We've touched on music apps in past episodes. But we thought it might be nice to dedicate an episode to some great apps that cover ear training, rhythm, notation and practice. We will also share some of our own ear training tips that we've picked up over the years!
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Continuing from episode 134, Middle Ages Music Pt.2, we will now get into the early to mid Renaissance period. In this episode, we will cover the composition techniques and musical stylings of composers, such as Guillaume Dufay and Josquin Des Prez (within the church and outside the chuch), begining in the 15th century.
May 29, 2025•1 hr 13 min
We decided to dedicate another episode to the purpose of reviewing some of the topics we've covered up to a certain point. This episode, part 3 of our recaps, will cover episodes 40-70! By episode 70, we have covered the equivelent of a "theory 3" level education, in academic circles. We humbly thank you all for your support and for the community we are building. Help us celebrate our time together by enjoying some fond memories with us!
Apr 27, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Melodic dictation, the act of transcribing and notating a melody by ear, is a crucial skill for a musician to cultivate. In this episode, we will focus on the ever elusive Locrian mode. Let's listen!
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 28 min
In episodes 64 and 89, we discussed the roots of blues and country and delta blues. Now we spread out from these genres to cover Texas blues and Piedmont blues. We will discuss how the sounds from these regions stand apart and a few of the main artists that influeced these styles.
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This, our 8th Listener Compositions episode, is all about our fine listeners and their fine talents. Let's hear what they've been up to! This episode will feature the original music of Soren Thomsen (Current Maso), Edward Bender, Thomas Czarples, Emily Zhang and Keith Andrews!
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 38 min
Melodic sequences occur frequently in music. They are often accompanied by harmonic sequences. Certain harmonic sequence patterns are constructed to preserve good voice leading without breaking the pattern. In this episode, we will focus on the descending circle of fifths sequence.
Dec 29, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Grief, and the emotions that come with it, can often effect how we listen to music and how we write music. However, music can be a good companion during the healing process. In this episode we will share our experiences and those of some fellow musicians. We will discuss composers that have been stricken with grief and we will look at ways to use music to help with the healing process.
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 15 min
In episode 132, we merely scratched the surface of Schenkerian analysis. We will now continue our discussion of prolongation and listen to a few more examples of horizontalization. We will then discuss how Schenker looks at dominant and predominant functions. Ready your theory brains!
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Percussion instruments are known to take a beating. Still, it's important to keep them safe, clean and properly maintained. In this episode, we will review the instruments of the percussion family and share some tips we found to keep them sounding and looking their best!
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr
Passing tones, appoggiaturas, pedal tones and suspensions are just a few of the non chord tones we discussed in Ep. 28. Now we will take a little more time training our ears to recognize them. After all that, we will play examples and test our ability to identify them in a chord progression. Let's listen!
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Continuing from episode 75, Middle Ages Music Pt.1, we will now get into the later part of this era. Polyphony is now becoming commonplace. We will discuss composition tools such as oraganum, chant, the motet and the hocket. We will also discuss how other cultures beyond the world of Western music use chant in their own music. Let's go back a bit, shall we?
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min
We, at Music Student 101, believe that music is truly a common language! We wonder how it effects our animal friends. We wonder if some form of music exists among our animal friends. Join us as we discuss elephants, rodents, bats, crocodiles and mosquitoes!
Jun 28, 2024•58 min
Schenkerian analysis is a deeper dive into the sea of theory discussions we've had so far. In this episode, we will merely dip our toes into this counterpoint based system. Get ready for another perspective of how classical music works!
May 28, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Melodic dictation, the act of transcribing and notating a melody by ear, is a crucial skill for a musician to cultivate. In this episode, we will focus on the ever exotic Phrygian mode. Let's listen!
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 42 min
It is time for our 7th Listener Compositions episode. So let's enjoy the talents of our listeners! This episode will feature the original music of Fred Lancia, Mark Christie, Evan Bjork, Tom Richardson, Nikita Menkov and Devin Montes.
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 48 min
One out of every 10,000 people have absolute pitch (a.k.a perfect pitch). Many more, epecially musicians, wish they could have it. It's time to discuss this phenomenon and how it differs from relative pitch!
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Continuing our discussion from Ep.114, we will now focus on some of the more widely known forms of the Baroque period (1600-1750 CE). We will discuss the church and chamber sonatas, the French overture, the dance suites and the fugue, just to name a few.
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 23 min
The Neapolitan chord is a great tool for modulation and for adding intrigue to any chord progression. In this episode, we will talk about it. We will listen to it. We will test our ears and their ability to identify it!
Oct 29, 2023•1 hr 17 min
Today there are hundreds of Native American communities on the continents of North and South America. With each, their own cultures, cuisines, languages and rituals. But at the heart of all of these communities are dance and music. Let's learn about the sounds and origins of their music! This episode will focus on North America (Canada, The United States and Mexico).
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Continuing from episode 112 (Altered Chords Pt.3), we will top off our discussion of altered chords. Ready your theory brain for coloristic chord successions, chromatic sequences and non sequential linear processes!
Aug 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min
To keep your woodwinds sounding their best, it's important to keep them safe, clean and properly maintained. In this episode, we will review the instruments of the wood wind family: the oboe, clarinet, saxophone, flute and bassoon. We will also discuss the many parts involved and how to properly care for them.
Jul 29, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Melodic dictation, the act of transcribing and notating a melody by ear, is a crucial skill for a musician to cultivate. In this episode, we will focus on the Lydian mode. Let's listen!
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min
The sound engineer is the driving force behind a good listening experience at any live concert. If you enjoy the tech end of the music world, you will enjoy what our special guest, Raymond Calhoun, has to say. This career path can lead to some awesome places and some amazing people. So let's get mixing!
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Harmonic rhythm addresses the rate in which chord changes occur within a piece of music. On the surface, it seems like a simple concept. On a deeper level there's so much more to discuss. So let's discuss!
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 13 min
It is time to add yet more listeners to our composing community! They work hard, that we may listen hard! So let us listen! This episode will feature the original music of: Visa Oscar, Alex Turnbull, Aubriel, Lemongrass, Neal Malley and Steve From an Undisclosed Subterranean Location.
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Do animals appreciate music? Do they create their own music? Could they benefit from exposure to the right kind of music? The field of zoomusicology attempts to address some of these questions. In this episode, we will revisit some scientific studies involving primates, pets and some of our underwater friends. It's gonna be a wild time!
Jan 29, 2023•1 hr 12 min
On this episode, we will dig deeper into augmented sixth (+6) chords. We will discuss the difference between these chords and the standard augmented triad. We will discuss the three types: Italian, French and German. Then we will test our ears to see if we can identify them in a chord progression.
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 30 min
Once you've written a theme, or a main melody, there are a number of ways you can develop it and organize it into your overall piece. Repetition, transposition, expansion, contraction, augmentation, diminution, fragmentation, variation and melodic sequences are just a few of the many ways this can be achieved. Let's, listen!
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 24 min
What makes scary music scary? We can only SPOOKULATE! Join us as we examine some well known scary scores in the classic music and cinematic genres. We will discuss some reoccurring themes, such as the dreaded "Dies Irae". We will discuss reoccurring intervals, such as the minor 2nd and the tritone. Grab your pop corn and maybe don't listen all by yourself. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 20 min