The Music Box

Fairy Friend Feud

Getting along with friends can be a challenge, but we've got the musical solution! We’re returning to the magical land of Arpeggio for today’s adventure. Sing along with the Three Fierce Fairies! *** National Standards incorporated: Exploring and demonstrating music concepts (such as beat and melodic contour) Creating musical ideas (such as answering a musical question for a specific purpose) Understanding the relationship between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life *** Additional resources: Singing with Solfege – “Hey, Hey! Look at Me!” (Mi-So Edition) Build Character Build Success: TEAMWORK Activity – Can you write a melody just like our three fairy friends? Grab one other person, sing a melody you created, and see if they can sing it back to you. Then, switch places! *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Beat to the Future

It's a time-traveling musical adventure as we learn about beat and rhythm. We’ll put on a pair of magical boots that will help us save the future of music! *** National Standards incorporated: Exploring and demonstrating music concepts (such as beat and melodic contour) Creating musical ideas (such as answering a musical question for a specific purpose) Understanding how a specific music concept (such as beat or melody) is used in music *** Additional resources: Music Lesson: Beat vs Rhythm – Sing! Step! Grow! Music Theory – Lesson 1 – Pulse and Beats Evolution of Music - Pentatonix Suggested activity – Listen to a group of your favorite songs, and see if you can find and clap along with the beat. Then, try it with a family member’s music from a different era. *** Featured music: Dancing in the Street - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Stayin’ Alive - The Bee Gees The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It - Will Smith I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Dynamics Dynamite

We'll explore the world of dynamics (how loud or soft a sound is) with a big box of fireworks! KA-BOOM! You’ll hear some very special pyrotechnics and learn some special words to describe dynamics. *** National Standards incorporated: Understanding the relationships between music and other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life. Understanding rhythmic and melodic ideas Demonstrating knowledge of musical concepts *** Additional resources: Music Theory for Beginners: Dynamics Dynamics Example Music-Go-Rounds Dynamics Activity Guide *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

1+1 = Etude

You'll learn about how math is used to make music! Just like chopping vegetables in half, you can chop notes in half too. *** National Standards incorporated: Understanding the relationships between music and other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life. Understanding rhythmic and melodic ideas Demonstrating knowledge of musical concepts *** Additional resources: Musical Notation – The Quarter Note, the Half Note, and the Whole Note Music Lesson – Steady Beat How to Read Music –Episode 4: Counting and Clapping *** Featured music: Ninja Re Bang Bang: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Women's Writes: A History of Women Composers

So many of the composers we usually learn about in school are men -- but that's only telling half the story of who writes the music we love. *** National Standards Incorporated: Analyzing the elements of music (including form) of musical works, relating them to style, mood, and context, and describe how the analysis provides models for personal growth as composer, performer, and/or listener Understanding the relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life Understanding how music is informed by the structure, the use of musical elements, and context (such as social and cultural) *** Additional resources: The Story of Music (BBC) History of Women in Music The Birth of Jazz Scat Singing Explained and Example *** Featured music: Felix Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61, Incidental Music, No. 9 Wedding March (Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa) Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quarter in E-Flat Major: IV. Allegro molto vivace (Quatuor Ebene) Igor Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (Chicago Symphony) Ethel Smythe: The March of Women (Chorus and Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series, Philip Brunelle) Duke Ellington: Cottontail Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington: Cottontail Pete Seeger: Freight Train Elizabeth Cotten: Freight Train The Chicks: March, March Beyonce: Brown Skin Girl Annie Lennox & Aretha Franklin: Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

The Treble Troubadours and the Bass Balladeers

It’s our Season 4 premiere! We return to the fantasy world of Arpeggio with a tale of two very different performing groups and how they learn to get along. *** National Standards incorporated: Exploring and demonstrating awareness of music contrasts (such as high/low, loud/soft, same/different) Applying personal and expressive preferences in the evaluation of music Understanding how to perform music with expression *** Additional resources: The Music Show Episode #4: We’re Gonna Sing High, Low, and in the Middle Elements of Music: Dynamics *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

