(lively music) (singers vocalizing) - [Jake And Esther] This is "In Tune."

(graphic swooshes) - You can't have sound (cymbal clashes) without vibration.

And that is something we're gonna be discussing a lot on our show.

- [Esther] When you close a book, (book thuds) pop a balloon, (ballon pops) play a banjo, (upbeat banjo music) vibrations are causing the sound that you hear.

- [Jake] That's right!

(percussion music) If you can create vibration, then you can create sound.

And we're going to hear a band that does that in all kinds (ball thudding) of different ways!

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) ♪ When I'm with you, baby ♪ I go out of my head ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ All the things you do to me ♪ And everything you said ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ We slip and slide as we fall in love ♪ ♪ And I just can't seem to get enough, ah ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ I just can't get enough - [Narrator] That band uses vibration to create sound in so many fun ways.

All instruments use vibration to create sound.

(upbeat music) We're going to learn about two musical instrument families with Jake and Esther, and then we'll learn how musical instruments are played together in groups called ensembles and bands.

First up, the brass family.

Let's check it out!

(graphic swooshes) (uplifting music) (pensive trombone music) - Let's talk about lips.

We've all got 'em and they're a part of the body with very important work to do.

- We use our lips to talk, kiss, laugh, eat.

- And do this!

(Jake grunts) - (laughs) But more importantly, we use our lips to create the vibration that brass instruments turn into sound.

- Yeah, the brass musical instrument family includes trumpets, tubas, trombones, and a lot of other instruments.

But you don't have to just take my lip's words for it.

(graphic swooshes) - My name's CJ and I play the baritone.

I played the baritone 'cause it was like a, thought it was a nice style.

I like playing a high and low at the same time.

That's why I picked the baritone.

It makes me feel excited like, it helps me go through some stuff that I'll go through because I can go, always go play my baritone.

It's very fun to learn the instrument.

You can get like scholarships to high schools by just having an instrument, knowing how to play it, 'cause a lot of people dunno how to play instruments.

So when you learn, it could be challenging, but mostly it is fun when you start learning it.

(graphic swooshes) - My name is Sean and I play the French horn.

(uplifting horn music) I chose the French horn because my brother played it and my brother's pretty awesome.

Now I'm pretty awesome.

(graphic swooshes) - Hi, my name is Augusto and I play the trombone.

(pensive trombone music) - My parents got me this trombone right here for Christmas, so I am able to express emotion through the trombone, making it louder, softer, faster, slower.

And it really helps with the emotion.

So it's really changed my life for the better.

(graphic swooshes) - Hello, my name is Nora and I play the French horn.

I picked this instrument out, the French horn, because I love how unique it is and how hard to play it is.

And it's a very beautiful instrument.

I just love playing it.

Playing a musical instrument makes me feel, I guess, connected with other people.

I've met a lot of friends through music and it just makes me feel generally happy.

(graphic swooshes) - Friends, we're talking about brass today.

- And it just so happens that the polka band I am in has a very talented tubaist.

He's a very interesting fellow and we're gonna talk to him right now.

All right folks, I'm here with Brian Brazier and his- - Sousaphone!

- It's a sousaphone!

Can you believe it?

I am happy to see it.

What musical instrument family is this part of?

- This is part of the brass family.

- [Jake] Is it made of brass?

- This one is.

- Ah!

What else could it be made of?

- Silver.

Well, mostly just brass.

- Mostly just brass.

(Brian laughs) It's the brass family.

Now how do instruments in the brass family work?

When I look over at you, I see you going, it looks like you're blowing into it.

(Jake blows) Is that how it works?

- It is, but you also need to create vibration.

And you do that by using your lips and you go like this.

(Brian trumpets) - Brian buzzes his lips to create a vibration (Brian trumpets) and then applies those lips to what is called a mouthpiece.

This is a part found on all brass instruments.

(mouthpiece buzzing) (upbeat tuba music) Is this the loudest instrument in the brass family?

Do they make louder ones?

- Oh, it can be louder.

It's as loud as you can wanna blow.

- Here, watch this!

(tuba buzzes) Now, other than making loud noises, why did you start playing the tuba, the sousaphone, the brass family?

- Well, I wanted something that was interesting, a little different.

There's not a lot of tuba players out there, but I also wanted something that seemed a little easier.

And you might have seen with a saxophone, there's a lot of buttons on there.

