Music Blocks

It's Electric!

Electronic instruments like synthesizers and computer software use electricity to make sound They've also changed music The electrophone instrument family expands the range of musical colors in a composer's toolkit In this episode, check out how musicians like Dua Lipa, T La Rock and Yellow Magic Orchestra infuse their pieces with all kinds of electrophone tones and color Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What makes electrophones sound interesting to you? What kinds of electrophone sounds might you use to create a piece of music? Ready to explore more colorful electrophones?

Raise Your Voice!

People can make amazing music using their voice In this episode, it’s all about the power and range of the human voice Get ready to hear all kinds of vocal techniques – from beatboxing to scatting to yodeling You’ll hear how musicians like Bobby McFerrin, Sarah Vaughan and the Baka people use these techniques to connect with their cultures and add meaning to their songs Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Which vocal timbre stood out to you? Which was familiar? Which was unfamiliar? What are ways that you use your voice when interacting with music -- singing, speaking, beatboxing? What other ways can you think of? Ready to explore more vocal gymnastics?

Good Vibrations

In this episode, we check out instruments that musicians use to deliver some amazing rhythmic impact Idiophones make sound from the vibrations of an instrument's body A lot of the time, musicians whack them or shake them rhythmically Let’s talk about how musicians like Ruth Brown, Los Angeles Azules and Queens of the Stone Age use idiophones to give us exciting percussion parts full of accents and syncopation Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Have you ever made an instrument out of a desk or a table? What are other ordinary things that you can turn into instruments? What materials that the idiophones were made out of stood out to you? Ready to explore more rhythmic idiophones?

Drumroll Please!

In this episode, the spotlight is on membranophones! Membranophones make sound from the vibration of a tightly stretched material Think of drums that you strike to make a sound But there are other cool membranophones Let’s get to know more about these instruments and the musicians who bring us the beats, like The White Stripes, Bomba Con Buya and Ciara Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: How does a membranophone contribute to a piece of music? What do you think makes composers or musical artists choose to include a membranophones in making music? What membranophone do you want to learn how to play? Ready to explore more beats and soundings of membranophones?

Take a Deep Breath!

Musicians who use the power of air breathe life into the music they play They create beautiful and ear-catching melodies The instruments they play are called aerophones In this episode, we talk about aerophones and the musicians like Astor Piazzolla, Harry Styles and Francis Bebey who use these instruments to create gorgeous notes and melodies Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Which aerophone do you want to play? What aerophone sound appealed to you? What aerophone would you use to write a melody? Ready to explore more melodious aerophones?

Strings And Things

All around the world, musicians use stringed instruments to make music The way musicians play these instruments creates beautiful and distinctive sounds In this episode, say hello to chordophones! Chordophones are instruments that make sound from the vibration of strings Checkout how musicians like John Legend, Michiyo Yagi and Johann Strauss II have made chordophones sing with different articulations Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Which articulations stood out to you when listening to the chordophones? Are there articulations you want to hear again? Can you name other instruments that are chordophones that were not discussed in this episode? Ready to explore more chordophone sounds?

In Season 3, Meet Some Incredible Instruments (And Their Families!)

Music Blocks, the music appreciation podcast about the building blocks that make up your favorite sounds, returns Sept. 19 with a fresh batch of exciting musical explorations! In Season 3, hosts Rebekah Romberg and Luis Antonio Perez dig into the instruments themselves. We’re talking about instrument families! People all over the world have created distinct instruments that make sound in similar ways. Instruments in the chordophone instrument family -- like the koto from Japan, the violin from Italy, and the nyatiti from Kenya -- all make beautiful sounds using the vibrations from strings. Music Blocks is a music appreciation podcast that spans genres, cultures and decades. Developed with input from educators and students, each episode runs about 5 minutes to fit easily into family time or classroom instruction. Every “lesson” explores a different type of musical storytelling and is accompanied by a playlist and discussion questions to inspire more sonic exploration. We designed the show with middle schoolers and high schoolers in mind. But anyone can listen and enjoy. Music Blocks is a production of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio. If you’re excited about the show, have questions or want to tell us about how you’re using Music Blocks, please drop us a line: Hello@MusicBlocksPodcast.org .

Yes You Can! Stories of Empowerment

Sometimes you need a little extra motivation, and music is a great place to look for it A well-crafted song can tell a story that makes listeners feel confident, carefree or powerful If you love uplifting choruses and pounding beats, check out these empowerment anthems by artists like Run-DMC, Koji Kondo and Jane Zhang Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What kinds of sounds are empowering to you? How would you include them in a song you are creating? When you want to feel empowered, what song is your go-to? What story does it tell? Ready to explore more empowering musical stories?