A Short Pause

So many people in our community are grieving and reacting to current events related to the Breonna Taylor case. Out of respect, we’re going to postpone today’s episode until next week. We’d rather direct your attention to what’s happening in our city now. You can follow the news coverage from our sister station WFPL , and we’re putting some links below for how to talk with your family about racialized violence, justice, and equity. And don’t forget, there are lots of past episodes of The Music Box you can check out anytime in our podcast feed. Go listen to some music you love today, and we’ll be back with you next week. How to talk to kids about racism, racial violence and police brutality Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News How to Talk with Kids About Racism and Racial Violence

The Giant and The Fairy

We’re wrapping up our season with a very special story, featuring a magical land full of extraordinary creatures. And you’ll learn a few new things you can do with your voice too! *** National standards incorporated: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. *** Additional resources: Solfege Hand Signs Solfege Scale with Hand Signs *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Meter Wars!

We’ll learn about meters in music, also known as time signatures, using math. You'll be able to hear the difference between 3/4 and 4/4 and understand how to read a time signature. Then… it’s an epic battle between time signatures! Who will win?? *** Featured musical excerpts: The Beatles: Yellow Submarine Dionne Warwick: What the World Needs Now Rodgers & Hammerstein: My Favorite Things from “The Sound of Music” Post Malone: Sunflower Queen: Another One Bites the Dust Pentatonix: Waltz of the Flowers Elton John: I’m Still Standing Beyonce: Love On Top Anthony Gonzalez: Un Poco Loco from “Coco” *** National Standards Incorporated: Reading and notating music *** Additional resources: Rhythm Lesson Musical Meter! Time Signatures, Bars and Barlines Worksheet: Time Signatures Worksheet: Note Types and 4/4 Time *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Kandinsky Can: How Art and Music Collide

Artists and musicians can inspire each other's work, even though they use different materials and techniques! We’ll learn about some of the ways that art and music intersects, and we’ll take a turn being inspired ourselves. *** Featured musical excerpts: George Gershwin: An American in Paris, New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein Jane Ira Bloom: Jackson Pollack, from Chasing Paint: Jane Ira Bloom Meets Jackson Pollack John Cage: Sonata V, from Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, performed by Giancarlo Cardini *** National Standards incorporated: Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts Understanding music in relation to history and culture *** Additional resources: Wassily Kandinsky: 100 Famous Paintings Analysis and Biography Jackson Pollock: 100 Famous Paintings Analysis and Biography Pablo Picasso: 150 Famous Paintings, Bio & Quotes by Picasso A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Who Plays What?

This is the final episode in our mini-series about songwriting: we’ll explore how instruments are used to tell stories in sound — most specifically, in movie soundtracks! You’ll be sure to hear a few familiar tunes here, and you’ll never watch movies the same way again. *** Featured musical excerpts: John Williams: Star Wars Main Theme, from “Star Wars” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Hans Zimmer: …To Die For, from “The Lion King” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack John Williams: Hedwig’s Theme, from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Opetaia Foa’i, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Marc Mancina: We Know the Way, from “Moana” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Rachel Portman: Tino, from “A Dog’s Purpose” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack *** National standards applied: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music* * Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts Understanding music in relation to history and culture *** Additional resources: “Tino” from A Dog’s Purpose 10 film composers you should know -- besides John Williams Female composers are trying to break film’s sound barrier THE POWER OF MUSIC IN FILM - How music affects film Moana: On-set visit with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i & Mark Mancina *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Name the Place and Time

