Defanging the Canon Monster: Reducing the Friction of Building Quality Setlists

The concept of a “canon” in popular music has often been framed as exclusionary, privileging certain works while marginalizing others. Yet, when reimagined not as a gatekeeping mechanism but as a curated resource, canonization offers substantial pedagogical advantages. By establishing a structured catalog of exemplary songs, educators and students gain a shared repository from which to draw, streamlining the process of selecting high-quality and diverse repertoire. This curated approach reduces friction in assembling setlists for  performance, rehearsal, or even informal jam sessions, allowing students to engage with influential works while maintaining flexibility and creativity. Importantly, the transition from printed scores to digital platforms amplifies these benefits: catalogs can be expanded, annotated, and shared in real time, supporting collaborative growth and responsive updates. Rather than confining musical exploration, this post-print curation empowers learners to navigate a simulatneously curated and dynamic landscape of repertoire, fostering both historical awareness and contemporary relevance. This presentation argues for a shift in perspective: canonization need not be a “monster” that restricts access, but a practical tool that facilitates discovery, skill-building, and collective musical engagement in the modern classroom and online communities.