Learning and stuff.

In Episode 11: Mendelssohn, "love potion", and Shakespeare with Catherine Lu, we asked for you to send in examples of classical music that's deeply engrained in our cultural fabric. Listener Josh W. wrote in with a ton of examples. If you have more, let us know!

Artists as entrepreneurs, Lady Gaga, horror movies, and Schubert! In this episode, concert pianist, author, lecturer, Huffington Post contributor, and probable superhero, Jade Simmons chats with Dacia about how Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony changed her life.

Peer-reviewed podcast blog, iPodder, had some kind words for our Classical Classroom podcast! Read more about it here.

Samuel Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915", as sung by – no, not Bryan Adams – Eleanor Steber. In this episode, Keith Weber, Grammy-nominated Producer, Director of Music and Organist at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston, and Artistic Director of Grace Song, Inc., teaches Dacia about this all-American commissioned piece.

Ideas from listener Jim:

OK, here's a couple of ideas:
– Perfect pitch
– What's the latest on our understanding of the secrets of Stradivarius violins?  Materials, construction, techniques…
– Current trends in classical music
– Mozart's complex simplicity
– History of the Houston Symphony

Thought: I have never been able to figure out what your first name is.  A lot of the NPR announcers are playing 'branding' games with the way they say their names and/or the names of their shows – the most notable example being the stylistic way Gross says 'Fresh Air.'  Maybe consider how quickly you do (or do not) say your name and the name of your show.

– Jim

Nico Muhly, indie classical, and the future of classical music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer Chris Johnson – our first returning instructor! – comes back to the Classical Classroom.  This one isn't for the faint of heart: there are banjos!

Query:

Hi there Dacia!

I found this production on iTunes. One episode I liked in particular was Episode 10 with Alecia Lawyer in which she guides us through several passages important to the oboe. I think it would be neat to have a many more episodes like this for all of the major orchestral instruments. Are there any more episodes like this in the pipeline?

– Matthew F.

Time for a research presentation. In this Classical Classroom short series, Dacia digs deep into the internets to answer pressing classical music questions and delivers them to you.

Brahms' Opus 118 – plus the first two Intermezzos live! In this episode, Associate Professor Timothy Hester from the University of Houston Moores School of Music, teaches Dacia a bonafide lesson.  Don't miss Prof. Hester waxing nostalgic about his childhood love of Steppenwolf.

Query:

Hi Dacia,

I just want to say THANK YOU from Toronto, Canada. I recently found your podcast and absolutely love the sessions! I'm not sure if this is possible but I think it would be really useful to know what piece we'd be learning about next time. That way I can prepare as you do.

Looking forward to your sessions!

Cheers,
T

Debussy's piano works! In this episode, Windsync bassoonist, Tracy Jacobson, takes Dacia on her journey to continue musical education as a professional musician. She steps outside of her comfort zone and into Debussy. Come with us to Paris, talk in your museum voice, and have some wine. It'll be awesome!

Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Suite from Incidental Music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer and producer, and Cheeto the cat's person, Catherine Lu chats with Dacia. Learn about scherzos, nerds, and Dacia's totally plausible theory about Puck's "love potion".