I am Roman again, but I'll let me just fix this one, okay.
All right, I'm ready when you are.
All right, so just some of your name, your age
or what graduated in school and where you go to school.
My name is Andrew Ragman.
I'm a junior at Middleton High School.
Wait, sorry.
What did you ask?
Name, and then you can say your age or your age tomorrow.
Or you can say what year you are in school,
whichever one you want to give,
and then the school, where you go to school.
Okay, hi, my name is Andrew Ragman
and I'm a junior at Middleton High School.
Okay, could you do that one more time?
My name is Andrew Ragman
and I'm a junior at Middleton High School.
Great.
And can you tell us what instrument you play
and how long you've been playing at?
I've been playing violin.
I've been playing it for about eight years
since I was seven years old.
And is that the first instrument you started playing
or did you start with something different?
Yeah, so when I was about five years old,
my mom enrolled me in Kinder Music,
which is kind of like a percussion music thing.
And we had this bringer instrument
kind of like show and tell day.
And one girl brought the violin and I was like,
oh, I want to do that.
So then I had to convince my mom for a year
to let me play violin.
And then that was like my first instrument, yeah.
What is it that you like about violin?
It's very like lyrical and definitely like
obviously one of like the higher instruments
that you can play,
but it also like has like a really deep sound
and I feel like it can really like showcase
like the motion that like humans feel.
Can you tell us a little bit about the place
that you'll be, the piece that you'll be playing
in the final forte?
Yeah, so in the final forte,
I will be playing some various violin,
concerto in D minor, first movement.
It's, it starts out with like a really icy kind
of arctic opening and it's very like emotional.
And as it like goes throughout the piece,
it kind of builds and becomes like more fiery
and like more stormy.
And yeah, at the end, it's kind of just like
everything going on.
But yeah, I like playing it because I feel like
it can like really portrait like a lot of different
like things.
Yeah.
Do you have a favorite part of the piece?
Probably the opening because I feel like it's,
it's not like simple, but it's very simple
compared to like the rest of the piece.
But I feel like that's like the most beautiful part about it
because you're kind of just like setting the ground
and it's just like very like,
I don't know, it's like very ominous and like open.
Yeah, I don't know.
Yeah.
Out of curiosity, how long have you been working
on this particular piece of music?
I started it this summer, like right before I went to camps
and kind of like worked on it at my like music camps
and then I've just been working on it since.
Yeah.
Can you tell us a little bit about your teacher,
Eugene Perdue?
Yeah.
So I've been studying with Mr. Perdue for almost five years.
He's definitely helped me so much,
like not only with technique and like musicality,
but also just like how I like view the violin
and like, yeah, like how I view my relationship with the violin
before like when I would do these like competitions
and just do music things in general,
I'd get like really, really nervous.
But he's like kind of helped me prepare myself
for like these situations and how to like,
yeah, just how to figure out like my emotions.
Yeah, but yeah.
And also just like realize that violin is not like something
that you're going to be always judged on.
It's like a tool to help people and like share
like what you've been working on.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How did you start working with Eugene?
So I used to study at Suzuki Strings of Madison
and a lot of people after they kind of like graduated
from like the Suzuki books
because there's like 10 different books,
you would go to like different teachers
and a lot of people went to Mr. Perdue.
So I was like, yeah, maybe this is my time to like see,
but yeah.
Okay.
Is there anything that's like really tricky or difficult
or that you don't like doing with lessons with him?
Um, no, not really.
I don't know.
Yeah.
He's always been like supportive.
And I think also like what's nice is he never like treats me
that like I'm the student and he has like so much more
knowledge, but he treats me like as an individual.
And we're just like working and seeing like what works best
for like me and like my journey.
Yeah.
Okay.
Um, can you tell us a little bit about your other involvement
with music, I believe you did some singing?
Oh, yeah.
So at Middleton High School,
I'm in choir with Jamie Pitt.
Um, it's really fun to like engage myself
in other types of music that's like not just violin
because like with the violin, it's like a physical instrument.
But like when you sing, it's like your own voice.
So it's like a different way to express yourself.
And yeah, I really enjoy singing.
Um, what kind of music do you like listening to?
Um, it, I feel like it kind of depends as I love listening
to like my pieces that I'm working on in the car business,
kind of like a different way to like retain the piece.
Um, I don't know, I like listening to like pop music,
but also like jazz, like piano music,
kind of like everything.
Yeah.
Um, so for violin, do you enjoy like the more classical stuff
or what, what, what's your favorite to play?
Yeah.
I think, well, I've obviously been more like exposed
to classical music.
But yeah, honestly like anything,
if I was given a piece, I would like try and see it
if I liked it.
