Hey, how's it going?
Welcome back to another episode of TwoSet Violin.
Today's video is a new format, and it is called...
Time to test our intellectual abilities.
So this was inspired by like, ancient Roman philosophy parties,
where they would pick a topic and they would debate each other.
And the whole point was not who was right,
but it was an exercise in gaining perspective.
So we thought it might be interesting to do that,
but with some musical topics today.
Each person, or each candidate,
can have 1 minute...
(both) ...uninterrupted,
to present their case.
And then after, we'll have...
Let's say, 1 to 2 minutes, where we can banter it out.
So here we go. We got 3 topics.
We haven't thought...
- Yeah, we haven't prepared, by the way. - Haven't prepared, like, or thought anything about these.
The first topic is...
"Pop music is trash."
It's a very controversial sounding statement.
Okay. Scissors paper rock.
- And you can pick. - Oh dude, I'm nervous.
(both) Scissors, paper, rock.
I have my tea ready.
Alright, I'll agree on this one. Agree.
Dude, is there time to think about it?
'Cause I haven't thought about it at all.
Musical candidate Yang,
you have one minute, uninterrupted.
Starting... now.
Well I'd like to say, thank you everyone for watching,
uh, to give me this opportunity to debate.
I gotta stop.
Pause!
Pop music is trash, because of many reasons.
A) Intellectual stimulation has been reduced to four chords,
from symphonic works.
Multiple chords, multiple, you know...
Just, there's so much theory behind this.
B) The imagery that comes with pop music tends to be, uh...
very in your face, for younger generations.
C) It's also very...
Hm.
I don't know if I want to say this.
- Oh, is that it? - One minute up!
Alright. Fair enough.
As much as I agree to those, I must now put the...
- Sip my tea. - The...
- Yeah. - The anti!
Anti hat on. Okay.
Candidate Chen, you have 1 minute, uninterrupted.
Here we go.
Okay, so, all music exists for a reason,
and the music today is a reflection of society today.
The thing we have to understand is today's music,
it's not just about music.
It's a whole package.
It involves often dancing, flexing stuff I guess.
But I don't think necessarily that it is easy to produce those songs.
Theory-wise, it's a lot more basic and simple,
there's a lot of other complexities involved!
Time's up!
Dude, one minute is nothing!
It is nothing.
- Yeah, like... - Well, um, uh...
Nah, just joking.
Okay, so you mentioned
- the complications are not just in the music, it's elsewhere. - Mmhmm.
- And there's a reason why it exists. - Yeah, because why would we compose another Beethoven?
There's already been a Beethoven.
- That's true. - Like, there's no point.
I think it's important that we retain
an understanding and appreciation of history,
- Mhmm. - and these great works, but it also is a bit redundant,
to have another Beethoven.
You could argue about the aesthetics of what we value in today's music,
but ultimately it's a reflection of society today.
That is true. But also...
The way it came from was it used to be more of an art form.
There's a lot more complexities in the music,
people can learn and study it.
Now it's kind of reduced to something that's...
I don't want to say it.
- Yeah? - It hits like, this really...
...primal part of us, we just respond to something.
It's almost too easy to follow.
I think there's still a lot of complexity and training today.
Like, I don't think it's easy to produce a song using a laptop.
I mean, I'm talking about the chordal structures.
It's become harder to actually convince them
to listen to more complicated music.
But the argument is, do they need to?
I think if everyone wants a deeper feel of emotional bucket,
that's probably more important to listen to as well.
That's true.
People complain about social media shortening attention span.
- Ultimately the music reflects the society and the technology today. - Mhmm.
The connotations of saying a shorter attention span society,
that doesn't go into complexity, is trash.
I mean, as much as I actually kind of agree, but...
If we pull that string further, you're kind of saying that
the way that society is progressing, with technology, is trash.
It's not completely trash,
it's just the way that technology progresses with the music
is furthering that, diminishing musicality to people.
- Mhmm. - And we're rewarded for less intellectual stimulation.
It could even just become no chords.
If there's even such [a] thing.
So do you think k-pop is trash then?
- On record. - Oh.
I think k-pop has good stuff, but...
Let me sip my tea.
Dude, that was hard!
I was gonna, I didn't even talk about imagery.
I was gonna say,
do you want your 5-year-old kid to see cows on TV?
Where does that lead them?
Second topic of the day.
"Every kid should learn music in school."
- Oohhh... - I really hope I get affirmative.
Ohh, I don't want a negative!
- Nah, this exercise is about perspective. - Yeah, this is perspective.
(both) Scissors, paper, rock!
Yes!
Oh, almost got a heart attack.
Dude, this sucks.
Candidate Yang, you have 1 minute 30 seconds uninterrupted.
Starting now.
Well, isn't it obvious??
Every kid should have an opportunity to be learning music.
Because learning music has...
Dude.
- Yeah, it's pretty obvious, but. - Yeah, it's...
We're all creative, at one point,
and our right brain has a lot of ability to create.
And creativity comes with innovation,
this is how humanity has kinda grown.
- And music also has part of that. Music has like, - Oooh!
the ability to not just make people create,
but also innovate, and also heal.
Bring people together.
This is why we have national anthems,
this is why we have pieces that represent the cultures,
expressing human emotions, together.
Further than just intellectual kind of work.
Without music, we might as well be robots I guess.
How often do you see a baby kid respond to music a certain way?
Super important.
Dude!
Dang, that was pretty articulate.
Eddy: That was pretty good.
- You were throwing out the big words. - Yeah.
Boom!
That sucks, I don't want to do that.
All right, candidate Chen!
I think the key part of the question is not
whether it's good to learn music,
but whether every kid should have to learn music.
The moment you impose a ideology that
everyone in the world should do something,
you're basically encouraging people not to question that assumption.
