>> ANNOUNCER: "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT" IS MADE POSSIBLE
THANKS IN PART TO ITS PATRONS,
COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE
PEOPLE, PLACES AND QUALITY OF
LIFE THAT UNIQUELY DEFINES
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS, AND BY VIEWERS
LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.
>> TERRI ALLARD: DO YOU PLAY THE
BANJO, TOO?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: ONLY ON A DARE.
>> JESSICA: IT'S NOT JUST A
PLACE WHERE I DROP MY KID OFF AT
SCHOOL FOR SIX HOURS A DAY.
ALL THESE OTHER COMPONENTS ARE
THINGS THAT FAMILIES NEED.
>> TERRI ALLARD: FOR WHTJ, I'M
TERRI ALLARD AND THIS IS
"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT."
♪♪♪♪
♪♪♪♪
>> TEACHER: OKAY, GRAB YOUR
BOOKS.
>> ALI WEBB: I'M SO GRATEFUL
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP SO
MANY PEOPLE.
I MEAN YOU'RE NOT JUST HELPING A
KID.
YOU HELP THE KID, IT'S THE
FAMILY.
>> TERRI ALLARD: TODAY WE'RE
GOING TO LEARN ABOUT AN
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES YEAR
ROUND STATE OF THE ART
EDUCATIONAL AND CLINICAL
PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES WORKING TO OVERCOME THE
CHALLENGES OF AUTISM.
JOIN US AS WE VISIT VIA, THE
VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF AUTISM.
COME ON!
>> ETHAN LONG: AT THE VIRGINIA
INSTITUTE OF AUTISM OUR MISSION
IS TO HELP CHILDREN, INDIVIDUALS
OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF
AUTISM.
WE USE EVIDENCE BASED AND
INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO DO
THAT.
AND WE HAVE THREE SERVICE AREAS
WHERE WE DO THAT IN EDUCATION IN
OUTREACH AND WE DO THAT WE DO
OUR ADULT SERVICES.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND WHAT IS THE
DEFITION OF AUTISM?
>> ETHAN LONG: IT INCLUDES
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, TROUBLE
AND IMPAIRMENTS IN
COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL
INTERACTION IMPAIRMENTS AND
OFTEN THERE IS REPETITIVE OR
STEREOTYPICAL TYPES OF BEHAVIORS
AND THOSE BEHAVIORS OFTEN WHEN
DISRUPTED CAUSE DISTRESS.
>> TERRI ALLARD: SO TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.
THERE'S A WIDE RANGE, THERE ARE
CHILDREN STUDENTS AND ADULTS WHO
ARE JUST MILDLY AFFECTED BY
AUTISM CHALLENGES AND OTHERS
WHERE IT AFFECTS THEM IN A MUCH
GREATER WAY.
>> ETHAN LONG: YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
WE GET SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE MORE
PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS
ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT
DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS.
SO THERE MAY BE COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENTS, THERE MAY BE
COMMUNICATION IMPAIRMENTS,
ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR, THEIR DAILY
LIVING IS IMPAIRED.
SO THERE'S THOSE TYPES OF
CHALLENGES.
AND WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT
MAYBE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUAL AREAS
IN THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATION
PIECE WHERE ACADEMICALLY THEY
MAY BE ON PAR BUT THEY'RE
CHALLENGED IN THAT SOCIAL OR
COMMUNICATION AREA.
AND THEN ANOTHER INTERESTING
ASPECT TO AUTISM IN PARTICULAR
IS THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH
AUTISM CAN HAVE SORT OF AT AGE
LEVEL IN CERTAIN SKILL AREAS AND
THEN THEY CAN HAVE REALLY MAJOR
SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN OTHER
AREAS.
AND SO THEY HAVE THIS REALLY
INDIVIDUAL PROFILE THAT MAKES
TEACHING FOR THEM AND THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO ASSIST THEM WHEN
THEY'RE LEARNING PARTICULARLY
CHALLENGING.
>> TEACHER: SO AIDEN, WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OFF
THE EAR.
NICE JOB BUDDY.
>> TERRI ALLARD: TALK ABOUT YOUR
PHILOSOPHY AND YOUR APPROACH TO
TEACHING.
>> ETHAN LONG: WE USE A
METHODOLOGY HERE PREDOMINANTLY
APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
>> ETHAN LONG: AND WHAT IT DOES
IS IT REALLY FOCUSES ON THE
INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS.