This is the second of three episodes on songwriting. This week, we’ll learn about how songs help us celebrate special occasions (hint: it involves cake and candles) and also how songs can make us feel strong in the face of hard times. We’ll hear some examples about songs that bring people together, and we’ll write our own verse to a well-known call-and-response song. *** Featured music: B.B. King: Why I Sing the Blues Aretha Franklin: A Change Is Gonna Come Pete Seeger & the Song Swappers: We Shall Not Be Moved *** National standards incorporated: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. Understanding music in relation to history and culture. *** Additional resources: Songwriting With Kids How To Teach Children to Write Songs Sing Me A Story - Songs and Stories for Kids in Need *** Resources for discussing current events with your kids: Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations About Race and Racism (Anti-Defamation League) 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice (Medium) How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids (Common Sense Media) Resources for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racialized Violence With Kids (Center for Racial Justice in Education) *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

It's Rhyme Time

This is the first of a series of three episodes on songwriting. This week, we’ll learn about how rhyming words can help us tell a story. We’ll start with some songs you already know, and then we’ll write our own song! *** Featured music: W.A. Mozart: Variations on “Ah vous dirais-je, Maman” (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) *** National standards incorporated: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music** **Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines *** Additional resources: Songwriting With Kids How To Teach Children to Write Songs | Songwriting Tips Sing Me a Story - Stories and Songs for Kids in Need *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in Woodwind

We’re wrapping up our roundup of the instrument families with the woodwind instruments this week! We’ll learn how they make sound (with some activities you can do at home) and even learn about a couple of surprise members of the family. *** Featured musical excerpts: Bottle Boys: Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepson cover on bottles) Corrente: Bartolome de Selma y Salaverde Bagpipe Master: Going Home played on bagpipes Roman Andrukhiv: Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder cover on accordion) *** National Standards incorporated: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts Understanding music in relation to history and culture *** Additional resources: How to make a reed for a woodwind instrument featuring Ms. Faith! BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Woodwind How To Turn A Carrot Into A Recorder *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Brass Is A Gas

We’ll be exploring all the different instruments of the brass family this week. We’ll learn about what defines a brass instruments, the various sounds they make, and all the different kinds of music they play. And we’ll practice blowing into our own imaginary brass instruments — it sounds pretty funny! *** Featured musical excerpts: Hector Berlioz: Damnation of Faust, Hungarian March John Philip Sousa: Sound Off Jeremiah Clarke: The Prince of Denmark’s March (performed by Wynton Marsalis) Wynton Marsalis: RJ Kai Winding: Black Coffee Trombone Shorty: Buckjump W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto in E-flat, K. 417, Rondo: Allegro (performed by Felix Klieser and Camerata Salzburg) *** * National Standards incorporated: * Listening to, analyzing, and describing music Understanding music in relation to history and culture *** Additional resources: Music from Home: The Brass Family and Making a Homemade Trumpet BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Brass 10 Famous Trumpet Players *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Play That Percussion!

Percussion instruments are anything you can hit, shake, or scrape — which means they can be a LOT of fun to play! We’ll learn about the two main categories of percussion instruments, we’ll play a game to tell them apart, and there might even be some dancing, too. *** Featured musical excerpts: Djembe solo by Master Drummer M’Bemba Bangoura Get Lucky (Daft Punk) - Steel Pan cove r played by Jonathan Scales Legend of Zelda - Main Theme on marimba Die Glocke :: 12 Pieces for Glockenspiel [Part 1] by Brett Wil liam Dietz Work (Rihanna) - Steel pan cover played by Keishaun Julien Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, Variation 1 a 1, performed by Glenn Gould Djembe Solo by Laurent Camara Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root *** **National Standards incorporated: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music Understanding music in relation to history and culture *** Additional resources: Music with Ms. Faith: Hair, Hair and More Hair! Music with Ms. Faith: All About Drums Wave Drum Tutorial *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