Yeah.
But, um, how do you feel when you play the violin?
Um, I feel as though like it's a way to express like myself
without words, I feel like not, I feel kind of like empowered
just knowing that like the thing that I do just like for fun
could like affect so many people like in different ways
and be like an opportunity to like create joy and like, yeah,
just like create an impact on someone's life.
And it's not just like me playing my little violin,
but it's like, can like have a bigger impact.
Yeah.
So like, yeah, it just kind of feels like, yeah,
just like big and like open.
I don't know.
Yeah.
Have you ever played with a symphony orchestra before?
No, not like, yeah, no.
So it will be exciting.
Yeah.
I'm excited.
Have you ever performed in overture before?
No.
Um, actually when I was like 10 years old, um, Suzuki strings
and Madison did this like, um, school thing with, um, Madison
Symphony and we like played O2Joy and something or like something
and we were like on the stage, but I wasn't like playing at all.
I was just like sitting up there.
But yeah.
How are you feeling about, uh, that, that performance
and playing with, uh, so many other talented musicians?
Um.
Of that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's definitely like nerve wracking.
I think it's also like so cool that I'm like able to like share
my music at such a, like high level with other people who are like
so high level.
So I'm definitely like honored.
I'm also just like excited to play and like share my music.
Like it's already like, I've already wanted my eyes just like
being able to play like, like we've all won.
Like this.
Yeah.
I'm like just excited to play.
I don't care about the outcome.
Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, can you tell us a little bit about some of your other interests
and how you like spending your time?
Yeah.
Um, outside of music, I like, well, I'm like part of like clubs in my
high school.
Um, I also like to tutor kids through like a program and
so I go to like Middleton public library every like Wednesdays
and Thursdays and I help like elementary school kids.
Yeah.
But education is like something that I'm like really passionate
outside of music.
So just like, yeah, just knowing that I can make an impact in like
some kid's life and like them being able to like have a
completely different life just because like I helped them a
little bit is like something that I like want to do more in the
future.
Yeah.
Um, can you talk a little bit about WISO and how you got
involved with that?
Yeah.
So I've been a part of WISO for a little more than eight years.
Um, I started.
Yeah.
Like through Suzuki strings of Madison, they were like, Oh,
there's like this orchestra that you can audition for.
And I was like, Oh, okay.
When they do that.
And then yeah, I've just like stayed there ever since.
It's kind of like, I wouldn't say that it like it has had like an
impact on me, but I feel like since I've gone like so many
Saturdays consistently, it doesn't feel like that big of a
part of me just because I've been doing it so long.
But yeah, it's definitely shaped me as like a musician and taught
me like different skills.
Like, yeah, like rhythm and just like being in an orchestra and
how that's so much different than like playing like solo.
Yeah.
Um, can you say, uh, for people who aren't familiar, can you, can
you tell people what, why so is and, um, what it takes to be in
it?
Yeah.
So Wisconsin, you simply orchestras is like a program with five
orchestras, I think, but yeah, there's just, there's like violins,
violas, cellos, like the, um, two, like younger orchestras are
only string orchestras.
And then when you get more high up in like the top three orchestras,
then there's like winds and brass, but it's just kind of a place
where like kids like kind of at any level will be put in orchestra
and they can learn different skills.
Yeah.
And it's a really good opportunity just to immerse yourself in like other
types of music that you wouldn't play alone, just because there's
so many people involved that you can play that like by yourself.
But yeah.
Um, do you have to try out?
Yeah.
So there's auditions where you just like play like little orchestra
actives that they'll give you in advance.
And then like, I think for like the younger kids, you also have to like
play scales or like one of your solo pieces when you're auditioning.
But it's a really easy process.
It's not like intimidating and usually like you'll usually get in
and you might not get in the orchestra that you want, but it's
always going to be a good experience like no matter what.
Yeah.
Um, does YSO have assignment for like first chair or second chair?
Yeah.
So like every cycle will get an email like with the seating
chart and like our music, but yeah, it's just like you see where
your name is and you sit in the chair.
But yeah.
Uh, so what, what's your role in the orchestra?
So right now I'm a assistant concert master and then the concert
master right now is actually Jane's story.
It was like a previous, um, finalist in the final forte last year.
But yeah, it's kind of, yeah, it's cool to be in the front and just
like learn different skills.
I know that if I go into music or whatever I do, then I'll be able
to use those skills.
Yeah.
Uh, does the assistant concert master have any other, um, roles
or responsibilities?
Um, well, just kind of like leading the section because like you're
in the front row also like Jane's gone.
Then I have to fill in, but no, not really.
