From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best. The show for people with big opinions. Hi, I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate is a matchup between two musical marvels. It's viola versus keyboard.
We've got violist and executive director of the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, Sam Bergman, ready to vie for Team Viola. No, listen, I promise it's not a violin. And keyboardist, musician, and member of... many bands, Katie Drejos is here to rock the keys for Team Keyboard. It's Katie Drejos, and I'm here to boast that keyboards really do be doing the most.
And here to judge it all is Amira from Memphis, Tennessee. Amira loves theater, is in her school's K-pop club, makes short films with her pals, and raves about her mother's veggie pizza recipe. Hi, Amira. Hi. So, Amira, what do you like about K-pop? I like K-pop because it has a lot of different types of songs.
So there can be like sad songs, happy songs. Awesome. I've listened to a lot of K-pop too. I really like K-pop, but I'm not in a K-pop club. So can you tell me what you do in a K-pop club? We mostly just watch videos. Talk about stuff that's going on. We kind of just hang out. To kind of keep up on the latest, hang out, listen to music. Sounds fun. What's your favorite K-pop band? BTS. Of course. Okay. You're very wise, clearly.
Do you have any advice for our debaters today? I would say for the debaters, it's important to have a lot of laughs in your debate, but also share important facts. We need laughs. We need facts. Will Amir aside with Sam or Katie? Only time will tell. But first, here are the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds. The Declaration of Greatness.
The micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge Amira will award points to the team that impresses her the most, but she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. Mark down your points. As you listen, at the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom.org, and vote for whichever team you think won. All right, Sam, Katie, and Amira, are you ready? Let's go. Yeah. Let's do it.
All right, then it's time for the... Declaration of Greatness. In this round, our debaters will present a well-crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin. And Sam, you're up first. Tell us what makes violas so... vibrant. Settle down, settle down everyone. Alright, let's get this rehearsal started with The Symphony by Brahms. Here we go.
Wait, stop. Something is missing. Are you all playing the right parts? Yeah, definitely. Well, I can hear the melody and the bass line, but it's like the whole core of the sound has just been deleted. It wasn't like this yesterday. It's the violas. They're on strike. They say they're not going to play until everyone appreciates them. They're over there in the corner with their little picket signs. Hey, ho, we won't vote. This disrespect has got to go.
Hey, ho, we won't bow, because disrespect has got to go. Oh, for the love of... Um, violas... Hello. Do you suppose you might want to join us for some lovely Brahms this morning? Not until everyone is nicer to us. Nicer to you. I see. May I ask, who hasn't been nice to you? Oh, wait. It's the violins, isn't it? Yes. Look, to be fair, the violas don't really... do anything. They don't play the melody like us violins. And they don't play the bass line. They're irrelevant.
Ah, yes, the violist. Underappreciated by many, but beloved by those who know the true secret to a great string sound. Some of the earliest stringed instruments first developed in places like India, China, and the Arabian Peninsula. While we don't know exactly when or where the first viola was invented, we do know that people started using violas in Italy starting way back in the 1500s.
A viola looks like a slightly larger violin, and like a violin, it's held between the player's chin and shoulder. But the similarities end there. The violin is designed to be high-pitched and a little bit shrill, able to kick out a powerful sound over the rest of the orchestra. Violas have a mellower, almost buttery sound. Let me show you. Thank you. It's so buttery, right? That's a tune by my friend Alice Jones called The People Could Fly. And it sounds perfect on viola.
Now, because of its awkward size, the viola is challenging to play. We violists spend... Hours, months, and years perfecting our bow holds and our hand positions. We practice muscle relaxation and breathing exercises like we're in a yoga class. But the payoff is worth it when you hear how warm, full, and resonant our music is. Now compare that with an electronic keyboard, which, let's face it, is really more of a robot pretending to be a whole bunch of other instruments.
It's like those annoying AI prompts that pop up on every website and app now. Hi, I'm Cracky the Keyboard, your digital music assistant. It looks like you might be trying to make a sound like a trumpet. Or a bassoon. Or possibly a hecklephone. Would you like me to help you out with my preloaded artificial hecklephone enabler unit? Ugh, that guy is the worst.
You know, another great thing about violas is that they are team players. They're the Mr. Rogers of musical instruments because they're helpful and cooperative. They support other instruments from within the ensemble. Violists know that music isn't about being the flashiest or hogging the spotlight. Music is best when it is shared.
when we work together to create deep connections between people who might otherwise never know that they had anything in common. And no instrument represents this cooperative approach to music better than the viola. That's right. And did you hear how barren and cold our symphonies sounded without them? Violas give warmth and vitality to an orchestra. Right, violas?
