Faculty bio | 541-346-5651

Drew Nobile is an academic expert in the theory of pop and rock music. He teaches courses on rock and pop music as well as general music theory, Beethoven, and other topics. Drew has published analyses of music from the Beatles to Katy Perry, focusing on the construction of songs (chord progressions, melody, lyrics, arrangement of sections). His new book, "Form as Harmony in Rock Music," is an investigation of songwriting conventions in classic rock and pop songs from 1963 to 1991; Nobile makes the case that across genres, decades, and continents, pop and rock songwriters tend to return again and again to a small number of conventional song types.

Recent media:
Celebrities speak out after Taylor Swift Eras Tour ends (Newsweek, Dec. 14, 2024)
What will Taylor Swift do next? (Newsweek, Dec. 9, 2024)
How Post Malone became the go-to collab of the year (Vox, June 15, 2024)
University of Oregon pop music experts weigh in on Taylor Swift's success (KVAL, Dec. 7, 2023)
TikTok asks: Is Nirvana considered an ‘oldie’? Experts say it’s all about the radio.(TODAY, April 19, 2022)
UO Today: Music prof puts classic rock under the microscope (Around the O, May 26, 2017)