Reading the title of a classical piece of music can make you feel like you are already behind. Symphony, prelude, toccata, opus, all those numbers.... Is it important to know what they mean? Performance Today host Valerie Kahler will help decode this confusing taxonomy and give some tips for the next time you open a concert program.

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  Episode 1: What is classical music?
  
  
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  Episode 2: How did the notes on the piano get there?
  
  
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  Episode 3: What does the arm waving mean?
  
  
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Conductors have an important job. They start the music, stop the music, set the tempo, and help shape the sound of a piece. And they do all of this with their arms! However, every conductor does the arm-waving part a little differently. So how do musicians know what to do? This week, our host sits down with conductor Hannah Schendel to help demystify the movement that creates our music.

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  Episode 1: What is classical music?
  
  
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  Episode 2: How did the notes on the piano get there?
  
  
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There are 88 keys on the piano, and each one plays a different note. But how did they choose those 88 notes and why did they stop there? Is that even something someone chooses? In this episode, Dr. Andy Fleser explains the history of one of the world’s most important instruments.

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  Episode 1: What is classical music?
  
  
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