Gone But Not Forgotten

We all struggle with how to cope when we lose someone we care about So how do musicians use those universal feelings to tell stories about death and grief? This episode looks at some moving examples, including music from songwriter Chalino Sánchez, composer Benjamin Britten and the musical Dear Evan Hansen And just a quick note: this episode is a little sadder than most of our episodes, so you might feel some strong feelings if you listen Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What musical sounds represent death to you? How might that be different from another person you know? Which song from the episode stands out to you as a way to think about death? Ready to explore more musical stories about death?

Stand Up! Stories of Protest

Protest music is about highlighting problems in society and calling for change And telling a story through music is an especially powerful way to move a listener to action Check out some potent sonic storytelling about human rights, the environment and anti-colonialism from artists like Yothu Yindi, Hurray For The Riff Raff and Joni Mitchell Content warning: This episode covers some topics that might be unsettling for some younger listeners It’s the kind of material you might learn in a high school history class, rather than in elementary school history You might want to listen to a different episode of Music Blocks if you’re around younger ears Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Is there something you want to protest? What sounds would you use to communicate your protest? What songs do you know that would support something you want to protest? Ready to explore more protest music?

Ceremonies & Celebrations

Music gives us a soundtrack for some of the most memorable moments in each of our stories, from graduation ceremonies to holiday celebrations Here’s a look at festive sounds and traditional stories from around the world Each song might not tell a story of its own, but this music helps frame our own personal stories in potent ways Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: We mentioned weddings, sporting events, graduation, and holiday ceremonies in our episode What kinds of ceremonies do you think deserve their own kind of music? What is a favorite song that you hear at a ceremony? Ready to explore more music from all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations?

The Sound of Heartbreak *Sob*

A great song might not heal a broken heart, but it’s a moving way to tell a story when someone or something leaves you feeling shattered Here’s a look at the clever techniques musicians use to share stories of heartache Get ready for sad, weary sounds from Ella Fitzgerald, Katy Perry and Andrew Lloyd Webber Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Are there particular sounds, artists, or songs that you connect with feeling heartbreak? Which of the songs in the episode stood out to you with a connection to your experience with heartbreak? Ready to explore more music about heartbreak?

Welcome Home!

Music is a powerful way to tell a story about the place you call home A composer could write music about a place using a simple and evocative melody A songwriter might write an anthem to evoke a sense of unity and pride In this episode, we hear musical stories about home from artists like Jean Sibelius, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen and Howard Shore – along with a pair of memorable national anthems Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Is there a song that reminds you of home or a place where you really feel like you belong? If you created a song about your home, what sounds or musical ideas would you use? Ready to explore more music about home?

An Honest Day's Work

Work is a big part of life Sometimes you have a dull job to do, and music helps take your mind off it And sometimes we like to hear stories that celebrate hard work and achievement Here’s a look at how musicians like Harry Belafonte, Merle Haggard, Drake and Dolly Parton use their songs to tell stories about work Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Do you have a playlist with your favorite style of music to listen to while you work or study? If you created a song about your work, what sounds or musical ideas would you use? Ready to explore more musical love stories?

We Love a Good Love Story!

Love is a favorite topic for songwriters That’s partly because music is such a great way to tell a love story Here’s a look at how artists like Taylor Swift, José Alfredo Jiménez and Giacomo Puccini use sounds to tell stories of romance, longing and unabashed adoration Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What are sounds, artists, or songs that you associate with feeling love? This episode mentions romantic love and familial love What other kinds of love have you experienced? Can you name a song that captures that kind of love? Ready to explore more musical love stories?

In Season 2, Hear The Stories Of Our Lives

Music Blocks, the podcast about the building blocks that make up your favorite sounds, returns Aug. 16 for a new series of fun sonic explorations! In Season 2, hosts Rebekah Romberg and Luis Antonio Perez explore how musicians help us tell The Stories of Our Lives. You’ll hear romantic melodies, inspirational lyrics and songs about the places we call home. Music Blocks is a music appreciation podcast that spans genres, cultures and decades. Developed with input from educators and students, each episode runs about 5 minutes to fit easily into family time or classroom instruction. Every “lesson” explores a different type of musical storytelling and is accompanied by a playlist and discussion questions to inspire more sonic exploration. We designed the show with middle schoolers and high schoolers in mind. But anyone can listen and enjoy. Music Blocks is a production of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio. If you’re excited about the show, have questions or want to tell us about how you’re using Music Blocks, please drop us a line: Hello@MusicBlocksPodcast.org .

Feeling Really Good

It doesn’t get much better than feeling confident, triumphant and optimistic Translating a really good feeling into music opens the door for lots of creativity Here’s a peek at how musicians like Janelle Monae, Lil Nas X, Shania Twain, Jimmy Cliff, Gustav Holst and Nina Simone made incredible sounds about feeling great Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What is a groove that you want to hear when you feel good? When we feel good, we often want to move and dance What are songs that make you feel good and want to move or dance? Ready to explore more music about feeling good?