The String's The Thing

Did you know that we can put most musical instruments into family groups? Just like your family, there are larger and smaller members, and they all make different sounds. We’ll start learning about the string family today: violins, violas, cellos, and more. *** Featured musical excerpts: Sonata for Violin Solo, No. 1 in G Minor - J.S. Bach Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: III. Sehr Langsam - Paul Hindemith Passacaglia for Violin and Viola - Johan Halvorsen Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major - J.S. Bach Capriccio No. 2 for Solo Double Bass - Dave Anderson Living in the Country - George Winston Quintet in A Major, D. 667, “Trout” (Opus 114), Andante - Franz Schubert *** National Standards incorporated: Listening to, describing, and analyzing music *** Additional Resources: Karen Meets the String Family How do string instruments make a sound? Make guitars and stringed musical instruments *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Waves, Waves, Waves

We’ll learn about the ways that sound can move, both in the air around us and inside our bodies. Get ready to surf the musical waves with us! *** Featured musical excerpts: Catchy Song - Dillon Francis Gretchen am Spinnrade, D. 118 - Franz Schubert Mandala Offering - The Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir Be Like the Water - A.N.D. *** National Standards incorporated: Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. *** Additional Resources: WHAT IS SOUND? | LEARNING WITH SARAH | Educational videos for Kids Sound Experiments for Kids | Science for Kids | Kids Academy How Do We Sing? 7 Cool Sound Science Experiments for Kids Nov. 19, 2018 *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Tuning In

Welcome to Season 3 of The Music Box! Today’s episode will help us learn how music makes us feel. From silly to sad, from angry to energetic, we’ll discover the tools and tricks that composers use to affect our emotions. *** Featured musical excerpts: The Washington Post March - John Philip Sousa In the Hall of the Mountain King - Edvard Grieg Russian Sailors’ Dance - Reinhold Gliere Happy - Pharrell Williams Hakuna Matata - The Lion King soundtrack Poor Unfortunate Souls - The Little Mermaid soundtrack Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 9 No.2 - Frederic Chopin *** National Standards incorporated: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music Evaluating music and music performances *** Additional Resources: YouTube: Green Eggs and Ham: A Dramatic Reading by Ms. Faith, featuring the music of Edvard Grieg YouTube: Class Notes: A Recipe for Emotion in Music *** Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.

Rhythms, Names, and Nonsense

We'll explore the rhythms of our own names, and the special nonsense sounds we use sometimes to speak rhythms aloud. This is the final of three episodes about rhythm; this one is mainly for 4th and 5th graders, but even little ones have fun with the silly syllables. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Find Your Rhythm!

Rhythm patterns coming at you again this week -- and this time we'll try putting different rhythms on top of each other to make a BIG pattern! We'll use the length of your hair to play with rhythms — what?? This is the second of three episodes about rhythm; this episode is aimed at 2nd and 3rd grade, but anyone can play. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Rhythm Nation

Rhythm is a pattern! We'll practice listening to rhythms and clapping them back. This is the first of three episodes about rhythm; this episode is aimed at kindergarten and first grade, but everybody will have fun with these tricky rhythms. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

How to "Beat" the System

Rocking to a steady beat... and waltzing, and marching, and bopping, and more. This is the final of three episodes about beat; this one is aimed at 4th and 5th grade level, but all ages will have fun counting and stepping. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Beat in the Middle

We'll keep exploring that steady beat! This time we'll learn about how beats are grouped in different ways to make time signatures, and we'll move around to a march, a waltz, some jazz, some hip hop, and more. This is the second of three episodes about beat; this episode is aimed at 2nd and 3rd grade levels, but everybody's welcome to bop along. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

All You Can Beat

Beat is STEADY! We'll be moving around to different types of music today -- get ready to tiptoe, skip, walk, and hop. This is the first of three episodes about beat; this episode is aimed at kindergarten & 1st grade, but anyone can jump to the beat! Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

It's Going Down, I'm Yelling Timbre!

