Hey, how's it going?
- Welcome back to another episode of TwoSet Violin. - Hello.
Today's a very special episode.
Essentially, the Menuhin Competition, is coming up.
Now in case you guys don't know what that is,
why are you even watching this?
Like you guys are so uncultured—
Nah, nah, but our subscribers would know, right?
- Yeah, of course. - Our subscribers are cultured.
If you're not subscribed,
just click the subscribe button right now,
and you have granted you the "Cultured Certificate".
If you're a musician and you have a nightmare of like
this little eight-year-old fetus that just plays Paganini like,
way better than you?
- They go to the Menuhin Competition. - And they...compete.
(Eddy) Yes.
And the thing was, we were meant to show up last year, as guests.
- Yeah, we were supposed to show up. - We were really excited about it,
we had planned a world tour,
- and to swing by at the same time. - Yeah.
I was getting ready to get soul-crushed with...
- ...pleasure, you know. Just... - Yeah. Yeah...
- But, we were spared, by the pandemic. - Yeah.
- Thank you. - But it was also unfortunate.
Yeah, it was very unfortunate,
I was genuinely...super duper excited, because...
I'm gonna make a confession.
I once had dreams,
to try and get in Menuhin Competition.
Oh yeah, like which violinist didn't, right?
Didn't work out.
So anyway,
the Menuhin Competition was like, "Okay,
obviously we're gonna do it virtual this year,
because of the pandemic."
"You guys can't fly here,
but is there anything you guys can think of?"
What they don't know is, we just decided,
you know what, we're gonna join it.
- Yep! We're gonna join it! - We're gonna enter the competition!
Fulfill our dreams!
So um, I got my laptop here, guys.
We're gonna figure out the age group,
there's actually uh...
The senior is 16 to 21 years old—
16 to 21, and how young is the junior section?
Under 16 year-olds.
I just turned 28.
And I'm reaching...
...the end of...my life.
So...how are we gonna even get in?
Nah, you know what, it's fine.
We're Asian, right, like,
- you can't tell how old we are. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Look, look, guys. I'm...
...I'm 12 now. Hello!
Hiiiii!!!
- Just need to shave, and then we'll look exactly like... - Yeah, oh we forgot to shave properly.
Dude, I reckon if I shaved,
- I would look just like Christian Li. - Yeah.
But do we wanna join the senior or the junior?
I'm doing junior, for sure.
Alright, so, okay, well,
let's figure out what we need to play, right?
Paganini, and Bach.
I'm gonna practice my Pag 4.
That's something I played, back in uni.
But I mean, for official purposes,
I played it when I was four years old.
I think I can brush it back up,
how about you, what are you gonna play?
I might try the Chaconne.
For those who don't know,
- Chaconne's like the pinnacle of Bach, right? - Yeah, it's ambitious.
- But, I mean... - But, dude.
- You're gonna do the Menuhin. - Anyway.
You can use that to your advantage, right?
- The Chaconne is so mature, - Yes, exactly.
- you can use your mature life experience. - Yes, yes.
And channel it through my non-existent violin techniques.
Okay, I'm going Chaconne.
- Hrrrr!!! - Let's go!
We're gonna practice together.
Double the productivity.
So if it's gonna be one hour,
now it's gonna feel...like two hours.
Dude, I can't do it anymore.
Good luck.
Didn't Ziyu play it in the Menuhin?
Dude...
Nah, I think it's your turn.
- Okay, alright, alright. - I want to hear your Bach, I'll...I'll work on it...
- ...I'll work on it. - Yeah, you work on it.
I'm lucky I just have an easier,
- and less technical piece...yeah. - Yeah, I mean...
- ...Chaconne is just definitely easier, right? - (Brett) Yes, yes.
Where should I go from?
Nah, f***.
What...?
I'm feeling alright.
- Yeah I mean...you're... - (Brett) Yeah.
- That octave just then was... - (Brett) Yeah.
Very...very in tune.
I'm so ready,
two days is too much time.
