Podcasts are all the rage these days. Whether listening in the car, at the gym, or while making dinner, these programs are a great way to quickly learn about the sometimes intimidating world of classical music. Here are a few classical music podcasts to start you on your classical music discovery.
Classics For Kids is a fun, short (6 minute) podcast for elementary aged children. Each month, Classics for Kids features the work of one composer or classical music topic. Parents, homeschoolers and educators take note- Classics for Kids also has a wonderful resource website complete with fun activities for kids and lesson plans for adults.
The Classical Classroom with Dacia Clay
Dacia Clay is the music librarian at Houston public media who confesses knowing next to nothing about Classical Music. Each week, she learns from her co-workers and from classical musicians about the ins-and-outs of classical music. If you are a "newbie" to classical music, you can learn quite a bit!
Performance Today's Piano Puzzler
WSCL 89.5 listeners know that the Piano Puzzler airs each Wednesday during Performance Today. Composer Bruce Adolphe's mission is simple: disguise a popular tune within the style of a classical composer. The Challenge is both to identify the tune and to name the composer Bruce Adolphe is imitating.
British hosts Kelly Harlock and Chris Bland are two twentysomethings who share a secret: they both love classical music. Each week, they bring fun and frivolity to the sometimes stuffy world of classical music through hilarious 60 second music biographies, fun and obscure facts about composers, and and genuine love for exploring music. This podcast is perfect for older teens or college students (they do occasionally use off colour language, however).
Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast
The Met Opera podcast features artist interviews as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of how opera works. During the regular opera season, you can listen to lectures about the upcoming performances to aid in your opera enjoyment.
At the Organ is a weekly podcast about the pipe organs in classical music and the people who play them. The show features interviews with organists and organ builders.
San Francisco Symphony Podcast
Hosted by Rik Malone, the host of the San Francisco's radio broadcasts, this podcast features informative and entertaining commentary about the symphonies and the composers who wrote them.
Hosted by Kevinn Nordstrom, The Great Composers is a more in-depth look at the lives of the classical music composers. You can listen to multi part episodes based upon the life of Beethoven or Fritz Kriesler, for example.
Harpsichordist Anna Stoddard brings you bite sized stories about baroque music along with a bit of music.
Conductor Joshua Weilerstein's podcast is for classical music newcomers and veterans. You can hear artists interviews as well a unique takes on conducting and the state of Classical Music today.
