Week 4

Study

• Get clear on the difference in the difference between "popular music" as a category, and "pop music" as a genre. Here is a summary of some of the basic characteristics of pop music. Go to YouTube or Spotify and listen to music from The Beatles, ABBA, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera paying attention to their, tuneful melodies, hooks in choruses and contrast with verses, vocal harmonies, dance rhythm beats, and simple harmonic progressions. Look for ways to incorporate these techniques into your song this week.
  
  
  
• Read David Tough's article. Take notes on points such as:

1. What is the average length of a hit song?
2. How long do you have to trigger something unique?
3. How long do you have to get listeners involved?
4. What percentage of songs start off with a chorus or hook, rather than an intro or verse?
5. What is the average length of songs?
   
6. What is the average tempo?
7. What is the most common point of view?
8. What is the subject of the songs?
9. How long are intros?
10. What is an "archetype"? What are some options for archetypes in songs? Which archetype was used most often?
11. Check out the Appendix A (p. 113–) where he lists many possible themes, and Appendix B (p. 118–) that catalogs variations of form.
    
    

• Log into your Theta Music Trainer account and drill on diatonic chord progressions using the Speaker Progressions game with I, ii, iii, IV, V, and vi up through Level 7. The quiz this week will use progressions from Level 7.
  
  
• The function of the bridge is to provide contrast with the other sections of the song. Adding contrast to your bridge will help make it stand our from the rest of the song.
  
  
• One way to maintain a listener's attention is by varying the collection of chords used in each section of the song. Experiment with reserving some chords for the verse, chorus, and bridge to help the sections stand out and create interest.
  
  
• Pop songs use mostly diatonic chords with an occasional secondary dominant. Use at least one secondary dominant in the chord progression for your verses for the pop song you are writing this week.