How Songs Work is a co-curricular course at Harvard University on the subject of the American popular song.
The course, developed and instructed by Matt Corriel, meets weekly for one hour and is free and open to all.
Non-musicians are welcome; songwriters are invited to bring their material for workshopping.
Topics include:
1) History and Forms
History and Evolution of the American Popular Song
(1850 - 1927)
The Great American Songbook and 32-bar Form
Influence of the Songbook on Early Rock n Roll
Adaptation of Blues Form to Early Rock n Roll
Evolution (Not Revival) of Modern Verse-Chorus
Form in the 1960s
Thru-Composed Form
Epic Form
2) Contemporary Song Parts
Criteria for Successful Introductions
Functions of the Verse
Simple, Contrasting and Changing Choruses
Five Kinds of Bridges
Function of the Prechorus
Existence of the Postchorus
Functions of Instrumental Breaks
incl. Narrative Functions
Kinds of Outros
3) Listening
Lyric Narratology
Access Songs and Mirror Songs
Dynamics between Notes and Lyrics
Questions of Performance and Song Stretch