- [Jake] There's a lot of buttons on a saxophone.

- This one only has three, so, (laughs) I thought it was a lot easier.

- What, how old were you when you made that discovery?

- That was fifth grade.

Turns out that's not the case.

It's hard, so... - Any instrument takes a lot of work.

(Brian laughs) Brian, when I see you playing, you look like you're truly enjoying yourselves.

And one of the things I see you do on stage is moving.

You're up, you're down, you're here, you're there.

You're always moving.

Why do you do that?

- Because I just want to be as entertaining as possible.

(upbeat music) And if I could play the tuba and do all those other things as well, I think it's something that the audience enjoys.

But I think about what I'm gonna play and I think about where the chords change, what the music is doing and I think about what I'm gonna do with my actions, with my legs, with my arms.

And as you see, I have a free hand here that I can point.

(graphic swooshes) - Well, Brian, we enjoyed watching you move and groove today.

I think we may even have a tuba solo in store for you guys.

- Woo!

(upbeat tuba music) (upbeat tuba music continues) (upbeat tuba music continues) - Thank you for sharing the sousaphone with us today, Brian!

- No problem.

Jake!

- Before we go, Brian, hit me with another one!

(tuba rumbles) That's the brass!

(graphic swooshes) So in addition to seeing Brian create the vibrations that bring his tuba to life, we saw him coming to life on stage, moving and grooving.

Esther, do you think that movement is an important part of music?

- Absolutely.

I think that music inspires movement, different sounds and rhythms can make you happy or sad or move fast or slow.

- I like to move like this!

Is that, it's a good dance I'm doing.

(Esther laughs) Boys and girls, if you want to create your own brass instrument at home that you can move and groove with, well, we're gonna show you how to do it.

Check this out.

(graphic swooshes) (instrument buzzing) See, you can buzz your lips into an old hose, a funnel, and you can create the same kind of sound.

It won't sound as good, but you can create sound the same way a brass player would.

(instrument buzzes) See?

What do you think of that?

(instrument buzzes) - It's almost like a brass instrument, Jake.

- It's almost.

Gimme some claps.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (Esther laughs) I mean, I mean if you can make sound- - You can make music.

- And that's what we're doing today.

You guys have fun, this is "In Tune!"

(beep) (static crackles) - [Narrator] All instruments use vibration to create sound.

(upbeat band music) You might not know it, but you can be an instrument too.

Our friend Demi uses her feet to make music.

Let's meet her now!

- Hey guys, my name is Demi, and I'm the tap dancer at Postmodern Jukebox and you can make sounds a lot of different ways, but I make them with my feet and I love being a tap dancer, because I'm a dancer and a musician.

Check it out.

(footsteps thudding) (upbeat tap music) (upbeat tap music continues) (upbeat tap music continues) (upbeat tap music continues) (upbeat tap music continues) (upbeat tap music continues) - [Narrator] That was neat!

Thanks, Demi!

Tap dancing is a form of percussion.

And now, buckle up, because we're going to learn all about the percussion family next.

(graphic swooshes) (uplifting music) (upbeat drum music) - Today on "In Tune," we're asking the question, what is a percussion instrument?

- Sometimes that's a tough question to answer, because percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes.

- These are instruments that can be struck (drum thuds) or shaken to produce the vibration that creates the sound that we hear.

- Instruments like xylophones, maracas, bells, drums, they're all part of the percussion family.

- And one of the ways that percussion instruments get used in everything from jazz to heavy metal to polka music is with the drums or what is called a drum kit.

And the person who plays that collection of instruments is called a percussionist or a drummer.

- And next we're headed to drum lessons with a young drummer named Ian.

He plays the drum kit and he's gonna tell us all about it.

(graphic swooshes) - My name is Ian and I like to play the drums.

(upbeat drum music) I started playing the drums about three years ago.

The reason why I like playing the drums is 'cause I like smashing stuff and making loud noises.

Playing the drums makes me feel happy, but when I don't get a song right, I feel a little frustrated.

This is the crash cymbal, it makes the loudest sound.

(crash cymbal pings) This is the ride cymbal.

(energetic drum music) Usually we use the hi-hat to play fast on other songs.

(energetic drum music) And the bass drum's the big drum at the bottom.

(energetic drum music) This is tom three, tom two, tom one.

(toms thud) This drum is the snare drum.

