Get ready for a festive round of What Was That Sound?—our special holiday edition! In today's episode, we explore four magical instruments that help create the twinkling, sparkling, joyful sound of Christmas music. Kids will listen to short audio clues and try to guess each instrument before the answer is revealed. It's a fun, interactive way to train their ears and learn musical facts!

To make the experience even more hands-on, don't forget to download the free What Was That Sound? printable worksheet linked here. Kids can write down their guesses, take notes and share what they've learned using this fun printable.

🎧 What You'll Hear in This Episode

Today's four mystery instruments all play a special role in holiday music:

• Hear the shimmering, fairy-like instrument made famous in Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Learn how Tchaikovsky fell in love with this brand-new instrument and kept it secret before the premiere of The Nutcracker!
• Discover how a certain instrument's peaceful, angelic sound creates a warm glow underneath Christmas classics like O Holy Night and appears in many holiday film scores.
• Learn how a certain instrument was originally used on real horses (hint: safety!)—and how composers from Mozart to Leroy Anderson added them to music to create a joyful, snowy atmosphere
• From Handel's Hallelujah Chorus to jazzy renditions of Jingle Bells, this instrument brings sparkle, celebration and energy to holiday music across many styles.

📄 Free Printable: What Was That Sound? — Holiday Edition

Make listening interactive! Kids can track their guesses, jot down fun facts, and bring music learning to life by downlading this printable.

🔗 Explore More Music

• Episode 18: The Trumpet | Busy Kids Do Piano
• Episode 52: The Harp | Busy Kids Do Piano
• Episode 111: Sleigh Bells | Busy Kids Do Piano

• A curated playlist of all four festive musical selections here

✨ Merry Christmas from Busy Kids Love Music!

Thank you for joining me for this joyful, interactive musical celebration. From my family to yours—Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'll see you next time on Busy Kids Love Music.

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In this week's episode of Busy Kids Love Music, we're welcoming the Christmas season with a beautiful and expressive work by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams — a musician who adored both folk tunes and the charming old carols passed down through generations.

🎶 What You'll Hear in This Episode

In Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Vaughan Williams weaves together three traditional English carols into one imaginative and atmospheric piece for baritone, chorus, and orchestra:

• The Truth Sent from Above

• Come All You Worthy Gentlemen

• On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (often known as The Sussex Carol)

You'll learn:

• Why Vaughan Williams was passionate about preserving English folk music

• What a fantasia is and how this piece "daydreams" from one idea to another

• How the composer added "hidden" carol fragments throughout the music

• Why this work was meaningful during World War I

• Details about the piece's 1912 premiere at the Three Choirs Festival

• How Fantasia on Christmas Carols continues to inspire holiday performances today

This episode also explains the unique combination of baritone soloist, full choir, and orchestra, and how the piece begins and ends with a moving cello solo.

🎧 Listen to the Full Piece

Find the complete recording of Fantasia on Christmas Carols here.

🎄 More Christmas Music Fun

Don't miss these seasonal resources from Busy Kids Do Piano!

• Online Nutcracker Camp for Kids

• Musical Advent Calendar

🔔 Up Next

Get ready for a fun musical mystery game in our next episode: "What Was That Sound? – Holiday Edition!" We'll explore instruments of the season with festive sound-guessing challenges your kids will love.

Thanks for listening, and as always — keep listening and keep learning, because Busy Kids Love Music!

In this fun, interactive episode of Busy Kids Love Music, I invite you to step into the orchestra pit of a Broadway theater to solve some musical mysteries!

This month we've been celebrating the release of Wicked: For Good, and today's episode continues that celebration with a special "What Was That Sound?" – Musical Theater Edition! You'll hear short clips from favorite musicals and try to guess which instruments are playing. Each instrument plays a special role in creating the drama, excitement, and emotion of live theater.

This episode helps young listeners train their ears, learn about instrument families in the orchestra, and understand how each sound helps tell a musical story on stage.