IT LOOKS AT BREAKING DOWN WHERE
ARE THEIR GAPS AND THEN CREATES
SOMETIMES IN THE SMALLEST OF
UNITS IT CREATES LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN WE LOOK
AT HOW DO WE MOTIVATE THE
INDIVIDUAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT
THAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE REALLY DO A VERY
INTENSIVE VERY EXTENSIVE
TRACKING PROCESS WHERE WE'RE
LOOKING AT EACH TIME WE PRESENT
THAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY IS THE
STUDENT ACHIEVING SUCCESS OR ARE
THEY FAILING?
AND THEN IF THEY ARE FAILING,
HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THEM
ASSISTANCE?
AND WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE DO
THEY NEED IN ORDER TO ULTIMATELY
SUCCEED?
>> NATE: I'VE BEEN COMING TO
SCHOOL AT VIA FOR THREE AND A
HALF YEARS NOW.
I ENJOY IT.
IT'S FUN. WE ARE WORKING ON
S.O.L. STANDARDS NOW, S.O.L
WRITING PROMPTS.
I DON'T LIKE WRITING, IT TAKES A
WHILE FOR ME AND IT'S DIFFICULT.
HISTORY IS MY FAVORITE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> LAUREN HASKINS: SOME STUDENTS
ARE EARNING POINTS THROUGHOUT
THE DAY FOR COMPLETING
SCHOOLWORK AND FOLLOWING THE
RULES.
OTHER STUDENTS, THEY EARN
STICKERS OR TOKENS.
THE OTHER COOL FEATURE IS THAT
WE CAN SPECIFY HOW LONG STUDENTS
ARE WORKING FOR SO SOME OF THE
YOUNGER STUDENTS MAY WORK AT
ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO AT A TIME
WHEN THEY FIRST START OUT AND
THEN GET A SHORT BREAK WHERE
THEY CAN HAVE SOME FUN AND
HAVING THAT ABILITY TO
INDIVIDUALIZE ALL OF THAT FOR
THE STUDENTS IS I THINK ONE OF
THE BIG PIECES THAT MAKES VIA SO
EFFECTIVE.
>> TEACHER: READY?
HERE WE GO.
WHEEE!
>> ETHAN LONG: WE HAVE APPLIED
BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS, PSYCHOLOGY,
SPECIAL EDUCATION, SPEECH
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY, EVEN SOCIAL WORK
INFORMING US AROUND THE FAMILY
UNIT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
>> ETHAN LONG: ALL OF THOSE ARE
COMING TOGETHER AND REALLY
LOOKING AT, OKAY, FOR THIS
INDIVIDUAL, WHAT WORKS?
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
>> ETHAN LONG: AND IT'S ALMOST
LIKE A SCIENCE ENDEAVOR HERE.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY FOR US
WE'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL AT MAKING
CERTAIN THAT OUR KIDS ACHIEVE
THOSE GOALS AND THEN EVEN IF
THEY DON'T THOSE FEW WHO DON'T
AND THOSE CERTAIN GOAL WE CAN
SHOW AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT IS IT
WE'VE BEEN DOING TO TRY TO GET
THERE?
>> TEACHER: YOU COULD SAY: DID
YOU GET A HAIRCUT?
>> STUDENT: DID YOU GET A
HAIRCUT?
>> TEACHER: I DID GET A HAIRCUT.
THANKS FOR NOTICING.
DO YOU LIKE IT?
>> STUDENT: YOU HAVE VELCRO
SHOES.
>> STUDENT: I NEED HELP.
>> TEACHER: YOU NEED HELP? SURE
GIRL.
I CAN HELP YOU.
HEY, THIS IS WATER.
I'M GOING TO SPRAY IT IN YOUR
HAIR, OKAY?
>> TERRI ALLARD: WHAT ARE
EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE GOALS
THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR KIDS?
>> ETHAN LONG: ALL OF THE KIDS
WHO COME TO VIA ARE GONNA HAVE
COMMUNICATION GOALS.
AGAIN, IT'S THE HALLMARK OF
AUTISM, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TEACHING YOU HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR
WANTS, YOUR NEEDS, MANY OF THE
CHALLENGES MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH
AUTISM FACE DIRECTLY RELATE TO
THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE WITH
COMMUNICATION.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
>>ETHAN LONG: SO WE'RE GONNA
HAVE COMMUNICATION GOALS. BUT
THEN HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY
SOCIALLY INTERACT?