- Mwah! Chef's kiss! - Ohh! Perfecto!
That's the winning note!
(Eddy) That slightly out of tune D!
Actually I heard Ziyu was going to perform the Chaconne,
for a concert that's coming up soon.
Ziyu...the one that won the competition?
Yeah!
That we were just watching just then?
Yes.
- Dude, we should call him, ask him for advice. - Oh, let's...let's go.
- Dude, competitive advantage! - (Brett) Oh, yeah...! Whoa!
- That's the secret! - (Eddy) Whoa!
(both) Yeah!!!
High IQ! Unlimited IQ!
- Hello! Ziyu! - Hi!
Hey guys! How are you doing?
We're...not bad!
- Long time no see! -Yeah.
So I heard that you're playing the Chaconne recently,
and I'm actually trying to learn the Chaconne for the uh,
Menuhin Competition.
So I just wanted to ask you for some advice.
But...
...are you not too old for the competition?
- Nah nah, nah nah, we're not. - Yeah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, don't worry about it.
- Nah, we're not old. Yeah. - Nah, nah.
Could you maybe show us how you would play the Chaconne,
maybe give some advice, as a previous winner of the Menuhin?
Sure.
Let me take the violin.
- Please. - Yes, thank you.
- I look forward to that. - (Ziyu) Great.
Whoa!!!
Dude, that was so...
I'm so screwed.
Thank you.
I'm so screwed.
I don't know if you guys can hear,
but that was...crazy!
So, do you have any tips?
Like, how can I play like you?
Well...
I guess you can never play like me.
Ohh...!
Ohhh...!!!
But, um...
...well, I think one good tip is practice 40 hours a day.
Always be prepared,
just enjoy the music.
- Just enjoy the music, bro. - I'm just gonna enjoy the music.
Well, let's see how that goes for me.
It doesn't matter,
a concert or...competition, or...audition,
I always think that I'm going to play for my audience,
even though if they don't love it,
but I imagine that they love my playing.
The most important thing is...
...that you show your music.
Wow.
And always, keep smiling.
Oh yeah, of course.
- (Brett) Okay. - Smile through the pain.
I'll hide my pain through my smiles.
Is there any advice you have on
- specifically preparing for such high caliber competitions? - Yeah.
Well I normally I start to learn the piece, like…
let's say Bach Chaconne,
I start about 7 months before the competition,
and I practice for…for a few weeks,
and then I make a break with this piece,
I [work] on another pieces,
like 2 months later, I just need to [refresh] the piece,
and I get new…ideas, I...
…and it sounds better.
So, my advice will be not only practice
one piece for such a long time,
because you will [lose] your interest.
I guess Brett will be fine then,
‘cause he'll be maximum interested,
- since he's only spent about one hour on the Chaconne. - (Brett, Ziyu) Yeah.
- Yeah, I won’t be bored at all. They’ll be very uh, - Yeah, you won’t be bored.
surprised, if anything.
And another very important thing is
always to watch TwoSet Violin’s channel.
Oh, who's that?
They're just two guys, you know.
They can't play, so...
Aghhhhhh!!!
- We better check out these TwoSet Violin guys, right? - Yeah, we should.
Alright, thanks so much, Ziyu.
Thank you.
- (Brett) Thank you, you have been… - Oh, no problem, it’s a pleasure.
I guess we're gonna go back to
- practicing for our Menuhin. - Yes.
I mean, we didn't start 7 months in advance, unfortunately.
- I mean we've had an hour already, so, - (Eddy) Yeah.
I’m feeling pretty…confident about it right now.
Good luck, and enjoy your playing!
Yes, you'll see us on the headlines,
- Yes. When we win it, yeah! - when we win the competition, maybe.
- (Brett and Eddy) Bye! - Okay, ciao! Bye!
- Oh my god. - (Brett) Ugh.
- Did you hear what he said? - I can’t do it.
7 months to prepare!
Our audition’s in like 3 days.