Our special music word is "timbre" which means the way something sounds. We'll be using different timbres to tell a story from our imagination -- we'll supply the timbres, you supply the story! This is the final of three episodes about timbre; this episode is aimed at the 4th and 5th grade levels, but everybody enjoys a good story. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

A Visit to Timbre-land

We'll continue our investigation of timbre (a music word that means "the way something sounds") with a movement activity that'll get you going in all directions. Plus, we'll make our own version of the cha-cha slide! This is the second of three episodes about timbre; this episode is aimed at the second and third grade levels, but anyone can play. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Shiver Me Timbres

Timbre = the way something sounds! We'll play with different timbres, and we'll use body percussion to make our own thunderstorm. This is the first of three episodes about timbre; this episode is aimed at the kindergarten and first grade level, but is fun for everyone. Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Pitch It Real Good!

Pitch is high, pitch is low -- and we'll use some singers you know (and a few you probably don't) to explore different pitches in the human voice. This is the final of three episodes about pitch; this one is aimed at 4th and 5th grade, but we can all sing along.

Pitch It Good!

High pitch or low pitch or something in between? We'll use pitch to help us know which way to go, and we'll hear different members of the instrument families with high or low pitches. This is the second of three episodes about pitch; this one is aimed at 2nd and 3rd grade, but there's something for everyone here.

Pitch It!

Pitch is high, pitch is low. We'll have some fun with animal sounds that make high and low pitches, and we'll pretend to be birds and cows. This is the first of three episodes about pitch; this one is aimed at kindergarten and 1st grade, but everyone can do an animal sound or two. (Moooooooo!) Additional information, including lesson plans and suggestions for extending the learning,

Season 2 Trailer

A new season of The Music Box is coming soon! Hosted by musician and educator Jecorey Arthur, we’ll explore four fundamental music concepts — beat, rhythm, pitch and timbre — with episodes for all ages. Our website at musicboxpod.org includes extras like teaching ideas for extending the learning. New episodes coming September 5!

Wrapping up Season 1 of The Music Box with Homemade Instruments

Don't have an instrument? Don't you worry! Sometimes if you practice all you need is a leaf to make beautiful music. Listen to our final episode of Season I and get inspired to make your own homemade instrument. We have special guests from the 1st grade music class at Kentucky Country Day plus we'll hear from experts Dr. Aaron Allen from North Carolina and Dr. Robin Ryan all the way from Australia! Credits: Hosted and produced by Sara Louise Callaway, WUOL Curriculum design by Paul Robinson, JCPS Photography by Tyler Franklin Special Guests: Dr. Robin Ryan, Dr. Aaron Allen, and the KCD 1st grade music class and their teachers- LuAnne Hayes, Heather Ribblett, Rebecca Gallian, and Gregory Acker. Music Credits: 00:00 Happiness Nuggets by Colleen 00:36 Birth Of The Blues written by Ray Henderson, Lew Brown, and Buddy DeSylva, performed by Herb Patten, Gumleaf 3:10 Sonata No. 6 (a Manuel Quiroga) performed by Rachel Barton Pine, Violin 3:56 Rain, Rain Go Away! Performed by Ms. Hayes’ 1st grade class 5:52 Waltzing Matilda by Christina Macpherson performned by Herb Patten, Gumleaf 6:24 Happiness Nuggets by Colleen The Music Box is supported by PNC +

Meet a Composer! with Rachel Grimes on The Music Box

Rachel Grimes is a composer from Carroll County, Kentucky. The ukulele class at Harmony Elementary interviewed her about what it's like to be a composer today. Listen and you'll learn that you can be a composer too! Sometimes you just need to start small. Just like you can build cities out of legos you can build symphonies out of just a few notes. Hosted and produced by Sara Louise Callaway, WUOL Curriculum design by Paul Robinson, JCPS Photography by Tyler Franklin Recording Assistance by Anne Gauthier Host: Harmony Elementary and James Albritton Music Credits: 00:00 Happiness Nugetts by Colleen :36 The Corner Room by Rachel Grimes 1:48 Brooks Farm Field Recording by Aaron Rosenblum 3:37 The Corner Room by Rachel Grimes, performed by Jason Seber and the Kansas City Symphony 7:02 Dorothy Susan Grimes (Mama Dot) 8:35 Going to the Chapel of Love by The Shirelles 9:21 My Dear Companion by Rachel Grimes 10:32 Every Morning by Rachel Grimes 11:24 Every Morning, Birds by Rachel Grimes 12:01 She Was Here by Rachel Grimes 12:40 G7 Blues by The Harmony Elementary Ukulele Ensemble 13:18 Every Morning, Birds by Rachel Grimes +

The Music Box Episode 2: Superheroes and Time Machines!