AND SO FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS
WE HAVE A SOCIAL INTERACTION
GOAL WHERE WE'RE TEACHING KIDS
HOW TO PLAY HOW TO INITIATE
CONVERSATION HOW TO INITIATE
INTERACTION AND THAT'S SO KEY IN
HOW WE GET THROUGH OUR DAY AND
HOW WE'RE LOOKED AT AND HOW
OTHERS RESPOND TO US SO THAT'S A
GOAL FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> STUDENT: MOM --
>> TEACHER: VERY COOL TAY TAY.
>> STUDENT: YES!
>> TEACHER: WHO WOULD YOU FIND
IF YOU WERE LOST AT JOHN PAUL
JONES ARENA?
>> STUDENT: I WOULD FIND A
SECURITY GUARD.
>> TEACHER: SECURITY GUARD.
HIGH FIVE, TAY TAY.
>> TERRI ALLARD: IN THE
IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM YOU HAVE SIX
DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS.
SO THESE ARE DIFFERENT AGES AND
STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON, SOME
STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON LIFE
SKILLS, THEY'RE WORKING ON
LEARNING TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH,
THEY'RE PRACTICING BRUSHING
THEIR TEETH.
>> ETHAN LONG: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: OR BEING
COMFORTABLE HAVING A HAIRCUT.
>> ETHAN LONG: RIGHT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND THEN YOU
HAVE STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS WHO
ARE WORKING ON S.O.Ls.
>> ETHAN LONG: THAT'S RIGHT. AND
AGAIN, THAT SPEAKS TO THE
SPECTRUM OF AUTISM.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
NEEDS.
YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE DO VERY WELL HERE BECAUSE WE
ARE ABLE TO INDIVIDUALIZE AND WE
PARTNER WITH OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND WE PARTNER OF
COURSE WITH OUR FAMILIES, WE ARE
GOING TO START WITH LOTS OF
GOALS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE
WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND OFTEN
THOSE ARE SHORT TERM GOALS AND
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT
LEARNING PROCESS GOING IN ALL
THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THAT
CHILD HAS A NEED.
AS YOU GET A LITTLE OLDER AND
YOU MOVE INTO ADOLESCENCE AND
YOU'RE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE BEYOND
HIGH SCHOOL.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
RIGHT.
>> ETHAN LONG: INTO ADULTHOOD.
WHAT ARE THOSE AREAS WHERE YOU
REALLY HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS
THAT WE NEED TO START FOCUSING
ON?
THOSE MAY BECOME MORE OF A
PRIORITY DEPENDING ON AGAIN
WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT SPECTRUM
AND WHAT SKILL SETS YOU COME TO
THE TABLE WITH.
>> TEACHER: NOW YOU'RE --
>> STUDENT: FINISHED.
>> TEACHER: YOU'RE FINISHED.
NICE JOB, GIRL!
>> ALI WEBB: THE REASON WE
STARTED VIA WAS BECAUSE WE
COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT SERVICES
FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I KNEW A COUPLE WHO HAD A SON
AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAD HARRY
AND GEORGIA.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE AUTISM.
GEORGIA HATED CRAYONS.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO DRAW, NEVER
WANTED TO PICK UP A PENCIL.
SO, SHE'S GONE FROM THAT TO ALL
SHE WANTS TO DO IS DRAW AND
WRITE AND BE IN FRONT OF HERE
COMPUTER.
SHE LIKES TO WORK IN SHARPIE AND
DRAWS INCREDIBLE PICTURES.
>> JESSICA: OUTPATIENT IS WHERE
WE STARTED AND THEN LAST FALL HE
STARTED AT THE SCHOOL.
SAM IS PROBABLY THE HAPPIEST
LITTLE 9-YEAR-OLD BOY YOU COULD
EVER MEET.
HE LOVES EVERYONE.
HE JUST IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LIFE
HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT HE LIKES.
AND VIA IN PARTICULAR HAS
BROUGHT THAT OUT AND GIVEN HIM
THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE THE
THINGS HE LOVES AND COMMUNICATE
AND GET TO THE POINT OF NOW HE
CAN GO INTO STARBUCKS AND ORDER
HIS FAVORITE FRAPPACCINO.
IT'S SO INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT
ALL COME OUT.
>> TEACHER: NICE JOB.
>>TEACHER: MORE?
>> STUDENT: MORE.
>> TEACHER: THANKS.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE BEADS.