Feeling Pretty Bad

Sometimes a musical phrase or a single line of lyrics can unlock those bad feelings we’ve tried to hide Music can be a powerful way to capture the mood when we feel anxious, chaotic or a little bit numb This episode features music about feeling bad from Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé, Radiohead, Hakki Bulut, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: “Bad” can be a vague description of a feeling What were some of the “bad”-feeling music selections that stood out to you from the episode? Would you describe the emotion in that music a different way? What’s a song you know that you associate with feeling bad? Ready to explore more music about feeling bad?

Ugh. The Sound of Disgust

Disgust is a powerful emotion, but you might be surprised at the nuanced music it can inspire We’ll hear deeply personal statements alongside stunning protest music from artists like Billie Holiday, Anderson .Paak, Billie Eilish, Agnes Obel, Daniel Viglietti and Krystof Penderecki Content warning: This episode covers some topics that might be unsettling for some younger listeners It’s the kind of material you might learn in a high school history class, rather than in elementary school history You might want to listen to a different episode of Music Blocks if you’re around younger ears Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What sounds would you choose to express the feeling of disgust? What are some things that make you feel disgusted? Can you write a short poem or rhyme to express these things? Ready to explore sounds connected to disgust?

Surprise!

Surprises can be wonderful or shocking, delightful or jarring And when musicians find clever ways to surprise listeners, things get really interesting Here’s a look at unpredictable music from Björk, Igor Stravinsky, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Claude Debussy and The Yoshida Brothers Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Which of the ideas of surprise in music that were featured in this episode do you want to listen to again? What are some ways to use sound that are surprising to you? Ready to explore more surprising sounds?

Sad, Sad Songs

Grab a box of tissues This episode of Music Blocks is about the powerful and inventive ways musicians take sadness and turn it into memorable music We’ll hear examples from Four Tet, Charles Mingus, Samuel Barber, Joeboy, Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: Sometimes when we are sad, we want to feel that emotion Are there songs that you play that help you to feel sad? Think about a person or an event that you want to write a sad song about What kinds of sounds would you use? Ready to explore more sad sounds?

Grrr... Feeling Angry

Angry music can feel potent, like a release of pressure for a singer or a musician So how do musicians express anger in creative ways? Check out some anger-inspired sounds from Fela Kuti, Alabama Shakes, The Clash, Netta and Coolio Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What is a style of music that you turn to when you are angry? What are some sounds that you associate with feeling angry? Ready to explore more angry songs?

The Sound of Fear

Fear is primal It’s how we react to the unknown And when composers and songwriters set out to make frightful music, it opens up a world of creative possibilities We’ll hear vivid examples from John Williams, Modest Mussorgsky, John Carpenter, Christian Scott and The Shirelles Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What do you think is the best way to express fear in music? Which song in the episode was the most fearful to you? Ready to explore more frightful music? Check out our playlists on Spotify and Apple Music

Happy (And You Know It!)

Happiness is one of the most basic human emotions and a feeling composers often express through music But what makes a piece of music sound joyful? Hear how Pharrell Williams, Ludwig van Beethoven, Red Velvet, Prince Nico Mbarga and John Coltrane have conveyed happiness through their music Stuff to think about after you’ve listened: What are some sounds that you associate with happiness? What are songs that you listen to when you are experiencing happiness? What made you choose these songs? Ready to explore more music about happiness?

How To Use Music Blocks (For Educators and Parents)

Music Blocks is a music appreciation podcast developed in consultation with music educators. It’s designed to help young listeners to explore music more thoughtfully, or to let parents and teachers introduce their kids to new sounds. It’s a fun, quick listen for music lovers of all ages, produced by Colorado Public Radio. And it’s free and available everywhere. Teachers and parents, here’s how to get the most out of Music Blocks: 1. Play it for young listeners in your life. Each episode runs about 5 minutes, to slot easily into a class period or family time. You can listen to the episodes in any order. 2. Talk and explore more. We’ll offer playlists to complement each episode and a few sample discussion questions. 3. Ask your kids to get creative! Have them build their own mood-themed playlists or write their own song to match a certain mood. We’d love to hear their creations. Email us at hello@musicblockspodcast.org . Find Music Blocks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, MusicBlocksPodcast.org or wherever you listen.

Say Hello to Music Blocks

Music Blocks is a music appreciation podcast that spans genres, cultures and decades. It’s about human emotions and the sounds we use to express them. Developed with input from educators and students, each episode runs about 5 minutes to fit easily into family time or classroom instruction. Every “lesson” explores a different feeling and is accompanied by a playlist and discussion questions to inspire more sonic exploration. We designed the show with middle schoolers and high schoolers in mind. But anyone can listen and enjoy. Hosted by Luis Antonio Perez and Rebekah Romberg, Music Blocks is a production of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio. If you’re excited about the show, have questions or want to tell us about how you’re using Music Blocks, please drop us a line: Hello@MusicBlocksPodcast.org .