Name: Deconstructing Pop Hits: Unique Methods for Visualizing & Teaching Popular Music
Start: 2025-06-06T15:15:00-0500
End: 2025-06-06T16:15:00-0500

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.

Friday June 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT

Computer Lab - Legacy Building

Join us for an insightful journey behind the scenes of a recent #1 hit and discover actionable, innovative methods to bring modern music theory into your classroom. In this dynamic and interactive session, you will engage in a comprehensive, hands-on deconstruction of a recent Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. Through a series of guided exercises, you’ll use the Hit Songs Deconstructed tools to analyze and visualize the song’s core musical elements—including hooks, melody, lyrics, rhymes, arrangement, and more—uncovering the foundational patterns and techniques that contribute to its success. Along the way, you’ll also explore cutting-edge approaches to teaching “pop theory.” The Hit Songs Deconstructed methodologies and visualization tools offer a fresh perspective on distilling complex music theory concepts into formats that are both accessible and engaging for students. By the end of the session, you will have gained innovative strategies and a practical framework for making music theory more relevant and engaging. Whether you teach songwriting, production, or music theory, these tools and techniques will empower you to help students connect with contemporary music on a deeper level—enhancing their critical listening skills and fostering greater creativity.

Speakers

David Penn

Sponsors

Hit Songs Deconstructed

For over a decade, Hit Songs Deconstructed has been the leading source for hit songwriting analysis and trend insights. Through our interactive platform, we empower educators by providing expert analysis of the songwriting and production techniques used in today’s hits and proprietary... Read More →

Friday June 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Computer Lab - Legacy Building 3775 Central Avenue 129 Music Building Memphis, TN, 38111

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APME Memphis 2025

David Penn

Hit Songs Deconstructed

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