Music Blocks

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...

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 af...

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...

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 listene...

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...

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 articu...

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 w...

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 empower...

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 m...

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...

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...

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 son...

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 nati...

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 favo...

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 episo...

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 podc...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 d...

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 yo...

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?...

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 t...

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 ar...

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...