Welcome to the APME Memphis 2025 conference. Here, you’ll be able to register for the conference and update your Sched profile. The conference schedule will be available in late spring 2025. At that time, you can view the schedule and select the presentations you’d like to attend. If you have any questions, please visit our conference website or contact us at conference@popularmusiceducation.org We look forward to coming together as a community June 4–7, 2025.
Beyond catchy melodies and powerful lyrics, song form plays a vital role in shaping a listener's experience and connection. This presentation will explore the structural blueprints behind some of music’s most successful hits, unpacking the song forms that have captivated audiences across decades. From strophic to AABA to the straightforward verse-chorus patterns to the sometimes unpredictable structures of modern pop, this presentation will dive into how form has evolved—and why, when teaching songwriting, form can be one of the strongest tools to help students both engage with songwriting and write great songs. Song form is more than just a musical framework; it’s a narrative tool that invites listeners into a journey. How does a well-placed bridge or a powerful chorus bring emotional impact? What makes one song structure feel timeless, while another sounds fresh? Using examples from various genres, this presentation will examine the ways in which song form helps listeners make sense of music, guiding their attention, building anticipation, and delivering payoff. This session offers insights and practical approaches to teaching song structure’s influence on the listening experience as well as how to use song form when teaching songwriting.
