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Artwork for Piano Puzzler
Piano Puzzler
Claude Debussy
Cole Porter
Classical Music
Chopin
Fiddler On the Roof
Felix Mendelssohn
Beethoven
Johannes Brahms
Franz Schubert
Music Education
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Hey Jude
Till There Was You
Gabriel Fauré
Let It Be
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Film Composition
I Love Paris
George Gershwin

Every week on Performance Today™, Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. We get one of our listeners on the phone, and our caller listens to Bruce play his Piano Puzzler™. They then try to do two things: name the hidden tune, and name the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. From American Public Media.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes31Founded20 years ago
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Music InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for Piano Puzzler

Latest Episodes

Contestant: Jim Weeg, calling from Cedar Falls, Iowa

Contestant: Libby Smith Holmes, calling from Saratoga Springs, NY

Contestant: David Harris, calling from Farmer City, Illinois

Contestant: Jonathan Jager from Los Angeles, CA

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Recent Guests

Libby Smith Holmes
A musician with a strong background, residing in Saratoga Springs, New York, and active in local choruses.
Saratoga Springs, New York
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 10/8/2025
Jonathan Jager
Musician with a degree in Jewish music from the Jewish Theological Seminary
Local Community Orchestra in Los Angeles
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/24/2025
Andrew Conkling
A listener and piano enthusiast from Kalamazoo, Michigan
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/17/2025
Belinda Sterling
Music librarian at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/10/2025
Anne Nelson
Lifelong concertgoer and harpsichord builder
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 8/27/2025
Chuck Romportl
Musician and church choir director from Hopkins, Minnesota
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 8/20/2025
Isabella Dawis
A musician who plays piano and sings, she has a strong background in classical music and musical theater.
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 8/6/2025
Francesca Dawis
A violinist and singer, she shares a musical bond with her sister and has experience in musical theater and opera.
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 8/6/2025
Ben Keating
A piano player for the last ten years, involved in high school music, planning to study piano performance and conducting.
Episode: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 7/23/2025

Host

Fred Child
Host of Piano Puzzler, with an extensive background in classical music performance and broadcast journalism.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 699 ratings
  • Fabulous!

    I was just told about this podcast last night! I’ve only listened to 3 episodes. I nailed one composer, and came close on 2 others and haven’t correctly ID’d a song yet, but WHAT FUN this is!!! I have a degree in Music Education and have had music in my life for over 60 years. Can’t wait till I nail both the composer and the song!! Thanks for this! I love a good game/puzzle and one that involves music is even MORE special!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VFDirector
    United States5 months ago
  • The best show

    An absolute gem. Interesting, unique, challenging, and fun. Glad this exists in the world

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    evanfrolov
    United Statesa year ago
  • Exceptional

    A valuable resource showing off the power of music and the unending variety that can be brought to it. It is an unending theme and variations. Exceptional.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    anonymousmahler
    United Statesa year ago
  • Sweet podcast

    I like the piano music

    It was cool

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tara starlong
    United States2 years ago
  • Update?

    I love this podcast and the talented Bruce and would love to see him branch out with a wider range of some newer pieces that folks under 40 might know. The same handful of American Songbook pieces frequently surface - makes it easier to guess but would love to see what Bruce could do with something from the 21st c!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zvbxrpl799
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the unique blend of classical compositions with popular music, providing an enjoyable and educational experience.
Some feedback suggests a desire for more variety in musical selections to appeal to younger audiences as well.
Many reviews highlight the show's creativity and the host's warmth, making the experience feel welcoming and friendly.
The interactive element where listeners participate in identifying tunes adds excitement and community engagement.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/24/2025
Q: What did you hear in there?
Ah, so, very dramatic. Just gonna throw out a composer guess. Could it be Chopin?
Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/24/2025
Q: So music has been central for you in multiple ways over the course of your life?
Yes, and I still play today. I play percussion and sing with the local community orchestra in Los Angeles.
Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/17/2025
Q: So, Andrew, what did you hear in this Piano Puzzler?
Andrew discusses the difficulty of identifying the composer initially thinking of Chopin but eventually settling on Mozart after recognizing hidden elements.
Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 9/17/2025
Q: Andrew, you play some piano, right?
Andrew confirms he has played piano off and on throughout his life, but prefers not to play in public.
Performance Today - Piano Puzzler 8/13/2025
Q: What about a composer whose style Bruce might have been referring to or mimicking in this puzzler?
Rachel guesses a jazzy style and suggests George Gershwin, which leads to a discussion about French composers.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Piano Puzzler

What is Piano Puzzler about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores the realm of classical music using a game format where familiar tunes are transformed into the style of classical composers. Each episode features a listener who attempts to identify both the hidden tune and the composer, fostering an interactive experience that blends education with entertainment. The show frequently connects popular songs from various eras with classical pieces, enriching listeners' musical knowledge and appreciation. Notably, the host's playful banter enhances the enjoyment, making it an engaging experience for both participants and listeners alike.

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How many listeners does Piano Puzzler get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Piano Puzzler?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Piano Puzzler:

1. Composers Datebook
2. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
3. Classical Breakdown
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Piano Puzzler are there?

Piano Puzzler launched 20 years ago and published 31 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Piano Puzzler?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Piano Puzzler?

Recent guests on Piano Puzzler include:

1. Libby Smith Holmes
2. Jonathan Jager
3. Andrew Conkling
4. Belinda Sterling
5. Anne Nelson
6. Chuck Romportl
7. Isabella Dawis
8. Francesca Dawis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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