Instruments that can talk?! Mozart as a super hero?! An old time machine in the back of the UofL music library?! How did this craziness happen? Oh ya, we let the 4th grade orchestra write the script… and it’s great! What exactly is classical music, we ask. Well, answers are always more complicated than we hope but it’s worth the ride. Hop on but make sure you buckle up and have your signed permission slip! Access our learning resources and complete music credits at wuol.org/musicbox under the activities tab Episode Credits: Sara Louise Callaway, Host and Producer Paul Robinson, Curriculum Design Helen Haverstick, collaborating teacher 4th Grade Orchestra Class at Lincoln Elementary, episode collaborators Lucas Adams, voice of Mozart Matt Ertz, UofL Music Library Anne Gauthier, Recording Assistant Tyler Franklin, Photographer The Music Box is a production of Louisville Public Media and is made possible by PNC +

The Music Box Episode 1: The Golden Record

Visit The Music Box site Somewhere out in space there floats a golden record… Listen to the 2nd grade class at Lincoln Elementary school as they explore classical that’s way out there, like past the Oort cloud out there. That’s right, there are symphonies floating in interstellar space just waiting to be heard. How? Find out in our opening episode where it doesn’t matter if you’ve ever heard classical music before, or even music, or even live on planet earth! Listen, learn, and then upload your own golden records for outer space with our resources . +

Introducing The Music Box

You Spin Me Right 'Round: How Record Players Work

Fiona is nowhere to be found on recording day, and Kiana tracks her down at a vinyl factory where things get weird fast! This episode is a zany adventure into how a song goes from a recording to a record you can actually play.

Giddy Up 'n' Go: Music About Horses!

Kiana and Fiona hit the racetrack to help their friend Lightning Larry prep for a big race, and end up on a musical trip spanning the Kentucky Derby, an opera about a Swiss folk hero, a Lakota horse song, and Tuvan throat singers imitating a gallop. Turns out horses might have more in common with those singers than you'd think. Find out more at musicboxpod.org and

Shapes of America: An audio special about shape-note singing

The Music Box will be back with a new season in the fall. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this special about shape note singing — one of the oldest musical traditions in this country. It’s a practice that began in colonial America, and after centuries of ups and downs in popularity, today it’s finding an expanded and surprisingly diverse new following… and some of its singers believe the music can teach democracy a thing or two. Join Louisville Public Media’s Laura Atkinson and Justin Hicks as they trace this tradition, from its origins 200 years ago to the largest Sacred Harp singing in living memory. “Shapes of America” is an hour-long special from Louisville Public Media and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.

Behind the Music with Christian McBride: I'm a Professional Musician!

In the season 8 finale, Kiana and Fiona are taking you Behind the Music to learn about what it takes to be a professional musician. And we’re lucky to have a very special guest join us on this episode – bassist Christian McBride. Interested in knowing more about careers in music, the secrets of touring and playing music for a living? This one is for you!

Help! My Piano is Haunted!

This week on The Music Box, Kiana and Fiona find themselves on the case, investigating a haunted piano with a mysterious character. Everything is not what it seems in this Halloween episode. Help the gang find clues to uncover the ghost of music's past!

The Mad Scientist's Auditory Laboratory

The Music Box team is getting into the Halloween spirit a little early with this one. Fiona stumbles on mad scientist Kiana and her creations. This week, go a little mad breaking down auditory illusions like the Doppler effect and Shepard’s tone.

Behind the Music: I'm a Sound Designer!

