Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Take one listen and you will quickly discover that this is not your ordinary elementary school orchestra…this one is extraordinary.

On this episode of the Supercast, we find out what makes the Welby Elementary School Orchestra so amazing with students playing and performing at very high levels. Listen in as we learn about the young orchestra members, their love for musical instruments, and making magical music.

Anna Edgell:
We're going to double-check our tuning with everyone. Chelsea, come on up. She's got our notes for us today. Play your A nice and loud. Everyone can hear.

Anna Edgell:
Okay, good. Let's hear your D.

Anna Edgell:
Okay, let's hear E.

Anna Edgell:
It's good. It sounds good. Energy.

Anna Edgell:
Very good. Sounds great. Can you max into a C for us?

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm here at Welby Elementary talking with four students in the orchestra program. Tell me your name and what instrument you play.

Barbara:
My name is Barbara and I play the viola.

Matteo:
My name is Matteo and I play the violin.

Chelsea:
My name is Chelsea and I play the violin.

Alexa:
My name is Alexa and I play the viola.

Anthony Godfrey:
What made you pick this particular instrument? What made you want to play the violin versus the viola versus the stand-up bass?

Barbara:
I just feel like the viola, like there are just a bunch of violins and I want to be like a little bit different, so I chose the viola.

Matteo:
I wanted to choose violin because I didn't have anything to do, and I just saw it and I wanted to play the smallest instrument.

Chelsea:
In my family, we have a tradition where we pass down old violins to our younger cousins or family. I love playing the violin and I love seeing people play the violin and I watch a ton of videos on it and I really wanted to be a violinist.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you've watched a lot of videos about it?

Chelsea:
Yeah, I've watched a ton of videos about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's awesome. Do you have a favorite violinist that you watch?

Chelsea:
Ray Chen.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. Great. How about for you?

Alexa:
I want to play the viola because I thought that the viola was interesting. My parents didn't let me play the violin.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. What made you want to be part of the orchestra program in the first place? You come early to school to be a part of this. Tell me what made you want to play an instrument here at Welby?

Barbara:
Because my family, all my family members except for my dad all play an instrument.

Anthony Godfrey:
What other instruments do members of your family play?

Barbara:
My mom, so everyone in my family used to play the cello but my brother. He quit very early playing the viola so I just wanted to do the viola.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Matteo:
The reason I wanted to join the Welby Orchestra is I felt I was capable of doing a lot more than just going to lessons. So I started doing orchestra in second grade and I've been playing for about two years now.

Anthony Godfrey:
Ha