Gain some insider knowledge about music and musicians. What kind of piano gymnastics do musicians have to practice and learn? What are ensembles, and how do the musicians play at exactly the same time? Where do funny lyrics for songs come from? These questions and more are answered in these lively videos. Click through each episode for full lesson plans.

STAND BY ME

KING "Stand By Me"

Play along with our new friends Charles and Peter as they perform this classic hit – with a surprise!

VIRTUOSO VARIATIONS

VIEUXTEMPS Souvenir d’Amérique, Variations on “Yankee Doodle”

Do you recognize that tune? In this episode, special guests share techniques that can make familiar songs sound like something new!

AQUARIUM

SAINT-SAËNS “Aquarium” from Carnival of the Animals

What does a piano sound like underwater? Can a piano imitate fish and sea creatures? Find out in this episode!

ELEPHANTS AND REINDEER AND BASSES, OH MY!

SAINT-SÄENS "Elephants" from Carnival of the Animals / "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

How low can you go? Meet one of the lowest instruments in the orchestra and hear two fun performances in this holiday episode.

MEET PIANIST KENNY BROBERG

MEDTNER Primavera, op. 39, no. 3

Meet virtuoso pianist Kenny Broberg and learn what it’s like to be a professional pianist in this special episode of Cliburn Kids.

PIANOS AND HARPS, PT. 2

CRUMB Music of Shadows (For Aeolian Harp) / CHOPIN Etude in A-flat Major, op. 25, no. 1 ("Aeolian Harp")

The piano can sound pretty SPOOKY when you play it like a harp! Discover the harp inside the piano in this Halloween episode of Cliburn Kids.

 

FUN WITH FIDDLES

LARK Le SOKA / O'CONNOR Emily is Real

Join Buddy and guest violinist Tessa Lark to learn about the versatile violin and hear some fun fiddle tunes!

PIANOS AND HARPS, PT. 1

D'RIVERA Bandoneon

In this episode, we meet harpist Bridget Kibbey and learn about her instrument! Join Buddy to find out what the harp and the piano have in common.

THE CHICKEN

RAMEAU La Poule ("The Hen")

In this episode, we listen to the piano become a chicken! How many chickens do you hear?

 

DO RE MI

CZERNY Etude from the School of Velocity, op. 299

How do singers and musicians learn new songs? Learn about solfege, and be ready to sing along!

THE SUNKEN CATHEDRAL

DEBUSSY La Cathédrale Engloutie

In this episode, Buddy teaches us how the pedals on the piano help tell the story of a cathedral rising from the water.

COUNTING GAME

COWELL A Blarneying Bit

Buddy and his flutist friend Mehrdad show us how musicians communicate and work together.

PIANO GYMNASTICS: FINGER WORKOUT

DEBUSSY Etude for Eight Fingers

How many fingers does it take to play the piano? Find out in this episode!

SINGING GAME

COPLAND I Bought Me a Cat

Buddy is joined by his friend Corrie to play a piece that’s all about animals! Can you remember them all?

HOW MANY HANDS: ONE OR TWO?

SCRIABIN Prelude for the Left Hand Alone, op. 9, no. 1

Think it always takes two hands to play the piano? Buddy demonstrates just how much one hand can do!

RABBIT AT TOP SPEED

BERNSTEIN Rabbit at Top Speed

Singer Corrie joins Buddy to help make a musical recipe for a special surprise guest!

HOW MANY HANDS: TRIO

RACHMANINOV Waltz for six hands

We’ve seen how the piano can be played with one, two, or even four hands. Could we add even more?

PIANO GYMNASTICS: BLACK KEYS

CHOPIN Etude in G-flat Major, op. 10, no. 5 "Black Key"

Watch how pianists work out at the piano! Can you make music using only the five black keys?

LIME JELLO

BOLCOM Lime Jello

Discover strange combinations of foods with Buddy and his friend Corrie. Can you hear all of the ingredients?

NIGHT SOUNDS

FRANK "Scherzo Nocturno" from Sonata Serrana No. 1

Join Buddy and Evan for a spooky fun Halloween episode! Can you hear all of the nighttime animals in the music?

PIANOS AND GUITARS

BACH Prelude in C Minor, BWV 999 / SCARLATTI Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K. 141

We’ve heard the piano pretend to be other things, but can it also imitate other instruments? Find out more in this episode!