The Music Box

Latest Episodes:

Don't Judge a Song By Its Cover Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

We’ll take a look at how some of our favorite songs have been inspired by stories and books, including how you can make songs out of your favorites stories too! From fairy tales to Maurice Sendak and J.M. Barrie, we’ll take a trip around the library and find the songs that are hidden there.

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Featured music:
Whitney Houston: “Impossible” from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”
Alex Newell: “Mama Will Provide” from “Once On This Island” New Broadway Cast Recording
Carole King: “Chicken Soup With Rice” from “Really Rosie”
Carole King: “Pierre” from “Really Rosie”
Cast of The Wiz Live: “Ease On Down the Road”
Idina Menzel: “The Wizard and I” from “Wicked”

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Ready Player Fun! Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

We’re kicking off Season 5 with an exploration of music from your favorite video games! From Mario to Final Fantasy, from Zelda to Among Us, we’ll learn about how music shapes and enhances the experience of playing a game.

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Featured music:
Nobuo Uematsu: Final Fantasy Prelude 1987 / Final Fantasy XIV, Prelude
Koji Kondo: Super Mario Bros. Theme / Super Mario Bros. Star Theme
Hajime Wakai: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Riding: Day
Hans Zimmer: Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2
Mick Gordon: Doom, Main Theme
Jeremy Soule: Skyrim Theme
Gustavo Santaolalla: The Last Of Us, Theme
Christopher Tin: Baba Yetu
John Siegler & John Loeffler: Pokemon Theme (Gotta Catch ‘Em All)
Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty & Sueco the Child: Speed Me Up

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Holiday Music History Mystery Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

It's the holiday season, and that means holiday music! But you may not know as much about your favorite holiday songs as you think... In our final episode for this season, Miss Faith drops some holiday knowledge. And stay tuned after the show for a special holiday bonus!

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Featured songs:
Andy Williams: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Frosty the Snowman
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Eight Days of Hanukkah
Wham!: Last Christmas
Gene Autry: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Gwen Stefani: Jingle Bells
Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song
José Feliciano: Feliz Navidad
Barenaked Ladies: I Have A Little Dreidel
Idina Menzel: Ocho Kandelikas
Mary J. Blige: Petit Papa Noel
La Rondallita: El Burrito de Belén
Marcela Mangabeira: All I Want for Christmas Is You
Faith Murphy: Cozy Corona Christmas

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Global Explorations: A Visit to Nicaragua Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

Today’s the last installment of our series on music from around the world, where we’ll learn about the music of Nicaragua from Marlon Obando Solano, a native of San Lorenzo, Nicaragua, who now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. You’ll hear about different folk traditions, including dances that tell stories about Nicaragua’s people and history. You’ll also learn a new song about bananas!

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Featured music:
La Mora Limpia - Otredad
El Solar de Monimbo
Nicaraguan Marimba
El Gueguense
Baile del Toro Huaco
Baile la Gigantona
Suenos del Mar - Appalatin
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Resources to help Nicaraguans affected by recent hurricanes and flooding:
Red Cross
GoFundMe organized by Marlon Obando Solano’s family
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Global Explorations: Mountain Music Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

We’re going to the mountains today with musician Cari Norris, who teaches us about the traditional music of the Appalachian region. We’ll hear banjos and dulcimers, fun songs to sing along, and how this music can keep families connected.

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Featured music:
Hillary Klug & Jim Wood: Arkansas Traveler
Hillary Klug: Fire on the Mountain
Jean Ritchie: Killy Kranky
Jean Ritchie: Shady Grove

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All Aboard the Tempo Train! Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

We’re using some of our favorite happy songs to power an imaginary train ride, with a lesson in fast and slow tempo. From grave to presto and everything in between, we’ll move our bodies to the beat.

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Featured music:
Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey: When You Believe
John Lennon: Imagine
Cast of The Wiz Live: Brand New Day
Nat King Cole: Smile
Katrina and the Waves: Walking on Sunshine
Flo Rida: Good Feeling
Eva Cassidy: People Get Ready
Judy Garland & Barbra Streisand: Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again
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Global Explorations: Drumming from Ghana Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Continuing our explorations of music outside the European tradition with our guide Charles Amewudah, a native of Ghana and a drumming teacher. We’ll learn about the different kinds of percussion instruments used in Ghanaian music, and how drumming is part of life in Ghana.

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Aseye Ensemble, the drum group led by Charles Amewudah
More information on the Ewe drumming tradition, including images of the instruments
A video of dancers with a drum ensemble from the Volta region of Ghana

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Global Explorations: Eastward Bound Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

We're taking a (virtual) trip to different parts of the world and learning about music from different places! Today, we'll learn about music from Thailand and Iran with multi-instrumentalist and composer Jon Silpayamanant.

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Born in Udon Thani, Thailand, Jon Silpayamanant is an intercultural multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator based in the greater Louisville area. As a biracial Thai American with musical families on both sides of the world, he has been navigating musical code switching and bimusicality for much of his life and uses that experience to inform his understanding of how music ecosystems interact, hybridize, and evolve into new styles and genres.

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More information on the Saw U

More information on the kamancheh
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Fairy Friend Feud Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

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!

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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

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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!

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Beat to the Future Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

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!

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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

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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.

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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
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