Musicology

How Classical Music Powers a Child’s Brain

How Classical Music Powers a Child’s Brain

A study by USC's Brain and Creativity Institute reveals that classical music training in kids enhances brain function, boosts cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Education
03/23/2020
The Story Behind the “Borrowed” Melodies of Brahms and Liszt

The Story Behind the “Borrowed” Melodies of Brahms and Liszt

This article explores how composers Brahms and Liszt incorporated Hungarian folk music into their works, sometimes mistakenly using other composers' pieces.

Brahms
03/01/2020
What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains why D major is the most common key for a symphony, highlighting its popularity among 18th-century composers like Haydn and Mozart.

Chapman Challenge
03/01/2020
Why Don’t Trombones Have Valves Like Trumpets?

Why Don’t Trombones Have Valves Like Trumpets?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan Chapman explains why trombones use slides instead of valves like trumpets, tracing back to their 15th-century ancestor, the sackbut.

Brass
10/08/2019

RELATED TOPICS

Pop CultureArts Alive BlogChapman ChallengeEducationKids

MORE TO DISCOVER

Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses Handel's journey with oratorios, from his first encounter in Italy to his profitable English oratorios, culminating in the creation of Messiah.

Chapman Challenge
12/16/2024
What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?

What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains that a Christmas concerto is a type of concerto grosso from the Baroque period, characterized by a Pastorale movement.

Chapman Challenge
12/13/2024
A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall

A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall

Explore the beauty of autumn through music with this curated list of compositions inspired by the season's warm colors, chilly weather, and melancholic mood.

Classical California Movie Music Playlist
11/27/2024
Classical Music and Its Powerful Effect on the Brain

Classical Music and Its Powerful Effect on the Brain

Explore the transformative impact of music on the brain with Classical California host Brisa Siegel and USC's Brain and Creativity Institute. Discover how music shapes young minds.

Pop Culture
11/04/2024
Chapman Challenge: What’s the Spookiest Instrument?

Chapman Challenge: What’s the Spookiest Instrument?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses the spookiest instruments in honor of Halloween, highlighting the eerie sounds of the theremin and the scary potential of violins.

Chapman Challenge
10/31/2024
Trippy Tales in Classical Music

Trippy Tales in Classical Music

Explore the connection between altered states of consciousness and music composition, featuring works by Berlioz, Hildegard of Bingen, and Schumann.

Pop Culture
10/31/2024