Why can a piece of music make us feel happy, sad, excited, or even a little uneasy? Rick Steves and pianist Julie Spangler explore the powerful connection between music and emotion. Julie explores examples on the piano, discovering how composers use different musical tools to create emotions and tell a story.

This video is part of Symphony in a Suitcase, a free classroom curriculum from Rick Steves, CET Public Television, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra exploring music, history, and culture across Europe. Find the full curriculum, classroom activities, and more videos at https://www.ricksteves.com/symphony. Visit https://www.cetconnect.org/education for more free classroom resources from CET's education team.