>> TERRI ALLARD: YOU HAVE THESE
GREAT OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS AS
WELL AS THE WHOLE SCHOOL.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE.
>> ETHAN LONG: YEAH. SO IT'S
PROBABLY AROUND SIXTY FAMILIES A
WEEK, APPROXIMATELY.
SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE
GETTING SERVICES HERE AT THE
SCHOOL AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE
STUDENTS AS WELL.
AND THEN WHEN THEY GO HOME THESE
ARE THE WRAP AROUND SUPPORTS
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU LEARN
AT SCHOOL IS GOOD BUT THERE'S A
WHOLE OTHER NUMBER OF HOURS IN
A DAY THAT YOU'RE GOING OUT AND
YOU'RE USING THOSE SKILLS.
SO IN THE HOME AND IN THE
COMMUNITY.
SO THAT OUTPATIENT TEAM PROVIDES
SOME OF THOSE SUPPORTS.
BUT THE BULK OF WHAT WE DO AT
OUTPATIENT REALLY IS FOCUSED ON
TEACHING OTHERS ON THE SPECTRUM
WHO MAYBE DON'T MEET OUR SCHOOL
NEEDS PER SE AND SO WE CAN BRING
THEM BACK AND WE CAN WORK TO TRY
TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE
ISSUES FOR THOSE OTHER FAMILIES.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND THEN YOU
HAVE ADULTS WHO ARE THERE WHO
COME ON A DAILY BASIS.
DESCRIBE THAT PROGRAM.
>> ETHAN LONG: THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WE WANT THEM TO LIVE AS
INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE WANT THEM TO GO OUT AND GET A
JOB THAT'S MEANINGFUL, AND WE
WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY AND
ENJOY LIFE.
SO WE TALK ABOUT OUR ACADEMY AS
HAVING THREE AREAS OF
PROGRAMMING.
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, LIFE
SKILLS, VOCATIONAL SKILLS
BUSINESS SKILLS SO THEY CAN
ULTIMATELY GO GET A JOB.
AND THEN SORT OF HEALTH AND
WELLNESS SKILLS AND THE IDEA
THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND
ACCESS TO THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO
IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, SO
HOW TO TAKE A BUS, HOW TO REACH
OUR COMMUNITY CENTER, TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF DOING A CLASS.
MOST OF OUR FOLKS ARE YOUNG
ADULTS WHO ARE COMING TO US AND
THEY ARE TAKING CLASSES IN EACH
OF THOSE AREAS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER IS
BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION.
BECAUSE FOR SOME OF OUR ADULTS
THEY SOMETIMES HIT SPEED BUMPS
AND THEY HAVE BEHAVIORAL
CHALLENGES.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT.
>> ETHAN LONG: AND WE HAVE A
TEAM OF CONSULTANTS THAT
ULTIMATELY GO OUT AND PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO NOT ONLY THOSE WHO
ARE IN THE ACADEMY BUT ALSO SOME
ADULTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE
ACADEMY THAT EITHER NEED
ASSISTANCE TO COME IN.
OR IT MAY BE FOLKS THAT DON'T
ACTUALLY NEED THE ACADEMY ITSELF
BUT NEED A LITTLE HELP IN THE
COMMUNITY OR IN THERE HOME SO WE
GO OUT AND WE PROVIDE IT OUT
THERE.
>> TERRI ALLARD: SO WHAT ARE THE
BIG GOALS?
>> ETHAN LONG: SO I FEEL LIKE WE
HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL.
AND WE CAME FROM VERY HUMBLE
ROOTS AND BEGINNINGS BUT AND AS
YOU LOOK AT THIS NEED AND HOW WE
LEVERAGE ULTIMATELY EVIDENCE
BASED PRACTICE SO THAT WE CAN BE
MORE EFFECTIVE OR AT LEAST MORE
EFFICIENT WITH WHOM WE SERVE AND
WE LEVERAGE INNOVATION.
WHAT I'D LOVE TO SEE IS THAT BY
FOCUSING ON THE EVIDENCE-BASED
AND THE INNOVATION ULTIMATELY WE
GO TO RICHMOND AND WE TALK ABOUT
HOW CAN WE SYSTEMICALLY CHANGE
THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN
VIRGINIA SO THAT IT WORKS BETTER
FOR EVERYBODY IN VIRGINIA THAT
HAS AUTISM RIGHT NOW.