(energetic drum music) Another hard part about playing the drums is you have to use your whole body.

(energetic drum music) You have to think about the speed of the song, (energetic drum music) and you have to think about which note is which so you don't hit the wrong cymbal.

(energetic drum music) (energetic drum music) (graphic swooshes) - Wow, Ian seems like quite the drummer!

- Oh yeah, he does!

That was awesome.

We enjoyed hearing him play.

- So that's kind of got me thinking, Jake.

Is there a way that the kids can try this at home?

- Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you asked.

There is a way y'all can try this at home and I've got just the guy to tell us all about it.

It's Bob Young, he's the drummer (upbeat music) from the group I play in, the Chardon Polka Band.

Let's go meet him!

So I'm here with Bob Young, and Bob Young is the drummer in the Chardon Polka Band.

Bob Young, what is your job as the drummer?

What do you do?

- My job, I create all the rhythms and keep the steady tempo for the band.

- Whoa, hold on kids, I just heard a new word, tempo.

Bob, what's tempo?

- Well tempo is essentially how fast or slow a song is, Jake.

(uplifting music) - [Jake] Bob controls how fast the band plays by setting the tempo.

And he does that by hitting stuff, right Bob?

- Well Jake, to percuss means to strike, so I generally hit things and that creates a vibration and therefore sound.

Now I usually get to create the different sounds that other instruments can't make.

(vibraslap rattles) - But today I want you guys to think about something.

We're not on a stage, we're not in a studio, we're in a kitchen!

Bob, why are we in a kitchen?

- Well, Jake, a kitchen is a great place where anybody can practice to be a percussionist.

- Oh my goodness, you guys might not know this, but at home you have percussion instruments, anything you find that can be struck or hit, you can use to play percussion.

And Bob's gonna give you guys an example of how you can do that at home.

(upbeat percussion music) (upbeat percussion music continues) (upbeat percussion music continues) (upbeat percussion music continues) (upbeat percussion music continues) - That was amazing!

You heard it folks, you don't need a fancy drum kit to work on your percussion skills.

(cup thuds) - Yeah, you can find stuff just around your house and build your own drum kit.

- Thanks for joining us!

Now go make some music.

(upbeat percussion music) (static crackles) - [Narrator] We just learned about two musical instrument families, brass and percussion.

Next, we'll learn about people who play musical instruments together.

When musicians work together, they can create different music than they could separately, here's an illustration.

Esther is going to sing a song.

Jake will play accordion, but they'll also be joined by another musician.

His name is Bob.

(Esther vocalizing) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) ♪ We were as one, baby ♪ For a moment in time ♪ And it seemed everlasting ♪ That you would always be mine ♪ ♪ Now you wanna be free ♪ So I'll let you fly ♪ 'Cause I know in my heart, baby ♪ ♪ Our love will never die, no ♪ You'll always be a part of me ♪ ♪ I'm a part of you indefinitely ♪ ♪ Boy, don't you know you can't escape me ♪ ♪ Ooh, darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby ♪ ♪ And we'll linger on ♪ Time can't erase a feeling this strong ♪ ♪ No way you're never gonna shake me ♪ ♪ Ooh, darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby ♪ (Esther vocalizing) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (Esther vocalizing) (Esther vocalizing) (upbeat music ending) - [Narrator] Was it fun to see folks working together to create a song?

Now let's learn more about creating music in a band or ensemble.

(graphic swooshes) (uplifting music) (energetic band music) (static crackles) - If you have an instrument and you can play a few notes, then you can create music.

- But there is definitely something to be said about the types of music that you can produce when you work together with others.

- Whether it's in a garage band, an orchestra, a choir, or even a polka band.

Musicians and their musical instruments can work together to create music (uplifting music) that they might not have been able to perform on their own.

- There's nothing like performing on stage with a band or creating music with others.

That energy that's created moment to moment stays with you long after you leave the stage.

- Oh yeah, I was in my first band when I was 14 and since then I've always just loved making music with my friends.

But I'm not the only one.

Let's check it out!

(graphic swooshes) - Hello, my name's Jack and I play the trumpet.

I like playing in an ensemble 'cause as a only child homeschooled student, you know, you just wanna work with other people and it's very satisfying to play with other people.

- Hi, I'm Alex (graphic swooshes) and I play the trumpet.

I like being in band because band lets you collaborate with others and it lets you make cool pieces of music that mesh with other instruments.