🎵 Featured Musicals & Mystery Sounds

1. Wicked – "Defying Gravity"

2. Hamilton – "My Shot"

3. The Lion King – "Circle of Life"

4. The Sound of Music – "Do-Re-Mi"

🧩 Free Printable: Musical Mysteries Worksheet

Can you guess all the instruments correctly? Download the Musical Theater Edition Audio Treasure Hunt Worksheet to write your answers and keep the game going at home!

👉 Download Here

💡 Learning Highlights

• Explore four instrument families in the orchestra.

• Discover how percussion, brass, and strings add character and emotion to theater music.

• Practice active listening and build your child's musical vocabulary through play.

🎧 Keep Listening & Learning

If you enjoyed this episode, check out thh full playlist of songs featured today — perfect for singing, dancing, and listening together as a family! 👉 Playlist Link

Don't forget to listen to Episode 162 about Stephen Schwartz, the brilliant composer and lyricist behind Wicked!

💻 Explore More

• 🎹 Learn piano with Busy Kids Do Piano: busykidsdopiano.com

• 📸 Follow along on social media:

  • Instagram: @busykidsdopiano

  • Facebook: Busy Kids Do Piano

  • YouTube: Busy Kids Do Piano Channel

This month on Busy Kids Love Music, we're celebrating the magic of musical theater — and the brand-new movie Wicked: For Good! In this episode, I introduce young listeners to Stephen Schwartz, the brilliant composer and lyricist behind some of Broadway and Disney's most beloved songs.

From his early studies at Juilliard and Carnegie Mellon to writing timeless shows like Godspell, Pippin, and Children of Eden, Stephen Schwartz has spent his career creating music that inspires and uplifts. Of course, his most famous work — Wicked — reimagines the story of Oz through unforgettable songs like "Defying Gravity," "Popular," and "For Good."

As you listen, you'll learn what it means to be both a composer and a lyricist, explore Schwartz's journey to Broadway, and discover how his music brings characters' emotions to life.

🎵 Featured Music in This Episode

• "For Good" – Wicked

• "Popular" – Wicked

• "Corner of the Sky" – Pippin

• "Defying Gravity" – Wicked

• "No Good Deed" – Wicked

🧩 Free Printable: Audio Treasure Hunt

Turn this episode into an interactive listening activity! Download the Audio Treasure Hunt Worksheet from the show notes to answer fun questions about Stephen Schwartz and test your listening skills as you go. 👉 Download Here

💡 Fun Facts

• Stephen Schwartz wrote music and lyrics for Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. Listen to a full playlist of Stephen Schwartz favorites here!

• He also penned lyrics for Disney favorites like Pocahontas ("Colors of the Wind"), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted.

• You can even spot Stephen Schwartz himself in a cameo appearance in Wicked: Part 1!

🪄 Keep Listening

This episode kicks off a month-long celebration of musical theater at Busy Kids Love Music! Stay tuned for more Wicked-themed fun and behind-the-scenes stories about Broadway composers.

🎧 Subscribe to Busy Kids Love Music wherever you get your podcasts, and don't miss a single musical adventure.

💻 Explore More

• 🎹 Learn piano with Busy Kids Do Piano: busykidsdopiano.com

• 📸 Follow along on social media:

  • Instagram: @busykidsdopiano

  • Facebook: Busy Kids Do Piano

  • YouTube: Busy Kids Do Piano Channel

In Part 2 of our Imogen Holst series, we step into the crisp, colorful world of autumn through one of her most beautiful works — The Fall of the Leaf.

Written in the 1960s and based on a 17th-century English melody of the same name, this short cello concerto paints a gentle, moody, and slightly mysterious musical picture of a single leaf drifting to the ground. We'll explore how Holst uses dissonance, movement, and mood to capture the quiet magic of an October afternoon.

This episode also includes another Audio Treasure Hunt! Download the free printable below and use it as you listen to uncover hidden clues about the music.

🎧 What you'll learn in this episode:

• How Imogen Holst adapted an ancient English tune into her own reflective composition.

• What dissonance is — and how Holst uses it to create mystery.