Well, I'm glad we settled that. Now, violas, will you please come back so that everyone can hear just how much you add to our ensemble? Thank you. Now, from the top, once again, this time with all of us. A harmonious ode to the lovely viola. Amira, what's it out to you about Sam's declaration of greatness? I liked that he showed not just facts, but also how viola is used in everyday life and how it makes orchestras better.
Very nice. Katie, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why the viola is no better than an old bowl of granola. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now. Well, I mean just to start off, it's not accessible. Why do I need to know a secret in order to get what this instrument is all about? Also, you play me a viola and a violin. I don't know who's who. Sorry. And also, I was falling asleep until that cool robot showed up and stole the entire show.
So I'm sorry. I just like you made a point of that AI and this robot wasn't that cool, but literally was falling asleep until that cool robot showed up. I mean. And time. I will tell you what, you want to talk about accessibility. Katie is playing a keyboard that in order to even get it into a room to play it for people, she's got to pack it up, unpack it, repack it, set it up.
It takes an entire table to put it on. It's basically a piece of furniture. She has no ability to just sling that thing on her back and then take it out and play it. My viola can go anywhere. It can go on a train, in a car, on a plane, on my back, on my bicycle. And I can play for anyone. Anytime. Katie, I feel like you should describe your keyboard.
Yeah, well, my keyboard is smaller than your viola. I also took this on a plane to Spain earlier this year as a carry-on. It's like the size of my forearm. It's extremely powerful. So I don't really know what you're talking about. So what you're telling me is that you've brought a keyboard today that has a fraction of the number of keys that a keyboard is supposed to have. That's what I'm hearing. Yeah, and it does just as much, if not better. We'll see about that.
All right, Katie, it is your turn. Please tell us why the keyboard is king. Wrestling competition where we see who will be crowned the king of keys In this corner, we've got the classic Chip chip cheerio We've got the young sin here to smack down And here to make it interesting is the keyboard glockenspiel! Glockenspiel! Which keyboard will win? Only time will tell! Now, let's... Jeez, I have no idea who will win that fight, but it's sure going to be fun to watch.
There's so many different keyboards, and I love them all. Pianos, synthesizers, organs. I even love glockenspiels. Why? Because keyboards are a great way to jump into music. Some other instruments require you to learn special breathing or finger techniques, but with keyboards, all you need is the ability to press keys. One, then another, and another, and the next thing you know, you're playing.
Seriously, which sounds like a better music lesson? This? To play the viola, you must shape your hand like a chicken's foot and place your fingers atop these strings. Or this. Just hit those piano keys in this order. Isn't that so much simpler? And with a digital keyboard, you can program in different sounds. So the instrument can sound like... anything. Horns, marimbas, bells. Maybe you like Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in C minor, so you decide to play it on piano.
But then you decide you want to play a little differently, so you program whistles into your digital keyboard. But then you want something sillier, so you make your keyboard sound like butts. Now that's what I call music. key difference between the keyboard and the viola is that the keyboard is affordable. While most violas can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, you can probably find a used keyboard for sale in your neighborhood for like
30 bucks, which means almost anyone can start playing and even writing their own music. That's because the keyboard is a one-stop musical shop. You can use it to create melody, bass lines, and even rhythms. It can be a whole band. That's why so many incredible musicians play the keyboards. Stevie Wonder, Elton John, myself. The list goes on. Plus, keyboards don't break down as easily as other instruments.
Ah, no, bro. I totally broke my guitar string. Dude, you gotta drive to the faraway music store to get a new one. Dude! Dude! Dude! I'm in three bands, and snapping strings is a very common problem. You know what isn't as common, though? A broken keyboard. I've had my microquark synthesizer for nearly 10 years, and in that time, it's never let me down. And it's covered for other instruments when they've broken down because it can make so many kinds of sounds.
I love you, Synth. I love you, Katie. Whoa. I didn't know I could do that, but I'm not surprised. I love keyboards. I love to learn from them, to buy them, to play them. Heck, I even love it when they wrestle. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a match to watch. Oh my goodness! It looks like Glockenspiel has been the classic... Goodness, my back. Glockenspiel! Oh, man.
Katie showing us why keyboards have the keys to all of our hearts. Amira, what stood out to you about Katie's argument? I like that she ended it with the glockenspiel winning. Definitely. Any facts about keyboards that will stick with you? Probably that, like with the keys, they can make different noises, really whatever you program into it. Totally. All right, Sam, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why keyboards don't strike a chord. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now.
Well, listen, I also love a glockenspiel. Who doesn't? But Katie's argument sounded like you don't have an instrument there. You've got a full blown identity crisis. You have no idea what instrument you want to play. And so you've just decided to pick up a computer that can sound like. like any of them, as soon as your mood changes. And frankly,
I don't know what you have against learning to play something and do it well. I mean, if you decided to become a great cook, would you learn to chop vegetables and put things together in a great recipe? Or would you throw a frozen dinner in the microwave? Bad time. First of all, what do you have against people with identity crises? That's my first question. I think there's room for us all here.
