Liz Lyon hosts YourClassical Adventures, a presentation of classical music for kids (and their grown-ups), produced by Melanie Renate. Join us as we ask questions that will help families explore classical music together!

For young listeners and their families, hosted by Liz Lyon and produced by Melanie Renate


APM/MPR

YourClassical Adventures: Episode 63 - The Human Voice

Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov: The Flight of the Bumblebee

The King’s Singers: Horizons

Eriks Esenvalds: Only in Sleep

Elizabeth Lyon joins the classical ranks as our assistant program director and fill-in host after six years working behind the scenes for us as a master control specialist, board operator and producer.


Assistant Program Director

Elizabeth Lyon

Through her many mentors at KROC in Rochester, Minnesota, Melanie Renate learned how to splice tape in tandem with learning how to use her voice. She eventually found her path combining her ability to care for people with her love of radio broadcasting. As a certified health and wellness coach and a passionate yogi and mental-health advocate, she has developed a deep appreciation for ways in which music can aid in overall wellness. She is excited to bring her passion for people with her as she steps back behind the microphone.


Melanie Renate

What makes the human voice such a unique instrument? Join host Liz Lyon, along with producer Melanie Renate, in today’s episode of YourClassical Adventures as they talk about why the human voice is so unique.


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The Human Voice

YourClassical Adventures: Episode 62 - Calming Sounds

Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune

Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata

What makes you feel calm? Knowing it’s the weekend? A clean and organized space? How about a beautiful piece of music to help you relax? This episode is all about peaceful music that helps you relax, stay calm and maybe even fall asleep.


Calm music to help you stay relaxed and grounded.

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Calming Sounds

YourClassical Adventures: Episode 61 - Sounds of Debussy

Claude Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Claude Debussy: Nocturnes No. 1. "Nuages"

Claude Debussy: Estampes Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain)

Estampes Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain)

Claude Debussy: La Mer (The Sea)

Music can often paint pictures in your mind. Today’s episode might inspire you to draw or color those pictures that you see in your thoughts. Join host Liz Lyon as we explore music from impressionist composer Claude Debussy in this episode of YourClassical Adventures.


Claude Debussy's always paints a colorful picture in your mind.

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Sounds of Debussy

YourClassical Adventures: Episode 60 - Lento

Franz Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3

Ludwig Van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 - 3rd mvt

Antonin Dvorak - String Quartet No. 12

How do musicians know when to play slowly and gently? Learn all about the term 'lento,' and hear examples of pieces played in this tempo in the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures, hosted by Liz Lyon and produced by Melanie Renate.


Lento is a tempo marking that tells musicians to play slowly.

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The Slow Lento

YourClassical Adventures - Episode 59 - The Piano

Lodovico Giustini: Sonata da Cimbalo di Piano

Fredrich Chopin: Ballade No. 1

Liszt: La Campanella

The piano has a long and interesting history. Piano players have helped to form the piano into the instrument that we know and love today. Join Liz Lyon in this episode of YourClassical Adventures as we learn a little about the piano’s story and listen to music that speaks to the piano’s evolution over the years.


The piano allows you to play many notes at once.

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The Piano

YourClassical Adventures - Episode 58: Something Spooky

Camille Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre

Carl Orff: O Fortuna from Carmina Burana

Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, “In the Hall of the Mountain King”

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘spooky’? Join host, Liz Lyon on a spooky classical music adventure in the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures, produced by Melanie Renate.


This episode includes spooky, Halloween themed music.

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Something Spooky

YourClassical Adventures - Valerie Coleman

Valerie Coleman: Silver Rain

Valerie Coleman: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit

Valerie Coleman: Umoja

Have you ever used your imagination to create a story? In the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures, we explore the beautiful sounds of flutist and composer Valerie Coleman and hear her ensemble, Imani Winds as they bring creative ideas and stories to life through music.


Valerie Coleman is an American flutist and composer. 

Wikipedia

Valerie Coleman

Your Classical Adventures - Episode 56 - Forte - Let's Get Loud

Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5

Gustav Holst - The Planet: Mars, The Bringer of War

Handel Trumpet Concerto in D Overture

When is the best time to be loud? How do musicians know when to play loud? Learn about “forte” and how it helps musicians know when to play loud or soft in the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures.


Forte means that the music is meant to be played loud.

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Forte

Percussion instruments can be a lot of fun to play. In the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures, we learn about three percussion instruments and how to listen for them in Classical music.

Episode 55: An Intro to Percussion

Richard Strauss: "Also Sprach Zarathustra"

Maurice Ravel: "Bolero"

Aaron Copland: "Hoe Down" from Rodeo

Percussion instruments can be a lot of fun to play. In the latest episode of YourClassical Adventures, we learn about three percussion instruments and how to listen for them in Classical music.


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An Intro to Percussion

This episode explores the music of change.

Episode 54: Changes

Debussy - Arabesque No 1

Ludwig Van Beethoven: "Ode to Joy" from Symphony No. 9

Philip Glass - Etude No 6

This episode of YourClassical Adventures explores the music that was inspired by change — such as moving or living under quarantine — with works by Debussy, Beethoven and Glass.
