Textural and Timbral Influences on Storytelling Narrative in Pop/Rock Music

Tuesday, 11 Mar 2025 at 6:00 pm – 2630 Memorial Union

The prototypical modern pop/rock song has grown out of a long tradition of verse/chorus form that often features delineated sections where verses and pre-chorus/choruses are juxtaposed in a way to aid in the narrative of the song. The sections are contrasting, with the verses exhibiting a sparse texture and timbre that makes the listener feel privy to a deep thought or private conversation, while a chorus generally has a thickening of the texture and more reverberant timbres to feel the openness of the “sing-along” moment of the chorus.But this presentation explores other subsets of the ways that texture and timbral narratives can play out over the course of the song, ones that encompass and enhance the entire story, not just narrated verses interspersed with a catchy chorus, but ones that follow the narrative arc of the whole song.Dr. Kati Meyer is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Music’s Theory Area, where her diverse teaching strategies and individualized relationship-building cultivate a unique learning experience for UI’s music students.Meyer’s extensive research on popular music and music theory pedagogy has led to multiple opportunities to present throughout the area. Most recently, she presented on “Teaching Music Theory Like A (Pro)fessor” at the Iowa Music Educators Association’s 2022 conference. She enjoys helping students to understand theoretical concepts through popular and Western Art music analysis and composition, as well as using baked goods as an incentive to participate in class.Dr. Meyer has held teaching positions at Morningside University, San Jacinto College, Briar Cliff University, the University of Iowa, and Northwestern University. She is also an accomplished pianist, having performed multiple concerti and solo recitals, and serves as a collaborative pianist for UI soloists/ensembles and area high schools.Kati Meyer earned a BA in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota, Morris before earning an MM from Northwestern University and a PhD from the University of Iowa, both in Music Theory.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

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The prototypical modern pop/rock song has grown out of a long tradition of verse/chorus form that often features delineated sections where verses and pre-chorus/choruses are juxtaposed in a way to aid in the narrative of the song. The sections are contrasting, with the verses exhibiting a sparse texture and timbre that makes the listener feel privy to a deep thought or private conversation, while a chorus generally has a thickening of the texture and more reverberant timbres to feel the openness of the “sing-along” moment of the chorus.But this presentation explores other subsets of the ways that texture and timbral narratives can play out over the course of the song, ones that encompass and enhance the entire story, not just narrated verses interspersed with a catchy chorus, but ones that follow the narrative arc of the whole song.Dr. Kati Meyer is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Music’s Theory Area, where her diverse teaching strategies and individualized relationship-building cultivate a unique learning experience for UI’s music students.Meyer’s extensive research on popular music and music theory pedagogy has led to multiple opportunities to present throughout the area. Most recently, she presented on “Teaching Music Theory Like A (Pro)fessor” at the Iowa Music Educators Association’s 2022 conference. She enjoys helping students to understand theoretical concepts through popular and Western Art music analysis and composition, as well as using baked goods as an incentive to participate in class.Dr. Meyer has held teaching positions at Morningside University, San Jacinto College, Briar Cliff University, the University of Iowa, and Northwestern University. She is also an accomplished pianist, having performed multiple concerti and solo recitals, and serves as a collaborative pianist for UI soloists/ensembles and area high schools.Kati Meyer earned a BA in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota, Morris before earning an MM from Northwestern University and a PhD from the University of Iowa, both in Music Theory.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.