• How musical movement can mimic the slow, twisting drift of a falling leaf.

• Why this piece feels both peaceful and bittersweet at the same time.

💡 Listening Challenge: As you listen to The Fall of the Leaf, close your eyes and imagine:

• A single leaf falling from a tall tree.

• The wind gently blowing.

• The quiet of an October afternoon. What colors, shapes, or stories come to mind?

📍 Links & Resources:

• Download the Audio Treasure Hunt

• Listen to The Fall of the Leaf performance

• Learn more about Imogen Holst in Episode 160

We're kicking off a brand-new series on the Busy Kids Love Music podcast, and this time our focus is on the remarkable life and work of composer Imogen Holst.

You might recognize her last name—yes, her father was the famous Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets. But Imogen was far more than "the daughter of…" She built her own musical career as a gifted composer, conductor, teacher, and champion of the arts, making an impact that still resonates today.

In this episode, you'll discover: 🎵 How growing up in a musical household shaped Imogen's early years 🎵 Her studies at the Royal College of Music and her path to becoming a composer 🎵 The important roles she played during World War II to bring music to communities and support refugee musicians 🎵 Her close collaboration with composer Benjamin Britten and her work at the Aldeburgh Festival 🎵 Why her music stands out, and how she forged her own creative voice in a male-dominated field

This episode also features an Audio Treasure Hunt—a free printable you can download from the show notes. As you listen, see how many questions you can answer about Imogen Holst's life and music!

Listen now to learn about a trailblazing 20th-century musician whose legacy includes not only her own compositions, but also her dedication to uplifting the work of others.

Resources & Links:

• Download your free Audio Treasure Hunt printable

• Curated playlist of Imogen Holst's music

Think you can solve a musical mystery?

In this extra-fun episode of Busy Kids Love Music, you'll become a musical detective as we play a guessing game with four mystery instrument sounds. I'll play you a short clip from a famous piece of music—your job is to figure out "What Was That Sound?"

Once you make your guess, I'll reveal the answer and share some fascinating facts about the instrument, including:

• The fastest-fingered member of the string family
• The tallest instrument in the orchestra
• The woodwind with a delightfully sneaky tone
• The percussion star that keeps an entire piece marching along

To make it even more fun, I've created a free printable worksheet that you can use to write down your guesses. This is a perfect at-home, in-the-car, or classroom activity to sharpen your listening skills—and you can even quiz your family and friends afterward.

Plus, I've put together a playlist of the full-length versions of all the music featured in today's game, so you can enjoy each piece from start to finish.

Listen now and put your musical ears to the test!

📄 Free Worksheet: Download here 🎶 Featured Playlist: Listen here

It's time for a spooky (but silly!) musical adventure as we wrap up our 3-part series on the brilliant French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.

In today's episode of Busy Kids Love Music, we're exploring one of Saint-Saëns' most imaginative and well-known pieces: Danse Macabre — or "Dance of Death." But don't worry — while the title sounds a bit eerie, this piece is more like a playful Halloween dance party than a fright fest. With dancing skeletons, chiming midnight bells, and a dramatic story told entirely through music, Danse Macabre is the perfect mix of spooky and fun.

Inside this episode, your child will:

• Learn the meaning behind the title Danse Macabre
• Discover how Saint-Saëns uses musical instruments like the xylophone, violin, and oboe to paint a vivid scene
• Hear how a spooky-sounding interval called a tritone helps set the mood
• Use their imagination to picture the skeleton dance party in full swing
• Listen for musical clues like midnight chimes and a rooster crowing at dawn

Don't forget to download your FREE Audio Treasure Hunt! I've hidden six questions throughout the episode for your child to uncover as they listen.

👉 Download it here

Mentioned in this episode:

• Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns
• Instruments to listen for: xylophone (rattling bones!), harp (midnight chimes), violin (creepy tritone), and oboe (the rooster at dawn)
• Previous episodes in our Saint-Saëns series: → Episode 156: Meet the Composer – Camille Saint-Saëns → Episode 157: Carnival of the Animals

Whether you're listening around Halloween or just in the mood for something dramatic and fun, this episode will show how music can spark imagination and tell a story — even without any words.

