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Soundcheck

Thursday, May 08, 2008
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  • Piano
    (kevinthoule/flickr)

    The Harmony of Amateur Hour

    For adults, finding time to learn a musical instrument is tough enough. Finding a forgiving partner can be terrifying. Today on Soundcheck: a reporter and a bestselling detective novelist reveal how they joined "piano parties" and something called The Really Terrible Orchestra. And later: we bite into "Golden Delicious," the latest solo album from former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty. He performs live in our studio.

    Poll: How do you get your music fix?: Tell us how you spend your money on songs, albums and concerts in a Soundcheck poll.

Musical Late Bloomers Shed Anxiety

For adults who set out to learn (or re-learn) a musical instrument, private lessons and excruciating recitals are simply not an option. Today, two writers share how they connected with groups of like-minded amateurs. Environmental policy reporter (and pianist) Perri Knize talks about the nationwide network of "piano parties." And bestselling detective novelist (and bassoonist) Alexander McCall Smith takes us inside a Scottish ensemble called The Really Terrible Orchestra.

Our blog: John Schaefer on playing guitar

Piano World's "piano forums" site
Perri Knize's "Grand Obsession" on Amazon
Alexander McCall Smith's "The Miracle at Speedy Motors"
The Really Terrible Orchestra site

Mike Doughty

The '90s alternative group Soul Coughing was a counterpoint to the grunge era, with lyrics inspired by Beat poetry and hip hop rhymes. Frontman Mike Doughty's second solo album, "Golden Delicious," lends that style to songs about the war in Iraq and explorations of '80s culture. He joins us for a live performance.

Mike Doughty web site

audience

Soundcheck Smackdown: When Contemporary Met Classical

Soundcheck

Like vegetables stuck into a delicious meal, contemporary classical music is forced on concert audiences before they are allowed to enjoy their Brahms. So says humorist, critic and author Joe Queenan. Today, Queenan and John Berry, Artistic Director with English National Opera, join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the merits of contemporary music.

musical clouds

You Are What You Hear

Soundcheck

Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi takes us through some of the most famously botched song lyrics in rock history. We’ll explore why the words we make up are usually more interesting than the real version. Then, listeners confess their favorite and most embarrassing reinvented lyrics.

Leave a comment: Give us your favorite set of misheard lyrics! Were you disappointed when you learned the actual words?

Rosanne Cash and Mark O'Connor

Soundcheck

For her, he was a father. For him, he was a boyhood hero. For the nation, he was an icon. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and composer and violinist Mark O'Connor join us to talk about how Johnny Cash has inspired their musical collaboration. And they will play live.

Katy

Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll

Soundcheck

Every year, popular and critical opinion somehow converge to settle on a "summer song." In 2007, it was Rihanna's "Umbrella." The year before, it was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. The practice stretches back to the very dawn of pop radio. Yet defining the essence of a "summer song" is a bit elusive. We enlist the help of Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman -- and of our Soundcheck listeners, in an online poll.

Cast your vote: Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll 2008

Can't decide? Check out audio and video clips of the contestants here.

Our blog: John Schaefer asks what makes a good summer song,

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