What do you want to be when you grow up? Kiana and Fiona are taking you Behind the Music to learn about what it takes to work in sound design, and what better way to learn than from LPM’s very own Alex Biscardi? The Music Box is for all ages, however today's episode is recommended for high school-aged students and older who are interested in knowing more about careers in music and audio fields.

Whistle While You Work!

This week on The Music Box, Kiana and Fiona travel all around the world, going to Japan, Tanzania, and West Virginia to explore the history of work songs and their places across different cultures. Get shot out of a cannon, deal with some unruly pirates, and… GET SCURVY?? 😳 This week’s episode is a big adventure.

Music Doctors: Flamenco Fiasco!

Paging Doctor Kiana and Nurse Practitioner Fiona to the Musical Unit STAT! Another music doctors episode is back, and this time Kiana and Fiona are solving a flamenco fiasco! Learn about all of the elements of flamenco on this week’s episode.

Water Music: The Curse of the Sunken City

Have you ever been on a submarine?! Join Kiana and Fiona as they dive into music written about water. Explore music by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and John Cage while you meet a mermaid and find out the curse of the sunken city!

Behind the Music: I'm a Radio Host!

What do you want to be when you grow up? Kiana and Fiona are taking you Behind the Music to learn about hosting a show on the radio live on air! Dig into the history of radio, talk with a special guest, former 91.9 WFPK host Otis Junior, learn all you need to know about being a host and some fun facts about radio along the way!Find out how to bring 90.5 WUOL and the Music Box to your classroom at lpm.org/music-education or by emailing us at education@lpm.org

PEDALMANIA!!!

Can Fiona become the ultimate guitar master?! This week, Kiana and Fiona meet Rex “The Earthquaker” Dallas to learn all about guitar pedals and their effects. Listen and learn how to craft an epic tone with us!

Music the Earth Makes

Music really is all around us! In this week’s episode, sound designer and mystical wizard Alex Biscardi guides Kiana and Fiona through music made with water, singing rocks, even wind that plays the harp! Listen at music box pod dot org.

Carnival: The Festival Music of Brazil

Kiana and Fiona try to pull an all-nighter and end up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Carnival! Explore the blocos (blah-co) of Brazilian Carnival to learn about different styles of music from the region like ijexa (ee-jay-shah), xote (sho-chee), and frevo (frey-voo) and hear all the instruments that make them!

Behind the Music: I'm a DJ!

What do you want to be when you grow up? Kiana and Fiona are taking you Behind the Music to learn about being a DJ! Dig into the history of DJing, talk with a special guest, 91.9 WFPK’s very own Destiny Carter, a.k.a DJ Lady Dee, learn all you need to know about starting your DJ journey and some fun facts about DJing along the way! Find out how to bring 90.5 WUOL and the Music Box to your classroom at lpm.org/music-education or by emailing us at education@lpm.org Interested in learning how to be a DJ? Our friends over at Amped Music Academy here in Louisville, KY provide accessible resources for musicians aged 6-18.

Creating a Story with Music

Kiana, Fiona, and YOU?! We’re bringing the classroom right to your living room in this week’s episode all about musical storytelling. Grab your pen, notebook, and imagination! We’ll listen to the music of The Fretless, Sergei Prokofiev, Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Paquito D’Rivera while talking about what inspired them to write their stories. Then, Kiana and Fiona encourage you to write and tell us your story. Find out how to bring 90.5 WUOL and the Music Box to your classroom at lpm.org/music-education or by emailing us at education@lpm.org The Musical Storytelling Playlist: Sergei Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet, No. 13: Dance of the Knights played by the London Symphony Orchestra Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky - “Love Theme” from Romeo and Juliet Paquito D’rivera - Aires Tropicales: Vals Venezolano (Venezuelan Waltz) played by Imani Winds The Fretless - Big Trip (Trip to Windsor / Sheepskin & Beeswax)

Found Sound

Shhh! Do you have your listening ears on? Kiana and Fiona are at Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kentucky tuning our ears to the sonic environment. We explore how to use your community's sounds to make music, art and field recordings. So, have your headphones ready for this episode all about found sound!