I’ve only spent one hour on it.
He also said that um,
- TwoSet Violin can’t play. - Yeah, he also said…
I mean, he did say like,
just smile through the pain.
Dude, I think that's the only thing I have left,
smile through the pain.
You know who smiles through the pain?
It's like the sacrilegious Bumblebee.
Of course!
That's it!
That's what we can do!
That's our only way.
HmmmMMmmMMM!!!
That's such an I N T E R E S T I N G idea!
[Geniuses] are born, not created!
- Geniuses are born, not created! - Ohhh!!!!
Oh, that’s so smart!!!
Okay, but seriously,
we got—we’re doing this.
We got this.
Yeah, we got this. Alright.
So uh, Mr. Brett Yang, and Eddy Chen, um,
- [it] says you're applying for the junior division. - Hi.
So…uh, you must be like,
you…you're 15 years old?
- Well… - Yeah, actually, well,
- I’m 12, and he's 11. - I’m 11.
Really?
Oh…well, you're very mature-looking. Um…
Very.
Anyhow, shall we uh, start with your Bach?
Your Bach choice?
Yeah, I’ll…I would like to play…
…Adagio from the 1st Sonata, of Bach.
But um, there's actually a story
I really want to share with you guys.
Um…
When I was four, I started playing the violin,
and when I was nine,
I was diagnosed with a serious illness.
It was called um…um…
…hy…hyper procrastination.
(Brett) Hyper procras—yes.
It was very terrible, I used to practice 40 hours every day,
but all of a sudden I can only practice 30 minutes a day,
and then everyone started…bullying me, and…
It's okay, man, it's okay.
It’s alright.
My mom, my dad, my teachers didn't believe in me…!
Can you guys see my tears?
Oh…well, we saw it, we saw it, yes.
That's very…interesting, uh,
but…you were gonna play something, no?
We didn't really ask for your life story.
That's true. Okay.
I’ll get ready.
That deserved the golden buzzer, I think.
Just…the chair's just in case I can't handle it.
Oh!
Yeah!
- (Eddy) Uh! Yeah! - (Angelo) Okay, stop, stop, stop, stop. - (Noah) Okay, okay.
Come on guys, what’s…what's going on?
Are you sure you applied for the right competition?
This is the Menuhin Competition,
not the [America’s] Got Talent show.
This is the Menuhin Competition,
only the best, the most talented virtuoso young violinists
[get] the chance to perform on this stage.
Sorry, did you say virtuoso?
- Yes, I did. - Because I’m a virtuoso,
I’m actually currently the world record holder,
in playing the fastest on the violin.
I can play 15 notes a second.
Really? Okay.
I was motivated to become the world's fastest violinist
because Paganini once was…
…the world's first violin rock star,
so I’m inspired by Paganini.
So you’ll play some Paganini for us?
Well…
I was inspired by Paganini,
but I’m actually going to be playing Flight of the Bumblebee.
- Actually, time it too! You should time it. - That's so cool! I'm going to time it right now.
- (Eddy) Yeah! - Here we go!
(Eddy) Show you guys how fast I can play.
Whoa!!!
12 seconds!
- (Brett) Whoa! - World record.
That was…
…stunning?
But…look.
We have to be honest with you.
This is…
…the worst performance we've ever seen,
in Menuhin Competition history.
Sorry guys.
No, no, you don't understand!
I…I’ve got hyper procrastination!
I did...people...I couldn't do it because I’m ugly!
I couldn't even get on stage,
no one wanted to hear me play!
I’m sorry to hear that, but…
Guys, this is…this is a violin competition,
not a talent show.
What…what are you doing?
Just…
…yeah.
Okay, okay, so…that's enough.
Stop.
(Noah) We...we have to move on to the next contestant.
I’m afraid you guys didn't make it to the next round here,
um, maybe try America's Got Talent,
and your talents will probably be a lot better suited there.
So um, have a good day.
Bye-bye.
Alright, well, plan B it is.
Wait, what's plan B?