And also like wherever you are, like in the section, you're always
going to have like an important part because like you're the one,
like creating the sound like no matter if you're last year or like
first year, it really doesn't matter.
Yeah.
Um, can you talk a little bit about, uh, what you do with the music
makers before, uh, Wyso rehearsals?
Yeah.
So I'm a teen teacher at, for Wyso music makers, which is a program
that's for, it's not only like an orchestra program, but there's
like individualized lessons for kids who are just starting music.
And yeah, I think it's like a subsidized tuition.
So it's a little bit less than if like you, like if you didn't have
like the full bone, like you want to just like drop a bunch of money
on violin and you just want to like experience like what it would
be like.
That's kind of what it is.
But it's really cool to work with younger kids and like just kind of
take myself back because it's kind of, you can like get stuck in a
mindset where like, oh, I need to keep getting better like this and
this is bad, but also like I was once like a kid like them just like
trying to like play in the Easter egg.
So yeah, I think it's cool to just like remember that each Saturday
like I'm there to like just learn and like go back to the basics.
Yeah.
What else do you enjoy about working with the kids?
Um, there, I think the kids have like such curiosity and such like
openness for violin, which like I feel like everyone has when they
start and it can change as you grow older because there's like
more expectations, but just like being there to like play music
and to like, yeah, just like learn more.
They're like full of curiosity and I think that's so cool.
And yeah, they just don't care.
They just want to play music.
Can you talk a little bit about CrossFit?
Yeah.
Um, I started CrossFit in 2020 because I have two older brothers
and one of my, well, my oldest brother was a captain in the Marine Corps.
So he was always like pretty fit.
And my other brother was like on varsity basketball.
So he's definitely fit too.
So we were trying to find a way to, um, say fit throughout COVID and they
did CrossFit before COVID, but I was like, oh, I want to do that.
So I've like done like, yeah, I've done like lifting and running.
And it's kind of just like combines everything.
And I feel like it's a CrossFit is like a different way for me to like set
goals for myself because I feel like violin is very like subjective.
Like you don't know if you're improving or not, but like with like CrossFit,
like if you have a heavier weight, like you know that you've like improved
because like now you can have a heavier weight like with more reps.
But yeah, it's like, and I feel like it's also a way to like get all of your
emotions out and like, yeah.
Um, how do you feel before a workout and after a workout?
Um, before a workout.
Usually I feel excited because I know I'm going to like enjoy it after.
Sometimes I'm nervous because I'm like, oh, this is running to be really hard.
Um, but after I always feel good because like I completed it and like, yeah,
I always feel stronger after.
Um, are most of your CrossFit classes with a lot of other people or on your own?
Um, sometimes they're on my own if I want to like work on specific things,
but usually there's like, yeah, other high schoolers just like coming to train.
So it's like fun. Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, are you ever worried that you're going to like injure your hands and then not be able to play the violin?
Um, yeah, that happened.
Yeah, there's been like a couple of times where I've like thrown medicine balls
and then I've like caught them and I was like, oh, that hurt my finger.
But like, yeah, it's fine.
Like I've dropped like a play on my foot, but I feel like that's just part of life.
Like you're going to get hurt.
So it's, yeah.
Yeah.
Um, can you talk a bit about your cultural heritage?
Yeah.
So I'm half Indian, half Lithuanian.
Um, it's kind of cool to like know that I'm a part of like so many different like cultures because I've been to India
and I've also been to Lithuania and it, yeah, they're just like so different in themselves.
Just like, I feel like Lithuania is almost like more similar to Wisconsin, just based off of temperature.
But they like both have such like unique different cultures.
Like Lithuanians, obviously like very like European, very like, yeah, I don't know.
There's like a very distinct culture in India is kind of just like its own culture.
So I feel like being immersed in like such different cultures makes me feel like I'm a part of like so many different things.
I don't know.
Earlier when we were talking, you said that you go to Lithuania in the summer a lot, but that can make it hard for violin.
Yeah.
Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Yeah.
So every like in the beginning of August, my family always goes to Lithuania.
But with like music camps, they usually like bleed into August and it kind of makes it hard for me to like take an international flight.
And then if I'm like skipping camp, but yeah, it used to be like a very big part and I get to like see my cousins every summer.
But yeah, I don't know.
So it's just hard to spend that with music camps.
Yeah.
When you travel, do you take your violin with you?
I do.
Yeah.
It's kind of always like, well, it's not a hassle, but you always have to be like cautious.
Always someone like putting their suitcase in top of my violin or like, oh, like, how's it going through?
It's like TSA when it goes like through security.
They always have to like open and hand check it.
And then it takes like a while.