Let's be for real. And sometimes you just want a little bit of everything. All right. Amira, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the declaration. greatness that you liked best, and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's jokes make you giggle? Was another team's logic impeccable? Award your points, but don't...
tell us who they're going to. It's completely subjective and completely up to you. Have you made your decision? I have. Excellent. Katie and Sam, how are you two feeling so far? I feel great, per usual. But yeah, I feel really good. I feel like my arguments are strong. I feel like the other team's arguments aren't that great.
I'm feeling good. Sam? I'm feeling all right. I felt good about my argument. I will admit I'm a little nervous about the fact that I did not think to include a pro wrestling match in my declaration of greatness. Yes, well, maybe you'll find a way to sneak that in later. It is time for a quick break. Adjust your bridge and wipe down your keys. And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best. You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
Hello, Debatiacs. This is Taylor Lincoln here with my flower friend. Todd Douglas. We're standing in my garden waiting for my tulips to bloom. I just wish they'd put the petal to the metal and bloom already. You know, this reminds me of a real stinker of a logical fallacy I heard the other day. Those are unbelievably bad arguments that don't stand up to scrutiny.
And this one was the hasty generalization fallacy. That's when you make a bold statement about a group or phenomenon without evidence to back it up. Here, let's listen. Is there anything better than a perfectly maintained garden, Tony? I don't think there is, Jerry. As a matter of... What's wrong? There's a bee in your rose bushes. Bees gobble up all the nectar flowers have to offer. Your garden is going to shrivel up in a few days. What?
Where'd you get that idea? Bees need nectar. It's how they make honey. If we don't stop this infestation, they'll drain your flowers to death. Ooh, wow. It sure sounds like Tony has a problem with bees. I'll say, but he didn't have any evidence to back up his claim. Sure, bees drink nectar from flowers, but that doesn't hurt the flower. Yeah, bees...
actually pollinate flowers, which helps plants survive. Oh my gosh. Taylor, look, the flowers are blooming. Quick, take a picture. We'll see you next time on State of Debate. Brains On Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Smash Boom Best, you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore. It's Alien Laundry Day. While I wash my nose mufflers and tummy togas, I'll listen to a new podcast. How about...
my favorite history podcast. Whoa, I was not expecting that to work or for it to sound as good. That's the DJ Dolo technique. DJ Go! When I say pizza, you say bagel. Pizza! Zorb! Signal down! Stay right there, tummy togas. Must find Forever Ago now! Listen to Forever Ago wherever you get your podcasts. Best. Boom. Smash. Smash Boom. Best.
You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom. And I'm your judge, Amira. And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this potato-based debate idea from Ezra. versus potato chips. Can anyone hear my stomach rumbling? Or mine? We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Ezra thinks should win. And now it's back to our debate. Viola versus keyboard. That's right. And it's time for round two, the micro round.
Today's micro-round challenge is Twinkle, Twinkle, I'm a Star. I'm going to ask each of you to play Twinkle, Twinkle, that famous song, in three different styles. We'll go back and forth. You don't have to play the whole song. as much as you'd like. Debaters, are you ready? Yes. Oh, yeah. So, Katie, you're up first. Let's hear you do Twinkle Twinkle in the style of jazz. Lovely. I was swinging to that. All right, Sam, let's hear you do Twinkle Twinkle in the style of country western.
Twangy. I like it. Okay, Katie, let's hear you do it in the style of dance music. Thank you. Wow. I was grooving. I was bopping. I was dancing in my chair. All right, Sam, let's take it down a notch and let's hear a lullaby version. Relaxing. All right, Katie, your last genre for Twinkle Twinkle is Broadway musical. Yes, jazz hands. Jazz hands. All right, Sam. And finally, avant-garde classical music.
All right. Everyone with me, please imagine that I am wearing a black turtleneck and that I look very bored. Cutting edge. Oh, my gosh. That was the future right there. Incredible. Let's hope not. I enjoyed all of those renditions very much. Amira, tell me, what stood out to you there about those beautiful versions of Twinkle Twinkle? I think the keyboards version of the Broadway musical was very good. It reminded me of, I don't know, some kind of like...
small town music number kind of thing. Totally. I liked the country one for viola. It just felt very country to me. Totally. They were both so good. But... I'm sorry to say, Amir, you can only award one point for this round. The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Did someone really capture the genres? Did someone make you dance? Did someone relax you? Did someone give you a vision? of what they were going for. Have you aborted your point? Yes, I have.
Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy... Sneak Attack. This is our improvised round where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's sneak attack is called Instrument Charades. expressive can your instrument be we're going to give you three challenges and we want you to make your instrument embody that thing debaters does this make sense are you ready i'm so ready absolutely
All right. Sam, you are up first this time. So please make your instrument sound like it's laughing. Ooh. Nice. Nice. Little giggle there. All right, Katie, same challenge. Let's hear your keyboard sound like it's laughing. Hmm. That is an interesting one. Yeah. Very nice. Okay. Katie, you're going to go first on this next one. Please make your instrument sound like it's crying. Ooh. Oh, man. Brought tears to my eyes. Sam, same challenge. Please make your viola sound like it's crying.
Oh, viola buddy, it's going to be okay. Okay, very good. Sam, we're going to have you go first on this next challenge. Please make your instrument sound like a robot. Yes, I felt it. Angular, metallic, robot-y. All right, Katie, same challenge. Please make your keyboard sound like a robot.
I would just like to point out that Katie's instrument is a robot. Fair. And so I don't know about the fairness of that last one. I feel like mine should get to sound like a viola if she's going to get to sound like a robot. Yes, please make yours sound like a hollow-bodied piece of wood. Yeah, yeah, let's hear that. Okay, cool, yeah, I can do that.
I can do that. All right. You know, it's all up to Amira to take into consideration. Here is our final challenge. Katie, please make your instrument sound like the animal of your choosing. Oh. Okay. Frog. Ribbit. Love it. All right, Sam. Was that a robot frog? Because... Maybe. Robot frogs are animals, too. That feels like another episode. All right, Sam, last one. Let's hear your viola sound like any animal you like. We're going to go with a cow. Oh, my gosh.
I can smell the cow. That was so realistic. Well done, Amira. Those were some excellent impersonations, but... only one side is going to get a point. So please, Amira, think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. Again, the criteria are totally subjective. Did someone really nail it? Did someone impress you with their quick thinking?
Have you made your decision? I have. Perfect. Then it's time for our final round. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Katie, let's hear six words that give kudos to keyboards. Accessible, fun, everyone can play forever. Yay! Excellent. All right, Sam, it is your turn. Give us six words on why violas should be victorious. A triumph of the human spirit. I see what you did there.
Okay, Amira, it is time to award a final point for this final six. Have you made your decision? Yes. All right, add up those points. Are you ready to crown one team the smash boom best? I am. All right, drum roll, please. And the winner is... Viola! My goodness. Yeah. Amira, was there a moment that decided it for you? What was your favorite part? It really came down to the final six. It was tied before that.
As close as close can be. Also the cow, when he impersonated a cow. That was pretty good. Yeah. Pretty, pretty good. Well, listen, it is... Always a pleasure to be in any room with Katie Dreyhouse. She's an incredible musician. And, you know, one of the best things about being a musician is getting to look and sound and feel cool while you're doing what you do.
There is just no musician I know cooler than Katie. I'm in awe, truly. Oh, that's really sweet. That's really sweet. Well, I mean, Sam, it's also ditto. Honestly, but Sam... is such a prolific and amazing musician. And being able to even collaborate in this space is so much fun. And I got to learn so many new things about the viola. Maybe I will have more of an appreciation.
after leaving this session, even though I do still love robots a lot. But no, Sam is incredible. And I just loved being able to spend time with him. And that is it for today's debate battle. Amira crowned Viola as the Smash Boom Best, but what about you? Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won. Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios. It's produced by... We'll see you next time.
With fact-checking by Ruby Guthrie. And we had production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team. And we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Sam, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
I'd like to shout out the Apple Hill String Quartet, who helped me record the music you heard in my declaration of greatness. That's Elise Cooter, Jesse McDonald, Mike Kelly, and Jacob McKay. And also, I'd like to shout out the Minnesota Orchestra viola section, where I played... for 25 years.
Wonderful. And how about you, Katie? Any special shout outs? Yeah, I want to shout out my bands, Butterboys, Ghost Kitchen and High Tiny Hairs, which you can catch around town all of the time. And then my cutie husband, David Trejos. Very nice. And how about you, Amir? Any special thanks or shout outs?
I want to thank my family, my friend Ashlyn, and yeah, all the people who have let me come on this podcast and just given me the opportunity to be here. You did a great job. Before we go, let's check in and see who Ezra thinks should win. the french fries versus potato chips debate. I think potato chips are doing because they are more delicious than french fries.
And fries are delicious too. Bye. Can't argue with that. Smash Boom Best is a non-profit public radio program. If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge, or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knockdown, drag out.
debate, head to smashboom.org slash contact and drop us a line. And make sure to subscribe to Brains on Universe on YouTube where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. We'll be back with a new Smash Boom Best Debate battle next week. Bye-bye! See ya! After a while, crocodile. Can I just tune real quick so it doesn't sound terrible? Thanks. Yes, please. Not something I have to do. All right.