Teaching Across the Curriculum With Popular Music Producers

In music education we are accustomed to discussing the genre of classical music. We also spend much of our time studying, listening, and analyzing composers such as Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. Not to question their significance and importance, but in a time of thriving creativity, an evolving popular music scene, and the need to teach with a more learner-centered approach, it may be time to consider methods of teaching not only popular music genres but also about the producers who shape the sound of popular music.

In popular music, the vocalist receives the majority of attention. More often than not, producers such as Rick Rubin, Quincy Jones, Timbaland, George Martin, Joe Meek, and Dr. Dre are often overlooked and hardly discussed. The music producer functions as the creative leader of a song. They manage all aspects of the song, including composing the music, the musical direction, vocal performance, hiring session players, and sometimes overseeing the budget.

In this presentation, I will discuss ideas on how to teach many elements of music through the study of popular music producers. In addition, I will share ideas and resources for ways to teach across the curriculum, specifically math and English.