So it's just like annoying, but it's fine.
So is that like one of your carry-ons?
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
I wouldn't imagine you want other big handleers.
Yeah, I wouldn't be putting it underneath.
Have you gotten to participate in music performances or anything when you are in Lithuania or India?
No, not really.
Just because like, yeah, I haven't really done that.
That would be something interesting to look into.
I just think that like when I'm in Lithuania, I just kind of like try to stay like with family and all like practice.
Obviously, but I try to like immerse myself in other things just because I do like music a lot like when I'm home.
Yeah, that makes sense.
So how often are you playing or practicing violin?
It really depends like on the day and like the time in school.
I feel like sometimes I get like bombarded with like homework and then I'm like, oh, I will not be practicing tonight.
But I try to like practice anywhere between like one hour and like three hours a day.
But it really depends.
Like sometimes it's half an hour and then sometimes it's like, oh, I have no homework.
Like I'll practice four hours.
It just like really, it really depends on like the schedule.
Yeah.
But it's really nice to go to like music summer camps.
Like at Meadowmount, we're like required to practice five hours a day.
So just like having that like time that it's like, okay, everyone else is practicing.
Like I can just like stay calm and practice is really nice to like have that foundation.
So when I get back and like I have a bunch of homework, like I know I've done like a lot of work like before.
So like I'll be fine.
So backing up to CrossFit a little bit.
Can you tell us a little bit about you work with one coach mostly?
Yeah.
So Keisha, she does like all of the high school classes and like the younger groups.
But yeah, I've always worked with her.
She's super nice.
She's like definitely supportive, but she's also a little bit like she'll definitely be like in your face.
If you're not working as hard as like she knows you can.
But yeah, I definitely like her and she's like always been a big supporter.
So yeah.
Are there any exercises that you really dread doing?
Um, I definitely don't like long distance running.
I've definitely never been a long distance runner.
I love sprints and like, yeah, like just regular weightlifting.
But like any like long distance running, I'm like, or if we do like a type of like CrossFit workout
where it's like lifting and like running and then like box jumps and like a bunch of different things
then it gets kind of long.
And then there's like a time cap so you know that you're going to be working until this time.
So it's like kind of hard.
But yeah, I usually like things like CrossFit.
Can you talk a little bit about the card group that you are involved with at school?
Yeah, so I'm on board of like letters of love, which is like a high school chapter because letters of love is like a global club.
And it's like making cards for kids in the hospital who like might be feeling like a little bit down in like an uncertain time.
And it just kind of, yeah, it's just trying to make an impact on different kids' lives even if we can't like meet them or like help them in any other way.
But yeah, it's really cool to know that like I might have like made an impact in someone's life or brighten up their day just by like making a five minute card.
And then you said you also do student senate?
Yeah, so I'm a grade like representative for my student senate.
So we have like a different grade representative so like two per grade.
And then we also have like equity senators and we work with like the school principal to kind of just talk about like school issues that we're seeing.
We also work with like just like district-wide staff to try to like implement different policies that will really like respect the ideas of the students while also like respecting the teachers as well.
So just like kind of making our school a better place.
Yeah.
What else do you like to do to relax?
I love sleeping.
I know that's weird.
Yeah, I definitely like sleeping. It definitely clears my mind.
I like playing with my dog.
Yeah, I also really like to bake and like cook when I can.
So just like making different dinners and like making different desserts is kind of fun and like therapeutic.
You tell us a little bit about your dog?
Yeah, so my dog's name is Molly. She's a German Shepherd Husky mix.
She's definitely full of energy.
But she's also like very caring and like she'll leave you alone if you need space.
But yeah, I've had her for five years and she's just been like a goofball.
Does Molly like to listen to you practice?
She does actually. She'll like usually lie down by like my stand or she'll like start barking at me to like stop playing.
But yeah, she doesn't, I don't think she hates the violin because I know like some dogs like really dislike music.
But yeah, I think she's fine with it.
That's nice.
Cool.
Are there any other hobbies that we haven't talked about just now that you want to make sure we cover?
Um, I don't know. I think it's fine. Yeah, okay.
What is something that's kind of challenging in terms of music that might be more difficult for you when you're practicing?
Um, definitely like fast passages and just like technical stuff because it always takes like a long time to like really solidify them.
You have to like practice it slowly.
Also just like making sure that you're like representing yourself in like the piece and making sure that it isn't like you are just like copying someone else's interpretation.
But just like really staying true to the music and like expressing how you feel with this piece.
And that's also difficult.
Is your family supportive of you playing violin?
Um, yeah, well they definitely like that I play violin, but I also like no one in my family like has ever played like music like seriously or anything.