Get ready to explore a musical zoo like no other!

In this episode of Busy Kids Love Music, we're diving into one of Camille Saint-Saëns' most imaginative and beloved works—Carnival of the Animals. This whimsical suite features 14 short movements, each representing a different animal or creature, from regal lions and squawking roosters to gliding swans and even... piano students!

You'll hear musical excerpts that bring each animal to life and learn:

• Why Saint-Saëns wrote Carnival of the Animals in secret

• What instrument represents the elephant

• Why The Swan was the only movement published during his lifetime

• How this suite became one of his most popular works after his death

PLUS: It's an Audio Treasure Hunt episode! Hidden throughout today's episode are six musical clues. Download your free Treasure Hunt printable and see if you can answer them all as you listen.

Want to explore even more? Sign up for my FREE 5-Day Online Music Camp inspired by Carnival of the Animals! Each day features music exploration, fun piano activities, and creative ways to bring the animals to life. Perfect for music-loving kids of all ages! 🔗 Link to join in the show notes.

Next Week: We wrap up our Saint-Saëns series with a spine-tingling piece—Danse Macabre—just in time for spooky season. Don't miss it!

Resources Mentioned:

• Download the Audio Treasure Hunt Printable

• Join the FREE Carnival of the Animals Online Music Camp

• Listen to Carnival of the Animals in its entirety here

Busy Kids Love Music is created by Carly Seifert, piano teacher and founder of Busy Kids Do Piano, helping families explore the joy of music from their own homes.

📌 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode — and keep your ears open for more musical adventures!

We're kicking off a brand-new composer series—and this one's all about the brilliant French composer Camille Saint-Saëns! 🎼

In this first episode of our 3-part series, your child will discover:

• What made Saint-Saëns a child prodigy

• His early musical education and incredible memory

• How travel and science inspired his compositions

• The tragedies and triumphs that shaped his life

• Why his music stood apart from others in his time

Plus! This episode includes a FREE Audio Treasure Hunt to make listening extra interactive and fun. Can your child catch how old Saint-Saëns was at his first public concert? Or what inspired his "Egyptian" piano concerto?

🎧 Featured Music Includes:

• Organ Symphony

• Piano Concerto No. 5 "The Egyptian"

• Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor

Don't forget to download your free Audio Treasure Hunt worksheet and explore my curated playlist of Camille Saint-Saëns' most beloved compositions.

🎹 Enrollment Now Open: If you've been thinking about starting piano lessons at home, now's the perfect time! Public enrollment for Busy Kids Do Piano is open through August 18th. Learn more and sign up here.

Don't miss Episode 157, where we'll take a closer listen to The Carnival of the Animals—a delightful musical zoo full of lions, kangaroos, and the famous swan.

Until next time, keep listening and keep making music!

Welcome to the final stop on our Around the World with Busy Kids Love Music summer series! In this episode, we journey to the breathtaking island of Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia, where folk music and dance are central to cultural life.

From the energetic rhythms of the ʻoteʻa dance to the booming beats of the toʻere and pahu drums, Tahitian music is filled with movement and joy. We'll explore the traditional instruments, musical styles, and even group choral chants like himene tarava, which blend Polynesian harmonies with European influences.

You'll also:

• Hear samples of traditional Tahitian drumming and singing

• Learn how music and dance are celebrated at the Heiva Festival

• Discover how Tahitian children carry on musical traditions today

• Explore how modern musicians are blending traditional instruments with new sounds

Don't forget! Download your Tahiti Passport Stamp to complete your musical journey around the world.

Check out this playlist on YouTube to view incredible Tahitian performances.

🎹 Plus, exciting news! Public enrollment for Busy Kids Do Piano and Busy Moms Do Piano opens August 4th! Learn more about Busy Kids here and Busy Moms here.

Thanks for joining us on this global musical adventure—see you in two weeks for more musical exploration!