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The Music Box The Music Box is an interactive music education podcast for kids, exploring fundamental music concepts through performing, responding and connecting. The current season is hosted by music educators Kiana Del and Fiona Palensky. Each episode gets listeners involved in making music! Short episodes are perfect for a car ride or just hanging out at home. Get printable lesson plans and ideas for extending the learning at musicboxpod.org. The Music Box is produced by Louisville Public Media and made possible in part by support from PNC and the Grace Hopkins Ruml Children's Fund.
The Music Box

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The Music Box

The Music Box

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The Music Box is an interactive music education podcast for kids, exploring fundamental music concepts through performing, responding and connecting. The current season is hosted by music educators Kiana Del and Fiona Palensky. Each episode gets listeners involved in making music! Short episodes are perfect for a car ride or just hanging out at home. Get printable lesson plans and ideas for extending the learning at musicboxpod.org. The Music Box is produced by Louisville Public Media and made possible in part by support from PNC and the Grace Hopkins Ruml Children's Fund.

Most Recent Episodes

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.

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

Listen · 52:33
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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!

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

Listen · 25:18
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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!

Help! My Piano is Haunted!

Listen · 10:39
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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.

The Mad Scientist's Auditory Laboratory

Listen · 7:58
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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.

Behind the Music: I'm a Sound Designer!

Listen · 23:46
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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.

Whistle While You Work!

Listen · 13:03
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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.

Music Doctors: Flamenco Fiasco!

Listen · 10:59
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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!

Water Music: The Curse of the Sunken City

Listen · 12:19
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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 [email protected]

Behind the Music: I'm a Radio Host!

Listen · 9:56
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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!

PEDALMANIA!!!

Listen · 10:07
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