And I, for one, believe in free thinking.
If you do music, you want to think about why you're doing music,
rather than being forced necessarily into music
by an education system that just rigorously goes,
"You HAVE to practice 40 hours a day."
What if you have other passions that you want to focus on?
I mean, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, right?
Like, I am not the best at physical education.
Some of that time would have been nice if I could just be practicing
the violin instead of being forced to play basketball,
or things that could injure my fingers, right?
What if someone's a prodigy scientist,
and their time could be spent finding a cure to cancer?
But they're like, "No you have to study music."
And that's my counterargument.
But I mean, you mentioned an interesting fact.
- I agree that not everyone should be condensed to one way of thinking. - Yeah.
- Mhmm. - That's dangerous for...
- Kind of personal evolution. - Yeah.
You will never know what you are capable of.
- Yeah. - But that doesn't mean they shouldn't all try it.
I think there should be a way for every kid
[to] have a chance to respond to music.
Including deaf kids?
Deaf kids, ask Beethoven. Vibrations are a thing as well.
You know, I think deaf kids can also get it differently.
I mean, I'm sure that's why Beethoven composed
all these pieces afterwards.
As the world is moving more towards technology,
I think humans should actually start engaging in
more an emotional side, and being aware of emotions,
of how we truly are like.
But does it have to be through music?
Can it be through art?
- Music and art - - Can it be through...
- But that's the same thing, yeah. - ...other mediums.
- No! - I mean, okay, okay.
It can be through multiple mediums, I agree.
- But music can also enhance art. - So you disagree. Then not everyone has to learn.
Well, music can be enhanced.
This is so bad.
Music can enhance everything.
- I actually don't have anything to say. - Alright.
I hate my sad life.
The last one is:
"Violin is better than the viola."
Dude, imagine getting negative on that.
- I'm gonna get my laptop charger real quick. - Yeah.
- Buying yourself time! - Yeah!
Oh by the way, before we forget...
- Yes! - This video is sponsored by...
...the Bachpach.
Check it out, guys.
Part of our Composers collection.
It even tells you to practice, but it's subtle.
- Okay, last one! - Last one.
(both) Scissors, paper, rock!
You're kidding me!
Are you kidding me!!
You're gonna defend the violas.
Candidate Yang, you have a minute and a half to state the obvious.
I'm just kidding. A minute and a half to present your argument.
Well, need I say more?
There's nothing to say. It's so, so obvious.
I know a lot of violas that were great,
but they were actually a violinist first.
So really, in order to become a great violist,
you have to be a good violinist.
Ohh, ****!
Violin is a lot more flexible.
May get a bit high, but that's okay,
because you have the counterpart cello.
And then violas, if you play tennis, it's a no man's land.
You're not at the baseline, and you're not at the volley line,
you're in the middle, where you're bound to lose.
And come on, there's just so much more repertoire.
Count the amount of soloists there.
I'm sure if you do a popularity count,
by sheer numbers violin is a lot more popular.
Maybe orchestras are there, but
you get to be a violinst first, then cellos,
then maybe consider violas. Just... to fill in.
'Cause you're running out of violinists.
- Now every violist watching this right now is just crying. - I know.
Sorry guys, I went affirmative.
Ohh, wow. Okay okay okay.
All the violists are rooting for you.
- I got the perfect comeback. You ready? - All right.
Candidate Chen, you have 1 minute 30 seconds.
You're just jealous you're not part of the Viola Gang!
Eddy: Wassup!
Eddy: Oh, wait.
Eddy: Alright, here we go.
- I also think, like... - I was like, "That's it?"
Look. Haydn liked to play the viola.
Mozart liked to play the viola.
Beethoven liked to play the viola.
HmMmmMMm.
Why'd the greatest composers pick the viola?
It's because it's the most musically intricate.
There's an analogy that the cello is like the wine bottle,
it's the structure. The first violin is the label.
It's just the branding. It's just a little pretty face.
But the real substance of a string quartet
is the second violin and the viola.
Violists are some of the coolest and most
humble, down-to-earth people.
Whereas violinists can get all weird and narcissistic.
- So... - Time's up.
I feel so gross!
I think all instruments are equal, ultimately.
I think it's very dangerously arrogant to think you're above.
Well. Just look at the orchestra count.
Which has the most instruments?
HMMMM!
- It's 'cause you need more violins to carry. - HMMM!
No, there's more love together. We are one group.
And about the composer thing, I just think composers couldn't keep up
with the violin superiority.
They were like, "You know what? I'll let the actual people practice."
"Real musicians that practice and can do all these
complicated things that I need to show everyone,
and I'll just play the middle harmonies
'cause no one else wants to play it."
Do you realize how wanky you sound right now?
There's a reason why Sibelius didn't write a viola concerto.
There's a reason why there's two main viola concertos. Oh, three.
I'll give you that. Three.
This is so bad. I feel bad for roasting it. I feel really bad.
- I can't even, I can't even rebut this. - I got so much more. I know, I don't wanna—
I don't wanna like, lay it all out.
Look, the fact that good violinists choose the viola
means there's still something there.
Only good violinists had to leave. You had to be great.
And some even become YouTubers.
- We're roasting ourselves now? - Yeah.
Let me sip my tea.
My comeback to that is, I'd rather be a great violist than a bad violinist.
Dude, I just roasted the violas!
No, time's up!
That's it. Oh, that was pretty funny.
Oh, you got unlucky.
Anyway, let us know if you enjoyed this video.
Hit the like button, comment below.
- Let us know who you think won. - Yeah.
- Which candidate would you vote for? - Yes.
Anyway guys, remember at the end of the day it's all perspective.
We have to talk it out.
But the most important thing is whether or not you're in tune or not.
So you better PRACtice.
Intonation doesn't lie.