The Music Box

Latest Episodes:

Synthesizer to Space! Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

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 Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

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.

Behind the Music: I'm a Producer! Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

What IS a producer anyway? How many hats do they wear? How does a producer help a music track come to life? Find out the answers to all your questions on this episode of The Music Box! We’re going behind the music with producer Antonio Garder, AKA Yons!

Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org. This episode is recommended for grades 6-8 and 9-12, but younger students can join in fun with some guidance.

Pass The Melted Butter! Polyrhythms and Polymeters Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever tried to count rhythms with an apple or a pineapple? Tried to pass the melted butter? Maybe a hot cup of tea? Find out what all these wacky expressions mean on this episode of The Music Box. We’re exploring all things polymeters (and their super fun mnemonic devices!)

This episode is recommended for grades K-5, but everyone can join in on the polyrhythmic groove. Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org.

I Scream! You Scream! We All Scream for the Drum Machine! Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

You’ve heard about the instrument families from woodwinds, to brass, to strings, even percussion, but have you explored the mean green drum machine?! On this episode of The Music Box, we’ll be learning all about how musical legends like J Dilla and Sly & the Family Stone used the drum machine as a tool, and how you can too!

Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org.

This episode is recommended for grades 3-5 and above, but all students can catch the beat with some guidance!

Behind the Music: I'm a recording engineer! Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

We’re going on a completely different journey for this episode! We’ll learn all about what it means to be a recording engineer in an interview with an expert from the field. Join as we go behind the music with Anne Gauthier from La La Land Studios right here in Louisville, Kentucky!

Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org.

This episode recommended for grades 6-8 and 9-12, but younger students can join in fun with some guidance.

Improvisation Station! Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

This episode, we’ll board the finest time traveling locomotive this side of the train soundboard to explore improvisation through time! Some very special Louisville legends will join us as magical musical guests, taking us from the medieval period all the way to the future of improvisation.

Join in on your own futuristic improvisation with THIS Playtronica Synthesizer.

Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org.

This episode is recommended for grades 3-5 and 6-8, but anyone can join in on the time traveling fun!

The Music Doctors Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Today’s episode is quite the operation. We’ll put on our lab coats and be doctors, examining all the elements of our first patient — jazz! Join us as we explore blue notes, call and response, and syncopation. -

Additional lessons and resources at musicboxpod.org

Juneteenth Jubilee Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

In this musical short, we’ll celebrate Juneteenth by exploring liberation through music! We’ll journey around the U.S, taking a look at the lives of Black composers from three different time periods. We’ll briefly cover the history of the Juneteenth holiday, and through the lives of Florence Price, Scott Joplin, and Rhiannon Giddens, we’ll investigate how the African musical tradition continues to influence American music. Additional resources at musicboxpod.org.

This episode was written by Kiana Del and Fiona Palensky. Special thanks to Michelle Tyrene Johnson and Stori Crawford.

Support for the Music Box comes from PNC, the Norton Foundation, and the sustaining members of Louisville Public Media.

Meter: The Musical! Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

-This episode is an extra special musical journey that explores the world of time signatures, also known as meter. We're calling it "Meter: The Musical," which features original music from host Faith Murphy and Kiana Del, WUOL's engagement manager for music education. In the musical, two kids find a magical music box that transports them to Meter World, where they learn about different genres of music and try to find where they really belong.

***

Meter: The Musical! Music and lyrics by Faith Murphy and Kiana Del; book by Faith Murphy

Special thanks to our guest musicians: Noah Barker, Trevin Little, Jailynn Lake-Noel, Fiona Palenski, and Stephen Murphy

Recording and mixing engineer: Eric Matthews

***

Donate to support this and future seasons of The Music Box.