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 Violas, an 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 Drajos is here to rock the keys for Team Keyboard. It's Katie Drajos 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. So 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, 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.
It 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 Amira side with Sam or Katy?
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 opponents statements.
We flipped a coin. And Sam, you're up first. Tell us what makes violas so vibrant.
Settle down, settle down, everyone.
All right, let's get this rehearsal started with the symphony by Brahms. Here we go.
Wait, stop! Something's missing.
Are you all playing the right parts?
Well, I can hear the melody and the bassline, 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!
Like 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 want both, his disrespect has got to go.
Hey ho, we want both, his 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.
Mmm, nicer to you. I see, uh, 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.
Oooh! 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. 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 Crackey 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 stood out to you about Sam's Declaration of Greatness?
I liked that he showed, like not just facts, but also how the 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 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 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.
Kaydee, I feel like you should describe your keyboard. Yeah, well, my keyboard is smaller than your viola.
Um, I also took this on a plane to Spain earlier this year as a carry -on.
Um, it's, like, the size of my forearm.
It's extremely powerful.
Um, 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, Katy, it is your turn.
Please tell us why the keyboard is king.
Welcome to the King of Krodah!
The only wrestling competition where we see who will be crowned the King of Kings!
In this quarter, we've got the classic piano!
Ready to rumble! Chip Chip cheerio.
And in the other corner, we've got the young synth here to smack down.
I'm gonna have you running back to your motherboard. And here to make it interesting is the keyboard glockenspiel.
Glockenspiel! Which keyboard will win.
Only time will tell.
Now, let's rumble! Geez, I have no idea who will win that fight.
But it's sure gonna be fun to watch. There's so many different keyboards, and I love them all.
Pianos, synthesizers, organs...
I even love glockenspielz!
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 5th 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.
Another key difference between the keyboard and the viola is that the keyboard is affordable.
While most violists 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.
Oh 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! Hmm.
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 micro cork 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 pinned the classic piano!
Oh goodness my back!
Glockenspiel! Oh man, Katy 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 in, so you've just decided to pick up a computer that can sound 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?
And 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 up board some points.
Please give one point to the declaration of 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 usge, but yeah, I feel really good.
I feel like my arguments are strong.
I feel like the other teams 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 raging 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 pedal 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.
Ahhhh. 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 I 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 forever ago my favorite history podcast Whoa, I was not expecting that to work.
Or if it does sound as good.
That's the DJ DOLO technique.
DJ DOLO! When I say pizza, you say bagel.
Pizza! Zorp! Signal down!
Stay right there, tummy -togas.
Must find forever ago, now!
Listen to Forever Ago, wherever you get your podcasts.
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.
My debate idea is French Fudge 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. And 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 style of Country Western.
Twangy, I like it. Okay, Katie.
Let's hear you do it in the 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.
["Lullaby Version"] Hmm, so relaxing.
All right, Katie, your last genre for Twinkle Twinkle is Broadway Musical.
Yes, jazz hands, jazz hands.
All right, Sam. And finally, Avant guard classical music.
All right. Everyone with me, please imagine that I am wearing a black turtleneck and that I look very bored.
Yeah. Ha -ha -ha. Ha -ha -ha.
Cutting edge. Oh my gosh, that was the future right there.
Incredible. Let's hope not.
I enjoyed all of those renditions very much. So 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, Aamir, 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.
How 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.
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.
That is an interesting one.
Yeah. Very nice. Okay.
Katie, you're gonna 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! A 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 instruments sound like a robot.
Yes! I felt it. Angular, metallic, robot -y.
Alright, 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.
And so I don't know about the fairness of that last one.
And 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 your sound like a hollow body piece of wood.
Yeah. Yeah, let's hear that.
Ok cool. I can do that.
I can do that. All right.
You know, it's all up to Emira to take into consideration.
Here is our final challenge.
Katie, please make your instruments sound like the animal of your choosing.
Oh, OK. Okay. Frog.
Ribbit. Love it. Alright, Sam.
Was that a—was that a robot frog?
Because— Maybe. Robots, frogs, are animals too.
Hmmm. That goes with another episode.
Alright, 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.
The Final Six. 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.
Hmm. 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. Alright, add up those points.
Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom best?
I am. Alright, drumroll please.
And the winner is...
Viola. Woo! Oh 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.
Mm -hmm. Also, the cow when he impersonated a cow.
The cow was pretty good.
Pretty, pretty good.
Well, listen, it is always a pleasure to be in any room with Katie Drahos.
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, and there is just no musician I know cooler than Katie.
I'm in awe, truly. Aww.
That's really sweet.
That's really sweet.
Well, I mean, Sam, I mean, it's also a 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 love being able to spend time with him.
And that is it for today's debate battle.
Amira Crown -Viollas, 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 me, Molly Bloom.
Anna Weghel. and Aaron Woldesilassie.
We had engineering help from Derek Ramirez, Dan Cahill and Chris Isaac with sound designed by Rachel Breeze and Anna Wegle.
Our editors are Shayla Farzan and Sandyn Totten with fact -checking by Ruby Guthrie.
And we had production help from the rest of the Brain desk universe team.
Rosie Dupont, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez -Whistler.
Lauren Humpert, Jess Miller, Joshua Rhea.
Marc Sanchez and Charlotte Traver.
Our executive producer is Beth Perlman and 8PM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith.
Our announcer is Marlee Feuerwerker Otto, 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 Kuder, Jessie 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?
Um, yeah, I want to shout out my bands, Butterboys, Ghost Kitchen and Hi 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, Amira?
Any special thanks or shout outs?
I want to thank my family, my friend, Ashlin.
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 vs. potato chips debate.
I think potato chips would win because they are more delicious than french fries but french fries are delicious too.
Bye! Can't argue with that.
Smash Boom Best is a nonprofit 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 you later, after a while, crocodile.
Yes. Can I just tune real quick so it doesn't sound terrible?
Thanks. Yes, please.
Not something I have to do.
All right.
