MUSI 108. Analysis of Pop Music

This course explores theoretical orientations and analytical techniques for popular music. This course has three learning objectives: 1) to become familiarized with repertoire in the popular music genre, including multiple styles both recent and traditional; 2) to become familiarized with published theoretical and analytical literature on popular music; and 3) to acquire skills and experience analyzing popular music. Students will listen to multiple styles within the vast repertoire of popular music, examine scholarly literature as it applies to the analysis of popular music and/or its production, apply analytical methods to works selected by both the instructor and individual students, and compose original songs.

This course focuses on written and oral communication of ideas, analyses, and critiques based on the reading of scholarly literature and analysis of select repertoire. Students will participate throughout the course via class discussions of music and readings, analytical and critical essays, presentations on articles or individual analyses, and performances of original songs. Students will apply a wide range of analytical approaches to music in a variety of styles and produce close original analyses of popular music repertoires of the student’s choosing.
Prerequisite: MUSI 013
Humanities.
1 credit.
Spring 2025. Hofelich.
Catalog chapter: Music
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/music

Access the class schedule to search for sections.