>> NATE: VIA IS MORE HELPFUL
THAN YOUR REGULAR SCHOOL BECAUSE
IT'S ONE ON ONE TEACHING.
AND IT'S MUCH MORE HELPFUL WHEN
YOU WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING OR
NEED HELP DOING AN ASSIGNMENT OR
PROJECT.
>> JESSICA: IT IS A GIFT.
I OFTEN SAY AS HARD AS THIS LIFE
CAN BE SOMETIMES, MY HEARTBREAKS
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET TO
EXPERIENCE IT.
BECAUSE HAVING A CHILD LIKE THIS
TRULY SHOWS YOU WHAT LOVE IS,
WHAT REAL UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS,
AND ALSO WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN
LIFE.
>> ALI WEBB: I REMEMBER WHEN WE
FIRST STARTED VIA THE SERVICES
WERE NOT GREAT BUT THEY WERE AS
GOOD AS WE COULD DO AND WE FELT
REALLY CONFIDENT AND WE SAW THAT
THE KIDS WERE LEARNING, I
REMEMBER THE FEELING OF LYING IN
MY BED ABOUT TO FALL ASLEEP AND
KNOWING I WASN'T GOING TO HAVE A
BAD DREAM.
THAT I WASN'T GOING TO HAVE A
NIGHTMARE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN TO MY KIDS.
THAT IN THE MORNING THEY WERE
GOING TO GO OFF, GO TO A PLACE
THAT THEY WANTED TO GO TO THAT
THEY WERE WELCOMED THAT THEY
WERE LOVED THAT THEY WERE
RESPECTED AND THEY WERE TAUGHT
SUCCESSFULLY AND I KNOW THAT I
SHARE THAT WITH EVERY SINGLE
PARENT HERE.
♪♪♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: OUR GUEST TODAY
HAS BEEN PLAYING MUSIC SINCE HE
WAS 10 YEARS OLD.
HE'S PERFORMED ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY BUT HE CALLS
CHARLOTTESVILLE HOME. JOIN US AS
WE CATCH UP WITH MUSICIAN
MICHAEL CLEM.
COME ON!
♪♪♪♪
♪♪ NO NOT READY ♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: TELL US HOW YOU
GOT STARTED.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I STARTED ON
TROMBONE AND GUITAR AT ABOUT THE
SAME TIME, BACK ABOUT THE FIFTH
GRADE.
SO THAT GOT ME BOTH CLEFFS, THE
BASS CLEFF AND THE TREBLE CLEFF
AND WHILE I WAS PICKING UP
TROMBONE LIKE MOST KIDS ARE
PICKING UP CLARINET OR TRUMPET
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A KID
NAMED RAVI JUST MOVED TO THE
STATES FROM GENEVA AND PLAYED
THE TALENT SHOW AND ALL THE
GIRLS WENT NUTS AND I SAID
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.
SO I ASKED HIM OVER TO MY HOUSE
AND LURED HIM IN WITH SOME
SANDWICHES AFTER SCHOOL IN
EXCHANGE FOR A GUITAR LESSON AND
THAT STARTED THE GUITAR.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND YOU GUYS
WERE LIKE 9 OR 10.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: WE DID A SIMON
& GARFUNKEL THING DURING HIGH
SCHOOL AND WE HAD DIFFERENT
BANDS WE PLAYED IN AND THEN IN
COLLEGE WE CAME BACK TOGETHER
AGAIN AND FORMED THE JELLYFISH
BLUES BAND, THAT POST-COLLEGE
GREW INTO EDDIE FROM OHIO.
AND HERE WE ARE.
>> TERRI ALLARD: OKAY, EDDIE
FROM OHIO, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
KNOW
>> MICHAEL CLEM: EDDIE FROM
OHIO, THAT'S THE 26 YEAR OLD
FOLK POWER QUARTET FROM NORTHERN
VIRGINIA.
>> TERRI ALLARD: WHICH HAS DONE
INCREDIBLY WELL OVER THE YEARS,
WHEN I WAS TOURING MUSIC YOU ALL
WERE JUST AT THE TOP OF THE
MARKET AND SOLD-OUT SHOWS,
TOURED THE COUNTRY, GREAT
HARMONIES, AND 26 YEARS LATER,
EVEN THOUGH YOU AREN'T TOURING
FULL-TIME ANYMORE YOU'RE DOING A
HANDFUL OF SHOWS A YEAR, THEY
ALWAYS SELL OUT.
