Anatomy of a Pop Song

What makes the "song of the summer" so catchy, memorable, and emotionally effective? In this hands-on MSU After Hours workshop, you'll unpack pop music's biggest hits and discover the magic behind your favorite songs.

What You'll Learn:

• The core elements of pop songs, including chord progressions, melody, rhythm, structure, timbre, and hooks
• How to recognize the underlying patterns behind chart-topping songs and what makes them so effective
• What makes a song stay in your head long after you hear it
• New ways of listening to music and a deeper appreciation of the craft behind the hits

How You'll Learn It:

This workshop blends live guitar demonstration, guided listening activities, and interactive participation to unpack the building blocks of popular music. Using familiar examples from a wide variety of artists, such as Radiohead, The Beatles and Britney Spears, you'll explore the patterns and elements that shape a pop song.

Who Should Attend:

This course is designed for those 16 and older who want to deepen their music listening experiences, are aspiring songwriters, or just enjoy listening to the radio or attending live concerts. No musical background is required.

Workshop Details:

When

Tuesday, July 21, 2026
6:15 - 8:15 PM

Where

MSU Bozeman (Reynolds Recital Hall in Howard Hall)
Free parking is available after 6:00 pm in Bobcat Lots #3 & #6.

Registration Fee

$25

Please note: This course is contingent upon enrolling a minimum number of learners. If minimum enrollment is not met, the course may be cancelled, in which case registration and any additional fees will be fully refunded.

Instructor

Nora Spielman, a New York City native, is a distinguished classical guitarist and educator based in Bozeman, Montana. Nora is passionate about both solo and ensemble music, maintaining an active performance and teaching schedule. Most recently she performed on guitar or banjo with the Bozeman Symphony, Opera Montana, Gallatin Valley Concert Band, Montana Theatre Works and occasionally is a substitute DJ on KGLT's Sunday Morning Classical station. Throughout her career, Nora has been exploring ways to teach music that embraces the significance of popular music in academia, and she continues to explore this in higher education and performance settings. In other words, The Beatles and Beyoncé sit right next to Bach and Beethoven in her love for music.

Nora is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor at Montana State University's Honors College and School of Music with a focus on popular music courses. For more information about Nora, visit noraspielman.com.

About MSU After Hours

After Hours invites the community to MSU’s Bozeman campus on weekday nights for fun, social learning experiences, each with an interactive or hands-on component. Workshops are short format (1.5 - 2 hours) experiences with no prerequisites or pre-work required.

Questions

Contact Kelsye Gould, Continuing Education Program Manager, at 406-994-3062, kelsye.gould@montana.edu.