKast: Some say that if you listen to only one hip hop group, it should be the unstoppable team of Big Boi and Andre 3000. Their catchy rhymes were no doubt part of their charm, but what cemented their place in hip hop is the fact that they didn’t glorify the infamous hip hop lifestyle: it was more about the music, with more quotable lines than probably any other group, than it was about the bling.

Gang Starr: Guru and DJ Premier released six albums, each one a commercial success. DJ Premier is largely hailed as the greatest hip-hop producer of all time, and the late Guru is known for his impressive monotone rap. There are rumors of a posthumous album released in 2012—that’s certainly worth watching out for!

Eric B and Rakim: Guru’s monotone flow is rivaled only by that of Rakim, who together with partner Eric B produced some of hip hop’s greatest classics. Their material stood for itself; unlike so many hip hop acts today, they didn’t need the pretentious thug-gangster attitude to grab and hold on to fans. Older fans often name the duo as the group that fueled their love for the genre.

EPMD: Even if you’ve never laid eyes on one of their albums, chances are you’ve heard bits of their music elsewhere: EPMD’s music is one of the most widely sampled in rap. Their material ranges from catchy rock-influenced pieces to emotional songs, appealing to a wide range of listeners. They broke up in the mid-90s, but came back together in 2006 and are again producing memorable tracks.

UGK: Formed in Texas, this group is one of the first southern-rap acts to gain relative popularity. Much of their success is attributed to Pimp C’s expert production skills, which belied his Southern roots while maintaining a distinct country feel. Bub B provided the rhyme and rhetoric, an element that would make them one of the most quoted groups of their time.