Educational Videos

Fast or Slow Means Tempo

Explore the concept of tempo, or speed, in music.

Technique, Virtuosity, and Soul

Learn about what makes a performance of a piece virtuosic.

'Numbers' by Shruthi Rajasekar

Enjoy an animated accompaniment to a composer’s piece about numbers.

Song and Dance in 'Asturias'

Learn about ABA form through this flamenco-inspired piece.

Color In Music - 'Ballade,' by Germaine Tailleferre

Learn about the concept of timbre, or color, through Germaine Tailleferre's work Ballade.

Opera - Lesson One

Listen to several examples of an “aria,” or a mini-story in opera.

Opera - Lesson Two

Try writing your own mini-aria!

Dvořák In The New World

Follow Antonín Dvořák’s travels from Europe to New York City and the American Midwest.

What Does a Conductor Do?

Conductor Sarah Hicks explains the art of conducting to a group of students.

Teaching Appreciation and Understanding for Native American Music and Culture

Lyz Jaakola explains various kinds of Ojibwe musical expression.

How History Influences Music

Historians often look to music to learn more about a society and its culture.

Rests: Sometimes Music is Silence

Learn about the different types of rests, or moments of silence, in music.

What Music Shares with Art

A short, vibrant tour of several of the connections between art and music.

Expression in Music - 'Gran Partita,' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Experience how music can evoke and express emotions.

Mexican Music - Celebration, Rhythm, and History

A Mexican composer explains the musical styles of two different Mexican regions.

What to Do at a Concert

Designed to help teachers clarify expectations for certain concert settings.

A Roundabout Tale

Learn how rounds work.

How Do Composers Compose?

One composer shares his creative process.

What's in a Title?

A breakdown of how classical music piece titles work.

Freeing Music Improvisation

Introduce the kind of improvisation and ornamentation used in Baroque music.

How to Sing Well

Explore how the voice can be used to make music.

Give & Take - How to Respond to Feedback

Watch a voice student receive and respond to their teacher’s ideas.

How Notes and Beats Go Together (The Rhythm Pyramid)

Learn the basic concepts behind note duration and rhythm.

A Look Inside the Score

An overview of the symbols found on sheet music.

Major and Minor: What's the Difference?

Learn how major and minor can each create a particular mood, atmosphere, or intensity in music.

Teaching Composition

Strategies for teaching music composition in the elementary music classroom.

YourClassical is a public media organization and your support makes it possible.

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

©2025 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.