So I'm kind of just like doing whatever I want and they'll be like, okay, like fine with us. But yeah, they're definitely, they're supportive of it.
Um, how, how was your experience with this competition been so far?
Um, yeah, I've done this competition three, like all throughout high school, but it's always been, I always like doing competitions because I know like no matter the outcome always to get like feedback.
From the judges and I'll be able to improve. So I definitely liked that about this competition.
But yeah, I've had a good experience like overall, I really like doing it and being able to like play with the orchestra finally is going to be really exciting.
Um, what is it that you like about performing?
Um, yeah, like I've said this probably before, but just like knowing that I can like make an impact on the audience and like the audience is just there to listen and to enjoy.
So being able to like provide some sort of like stability and just like, yeah, like music to them is just like exciting itself.
And also just like knowing that I've worked so hard on this like piece for so long and then just like being able to share it is like also exciting.
Is there anything else that you want to add?
Hmm, I don't know.
Yeah, I don't know.
That's fine.
Okay.
Um, could you look at me one more time to try to keep eye contact with me and say your name grade in school.
Oh, in.
Yeah.
Those three things.
My name is Andrew Ragman and I'm sorry.
My name is it.
Okay.
My name is Andrew Ragman and I'm an 11th grader at Middleton High School.
Wonderful.
Okay.
Um, can you think of anything else?
Well, my question is always just kind of been like, is there any difference or do you find.
Um, maybe you subscribe like what your, what the right hand does versus the left hand when playing the violin.
Like do you feel strong about your bow hand or your, or your fingering hand or those considerations or maybe anything along that theme?
Yeah.
Um, the right hand is obviously like probably from like an outsider would seem as like less important because like your left hand is just doing all of like the notes.
But I feel like to me, like the right hand is definitely more important because that's like, like the way that the notes are coming out and like being expressed.
So like you can have like all of the notes, but if you aren't able to like express yourself with your bow hand and like make like a motion there sound like I don't think that you'll be able to like really like embody the piece.
I don't know.
Yeah.
Totally.
I realize that that's also how you can follow him too.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
Cool.
Um, do you have any like bad habits or things that you're like that Eugene might like be constantly like reminding you about?
Um, in the beginning, well, I think like now too, like I would never like get distracted in my lesson, but sometimes I just like get like very like focused, but then also like,
I'm not thinking about anything at all.
Like in my head.
So like I kind of get distracted easily.
I don't think that's like in my lessons more just like me when I'm practicing.
Also, like I've never had a good bow hold.
So, but like there's always just something I have to work on.
But yeah, I don't know.
He's always, well, we're always like working on intonation and just like making sure that I'm playing like how I want to play.
Yeah.
Um, how long have you had the violin that you currently have?
For about three years.
Yeah.
Okay.
Does your violin have a name?
Um, no, I think that's a thing, but I haven't, I haven't done that yet.
Um, just cause like, I don't know very much about violins.
Do they need like much care, like maintenance?
Yeah.
Well, you're supposed to like clean your violin because like you use rosin on your bow hair
to make sure that like you can like get a sound because like the bow hairs are naturally like very like silky and like smooth.
So you wouldn't like get, you need like friction to like make a sound.
But yeah, like just like cleaning, making sure your violins clean.
You have to like replace the strings because like wear out.
And then like getting bow hairs because like the hairs will like fall off eventually.
But like, yeah, that's kind of it.
And what about how the violin fits into the sound of the rest of the orchestra?
You just talked about like where you fit with like other even stringed instruments or have you played in any like quartets or anything like that?
Yeah.
I feel like, well, the violin is usually like one of like, it's obviously like an upper voice.
Like it's usually more like floating above.
But I think, yeah, I've never thought about this, but I don't know.
I feel like, yeah, I just like, I feel like all instruments kind of just like work together in like the same way.
Like depending on the piece, one voice like might have like a bigger part.
But I feel like they're just like all coming together like more equally.
Yeah.
But like, violins usually have like the higher like melody.
Do you think you're gonna keep playing violin after high school?
I like don't know about that.
Violin is like definitely like something that I really enjoy and it's like a passion.
But I've always wanted to be like a lawyer or like a politician.
So like, we'll definitely see.
I'll go to college and but also like apply to conservatories and stuff.
But I really just want to like make an impact on like people's lives.
So I want to like see like where I can go.
Yeah. So it's an option. Yeah.
Cool.
All right.
Okay.
You don't have anything else to add.
We'll, uh, you can keep that.
Oh, okay.
Right.
No.
Okay.
I'll just use it for.
I'll use the mic.
Okay.
Okay.