Think of like a movie.

If you've ever heard a track in a movie or a song in a movie, there's a band behind that and there's an orchestra behind that and all those instruments mesh together to make some of the songs that you know and you may love.

(graphic swooshes) - I play my school's marching band and it's just so much fun.

Like, just learning all the songs and learning all the movements.

It's so much fun.

I dunno, I just love it.

(graphic swooshes) - I like playing inside the ensemble because you make a lot of friends while you're there.

The band teachers are always nice.

It's not like my marching band teacher helped me through my homework and everything.

You know, he didn't really have to.

So it really is really fun to be inside the band.

(graphic swooshes) - Playing music with others in a group like this makes me feel like happy 'cause it's others who share the same work ethic and wanna like work hard and play harder music.

(graphic swooshes) - Hi, I'm Cassidy and I'm an eighth grader that plays the clarinet.

I think it like, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and it gives you like a group to like be part of, like a family almost.

And it's over just like really enjoyable and fun.

- You're listening to and meeting some of our friends from the Snowbelt Musical Arts Association's Blizzard Youth Winds.

They're a group of young musicians who practice together weekly, learn music, and perform concerts for their community.

There are so many different kinds of bands that you can be a part of.

(uplifting music continues) (audience applauds) - This pizza has a lot of different ingredients and toppings that would taste differently by themselves than they would in this pizza.

Here, take flour for example.

There's flour in pizza dough, but you never want to eat it by itself.

Ah, oh!

- Oh, Jake's gonna take care of that.

In the meantime, we're gonna break down the ingredients of a song with the Chardon Polka Band!

- I made a terrible mistake!

- [Narrator] This is Jake's band!

They're playing at a big festival!

- [Jake] But instead of hearing everyone together, we want you to hear how it would sound if all the instruments were playing their parts separately.

- First, let's hear the guitar play all by itself.

(guitar strumming) Next, let's hear the drums.

(energetic drum music) Here's Mitch's saxophone all by itself.

(funky saxophone music) He sure is having fun, but I bet it will sound different when we hear the rest of our friends.

(upbeat tuba music) Brian’s tuba plays the song's bass part.

All these parts are neat to hear on their own, but when you put them together, you can get a song that you recognize!

- [Jake] And now let's hear everyone together and see if you recognize this tune.

(upbeat music continues) ♪ Go for the moon ♪ Hey now, you're an all star ♪ Get your game on, go play ♪ Hey now, you're a rock star ♪ Get the show on, get paid ♪ All that glitters is gold ♪ Only shooting stars break the mold ♪ (audience cheering and whistling) Woo!

- Wasn't it cool to watch all those pieces and parts come together to make a whole song?

- Yep, just like the ingredients in a pizza, they work a whole lot better when they're together.

- Yeah, you can't just eat the flour by itself.

- That is correct, you cannot do that.

(graphic swooshes) No matter what kind of band or ensemble it is, making music with others is an incredible experience.

- Let's keep that vibe going, Jake.

- That's right!

Vibration, (guitars strums) creates sound and you can use that sound to make wonderful music.

(energetic music) - [Esther] And whether you're making music by yourself or you're making music with the group, music is totally cool!

- Thanks for watching "In Tune!"

- Now go make some music!

(upbeat music) (Esther vocalizes) ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune - You know, I hope my guitar is in tune.

♪ In tune (Jake scatting) (Esther scatting) (Jake scatting) (Esther scatting) ♪ (scats) In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In Tune ♪ In tune ♪ In Tune ♪ In tune ♪ In Tune (static crackles) - [Jake] That was so good!

(Esther laughs) (uplifting music) (uplifting music continues) - So you've given me so many great examples of musical experiences, because music has been a big part of your life.

What would you tell a teacher who maybe hasn't been in band their whole life, or isn't a music teacher.

They still have music experiences, right?

I mean, almost all of us do.

What are some, what are some advice or examples you could offer in that area?

- The best thing is to share your experience.

Share your story, share what you love most about music.

What is your favorite genre to listen to?

What has brought you joy in your life when it comes to music?

Because that's how we make connections with our students, is sharing what we love with them.

I think it's really important to be personal and bring that to them and have some history and share that history with them.

♪ In tune (upbeat music) (Jake scatting) (Esther scatting) (Jake and Esther scatting) ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune ♪ In tune with ♪ In tune with you