Theory and Structure in Popular Music

This course will examine the fundamental concepts of music theory, including reading and writing musical notation, scales, intervals, triads, chord progressions, and musical structure.

These theoretical concepts will then be applied to broader expressive contexts: how are the elements of music theory, such as a specific scale, chord progression, or melodic device, used to create meaningfully rich, expressive music? At its core, music theory is a set of concepts and tools that are used to express and communicate in music, and this forms the basis for our examination of theory.

Finally, focus will be given to the larger cultural context the songs and artists we examine exist
within. No songs exists independent of other song written in that style, era, or locality. This inherent cultural dialogue is crucial to our understanding of any artwork, and emphasis will be given to this aspect of analysis in class as well.

To achieve the above, we will analyze songs in different styles and genres, chosen by both the instructor and students. The sheet music for these songs will be used as a means for analysis, in order to better understand the music theory and songwriting techniques used. Through analysis, written responses and discussion of songs, students will be encouraged to refine their ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively about music.

The goal of this course is to enrich students’ understanding of the music they interact with, whether it be as listeners, performers, or songwriters. No experience with music theory or reading music notation is required.