How Music Does That

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Music -- just vibrations in the air -- can make you feel heartbroken or elated, peaceful or stabby, inspired to save the whales or to invade Poland. This is how music does that.

Dale McGowan


    • Aug 11, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 19m AVG DURATION
    • 87 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The How Music Does That podcast is an absolute gem for anyone with a love for music or a curiosity about its inner workings. Hosted by Dr. Dale McGowan, this podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of music and explores how it affects us emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. With his extensive knowledge and expertise in music composition, Dr. McGowan delivers engaging episodes that are both educational and entertaining.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Dr. McGowan's ability to break down complex musical concepts into digestible and relatable terms. Whether you have a background in music theory or are completely new to the subject, you'll find his explanations easy to follow and understand. The way he connects the dots between different musical elements and their impact on our emotions is truly eye-opening. Moreover, Dr. McGowan's passion for music shines through in every episode, making it impossible not to feel inspired by his insights.

    Another highlight of The How Music Does That podcast is the variety of topics covered. From analyzing iconic pieces by composers like Beethoven to exploring the influence of film scores on our movie-watching experience, there's something for everyone here. Each episode offers a unique perspective on how music interacts with our lives in ways we may not even be aware of.

    As for drawbacks, one could argue that some episodes tend to delve too deeply into technical details, potentially alienating listeners who are less musically inclined. Additionally, while Dr. McGowan's lightheartedness adds charm to the podcast, it occasionally leads to tangents that may distract from the main topic at hand.

    In conclusion, The How Music Does That podcast is a true treasure trove of knowledge and insights into the world of music. Whether you're a musician looking to deepen your understanding or simply someone who appreciates good tunes, this podcast has something valuable to offer. Driven by Dr. Dale McGowan's expertise and passion, it is both educational and entertaining, making it a must-listen for music enthusiasts of all backgrounds.



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    Latest episodes from How Music Does That

    The 1977 Line

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 24:35


    One film changed science fiction scoring for good. So far.

    The Haunting of Figure 8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 17:32


    Schoolhouse Rock was always great. But the music from one particular episode has haunted us down the years.

    How MUZAK Does That

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 20:17


    How did wall-to-wall music find its way into every public space? Meet General George Squier.

    Riffing on Each Other

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2024 23:45


    How a few inaccurate jingles came to represent entire cultures.

    Anatomy of an Earworm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 17:41


    After a month at the mercy of an earworm, I found the cure. Then it all went wrong.

    When the Music Doesn't Trust You

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 31:19


    The mark of a great film score is knowing when to shut up.

    Unsung

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2023 27:10


    They are some of your favorite artists of all time. And you don't even know their names.

    The King of Space-Age Pop!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2023 26:41


    HOW MUSIC DOES THAT returns with a Mexican bandleader whose coloristic imagination defined the sound of the space age.

    Clap When You Damn Well Please [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 26:55


    The revolution starts right damn now.

    The Bagpipe Incident on Which I Thought We Had Agreed Not to Dwell [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 19:37


    30,000 people. 16 measures. One bad decision.

    The Evolution of Cool [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 14:26


    The quality of 'cool' in music has deep evolutionary roots in the brain.

    Grooves [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 16:36


    In Hungary, road plays you!

    Beethoven Was Deaf [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 26:30


    That's not the amazing part.

    Silence [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 22:47


    Sometimes the greatest moment in music is the one you don't hear.

    Where Did We Put Vivaldi? [Encore]

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 22:30


    After greatness came one bad decision—and then, the forgetting.

    Encore: Stop Practicing, You're Ruining EVERYTHING

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 18:55


    Sometimes it's supposed to hurt.

    ENCORE: The Rage of the Third Sons (Carmina Burana)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 22:43


    Eight hundred years ago, they left the church and found the world.

    ENCORE: The Aging White Suburban Music Professor's Guide to Hip Hop

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 21:54


    Put on the good Dockers, Chad. We're going in.

    ENCORE: The Bones of Yellow Brick Road

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 20:43


    Most covers stay on the surface. Sara Bareilles got down into the bones.

    ENCORE: The Sweet Madness of Big Meters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 18:40


    Let's have a wild time.

    The Worst Song In The World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 17:26


    It could be worse. Just kidding.

    The Man Who Tried to Strangle Film Music in Its Crib

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 21:18


    Sternberg didn't like film music—until he needed it.

    ENCORE: As White as Classical

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2021 24:08


    Classical music isn't that white by accident -- and it can't afford to stay that way.

    When You Were Twelve

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 12:45


    If you love a song you don't really care about, see if it's from the year you were 12.

    When Mind and Music Fall Apart

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 38:17


    Can music capture the experience of dementia?

    Dickinson's Island, and Other Unholy Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2021 14:37


    When I was a boy, I sat bored in church, trying to break a code.

    The Unwiggled String

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 17:40


    Children are taught to fear and avoid this sound. All the more reason to love it.

    The Long Way Home in 'Hallelujah'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 23:12


    The lyrics are poetic and evocative. But let's talk about that long trip home.

    Black Shanty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 17:01


    Sea shanties grew in black soil.

    Where Did We Put Vivaldi?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 22:30


    Antonio Vivaldi was a very big deal -- and then he wasn't. But he had a plan.

    TikTok and the Hypnotics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 17:51


    For a few weeks, TikTok forged an unholy alliance of banjo, yodeling, and scientific notation.

    TikTok and the Vibe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 24:01


    Sometimes you find the Vibe. Sometimes the Vibe finds you.

    Music is Made of Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 10:01


    The fact that music unfolds over time is key to understanding its unique power.

    The Deep Playlist of Generation Z

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 15:01


    Yeah, But Why THOSE 4 Chords?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 15:41


    It has to do with monkeys, somehow.

    Whose Monkey Chant Is It Anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 17:38


    It's an electrifying cry from the ancient heart of Bali. Or is it?

    As White as Classical

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 23:51


    Classical music isn't that white by accident -- and it can't afford to stay that way.

    The Words Get In the Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 23:03


    Strip language away, and the human voice becomes a pure instrument of emotion.

    ShortCut: How I Solved the Musical Mystery of My Life

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020 7:15


    One tune tormented me since I was two. I finally figured out why.

    The Epitome Trap

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2020 17:50


    Before every music course I teach, I have the same argument with myself.

    Minimal.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 27:51


    One of the most powerful stylistic movements in music starts with a simple idea.

    The Aging White Suburban Music Professor's Guide to Hip Hop

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2020 25:58


    When Ravel Met Ravel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2020 21:24


    Piano Ravel and Orchestra Ravel are both great. They met only twice.

    Clap When You Damn Well Please

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2020 26:55


    The revolution starts right damn now.

    Silence

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 22:47


    Sometimes the greatest moment in music is silence.

    The Dead and the Impossible

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2020 16:35


    Mussorgsky asked the impossible. Ravel made it happen.

    Grooves

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2020 17:02


    In Hungary, road plays you!

    Too Many Notes!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020 21:31


    WARNING: This episode contains too many notes.

    The Rage of the Third Sons (Carmina Burana)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2019 22:43


    Eight hundred years ago, they left the church and found the world.

    Missing Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2019 19:27


    I'm haunted by the music I'll never hear.

    Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2019 17:19


    Why do kids in many cultures taunt each other with a falling minor third?

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