Bird Music

Break out your binoculars! We're heading through the musical forest in search of bird music. No, not actual birds, but music meant to sound like them. From Saint-Saëns to Jennifer Higdon, Kiana and Fiona show us the musical aviary, and how nature has inspired composers for centuries.

Music of Ancient Cultures

All aboard the Music Box Express! Kiana wants to visit 1953 and meet a renowned jazz theorist, and Fiona wants to travel to the future to hear some tunes. But they get distracted on the train, and end up waaaaay back in ancient Mesopotamia! And they're just in time for a musical performance like none they've ever heard before. Come along!

Indian Classical Music

Ready for your brain to get bigger? Come along with us as we all fill our heads and ears with Indian classical music! We'll learn about the melodies, rhythms and beats that make up this musical style that's over 6,000 years old! And we'll hear some cool instruments that might sound familiar, even if you don't know their names... yet!

Tiny Technique

There's more than one way to play a violin, and on this episode, we're learning all about non-traditional ways of playing, also called extended techniques. But what's this? The lesson is coming from INSIDE THE VIOLIN! And there are... pigs? Tiny pigs in there. Listening to Béla Bartók. Because of course they are. You won't want to miss these sounds, folks (but you might want to miss the smells).

Anything, Anywhere, All Together

What does a sound designer do? Turns out, a lot more than Kiana and Fiona think! On this episode, our own sound designer Alex Biscardi shows the power of sound design to transport us through time and space, make us laugh, and even get us out of some tight spots. Turn on your listening ears and come along!

Oh, No! It's Baroque!

The Music Box is back! And it's a good thing, because it looks like Baroque needs some fixing. Luckily, Dr. Kiana and Dr. Fiona are on the case! The music "doctors" cauterize Baroque's counterpoint, malleate its melodies, and assess its appoggiaturas... but can they bring Baroque back to all its intricate glory? Find out on this episode of The Music Box!

The Music Doctors: Funk’s Got a Brand New Groove

In the words of James Brown, “get funky with me! C’mon!” We’re back in the operating room this week, so put on your lab coats and get ready to examine all the elements of our next patient - Funk! Join us as we explore rock steady beats, staying on the one, and grooving supporting guitar chords. This episode is recommended for grades K-5, but everyone can groove with us! Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org .

Meeting Asian Composers with Kojin Tashiro

This episode is a special one! We’ll board violinist and sound designer Kojin Tashiro’s private jet and fly all around the Asian continent, meet 4 great composers and learn about the music they make. Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org. Recommended for grades K-5, but everyone can embark on this ethereal journey.

Synthesizer to Space!

Blast off on the SS Wendy Carlos with the Music Box team and learn about all things synthesizers. From sine waves to square waves, we’ll explore the musical galaxy together to uncover all there is to know about these otherworldly electronic instruments. Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org. Recommended for grades K-5, but everyone can embark on this ethereal journey.

Broke Down Somewhere near Jupiter

Oh, no! Looks like Kiana and Fiona need a little more time to fix up their spaceship before you can come aboard. Luckily, they have everything under control (they took the manual with them). Get ready to blast off on September 7th. Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org. Recommended for grades K-5, but everyone can have a seat on the spaceship.

Hitting the Pause Button

We had a new episode all ready to go for you, but it just doesn’t feel right in this moment. Listen in and we’ll tell you why we’re hitting pause this week. And we’ll be back with you next week with a new episode about how you can write your own songs. *** Resources for discussing current events with your kids: Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations About Race and Racism (Anti-Defamation League) 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice (Medium) How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids (Common Sense Media) Resources for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racialized Violence With Kids (Center for Racial Justice in Education)

The Music Box is back for Season 3!

Introducing our new host, Faith Murphy! Season 3 starts on April 23.