♪♪♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: RATTLE OFF ALL
THE MEMBERS OF THIS GREAT BAND.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THERE IS RAVI
SCHAFER MY PARTNER IN CRIME
SINCE THE FOURTH, FIFTH GRADE.
JULIE MURPHY-WELLS, SHE WAS
JULIE MURPHY WHEN WE STARTED
AND --
>> TERRI ALLARD: INCREDIBLE
SINGER.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: YEAH, SHE'S OUR
VOCALIST.
AND THEN OUR NAMESAKE EDDIE FROM
OHIO HARNESS ON PERCUSSION.
SO THREE OF US ARE FROM JMU AND
JULIE IS FROM TECH.
>> TERRI ALLARD: BUT IT'S NOT
REALLY NAMED AFTER EDDIE,
RIGHT?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: WE EXPERIMENTED
WITH TWO NAMES FIRST, ONE GIG WE
WERE FIVE FOOT SEVEN AND ONE GIG
WE WERE THE BEASLEYS.
AND THEN JULIE SUGGESTED WHY NOT
EDDIE FROM OHIO AND THEN A GAL I
DATED AT THE TIME MADE A LOGO,
IT LOOKED GOOD ON A TSHIRT AND
IT STUCK.
IT WAS EDDIE'S NICKNAME IN
COLLEGE, THAT'S WHY WE LEANED ON
THAT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: OH. OKAY.
SO, IN THE LAST I GUESS MAYBE
SIX OR SEVEN YEARS YOU'VE BEEN
FOCUSING MORE ON YOUR OWN
MUSIC.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: YEAH, I
RELOCATED ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO
FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO DOWN HERE
IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.
I MOVED IN WITH MY BROTHER,
WHO'D ALREADY BEEN DOWN HERE A
GOOD DECADE AND EVER SINCE MY
JMU DAYS I ALWAYS WANTED TO GET
BACK CLOSER TO THE MOUNTAINS,
IT'S MORE OF MY PACE.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND YOU KNOW
EVERYBODY HERE.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I DO NOW.
>> TERRI ALLARD: WELL, YOU WALK
IN THE ROOM AND YOU KNOW
EVERYBODY, IT TAKES WHAT FIVE
MINUTES FOR YOU, YOU'RE FASTER
THAN ME.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: IT DOESN'T TAKE
LONG IN THIS TOWN, IT'S A
DECEPTIVELY SMALL TOWN.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THANKS FOR
COMING OUT EVERYBODY.
THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT
THING ON MONDAYS AND WHAT A
GREAT FELLOWSHIP WE HAVE.
THAT WOULD GET APPLAUSE IN OTHER
MARKETS BUT YOU GUYS CAN
INTERNALIZE THAT IF YOU WANT.
I'M TRYING TO BE TOUCHY FEELY UP
HERE, HAVING A MOMENT.
NEVER MIND.
YOU ALL MEAN NOTHING TO ME.
>> TERRI ALLARD: NAME SOME OF
THE OTHER GROUPS THAT YOU FILL
OUT.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: RECENTLY, EVER
SINCE I PICKED UP THE UP-RIGHT
BASS HERE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET
SOME BLUEGRASS GIGS IN A PICK-UP
CAPACITY.
MOST RECENTLY I'VE GOTTEN
INVOLVED WITH A BAND CALLED
SUZY & THE PISTOLS AND THAT'S
WITH MY FRIEND ANDREW GREEN FROM
ROOSEVELT DINING AND HIS WIFE
SUZANNE HORNSBY AND MY BUDDY
PAUL ROSNER PLAYS DRUMS AND WE
DO THIS CAJUN TAUNT TYPE THING,
IT'S FUN.
MADDIE MEDCALF, THE JOURNEYMAN
ABOUT TOWN ON MUSIC, HE'S A
REALLY GOOD FRIEND AND HE'S
PULLED ME IN TO A COUPLE OF
THESE ACTS RECRUITED BY YOU AND
JOLY FEE AND HE AND I PLAY EVERY
MONDAY NIGHT AT THE LOCAL SO
I'VE DABBLED IN LOTS OF
DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT'S BEEN
FUN.
>> TERRI ALLARD: WELL AND LOOK.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: YEAH, I'VE GOT
A COUPLE OF CLUBS IN GOLF BAG
HERE.
>> TERRI ALLARD: CLEARLY YOU
HAVE OPTIONS, DO YOU PLAY THE
BANJO, TOO?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I CAN ONLY PLAY
ABOUT TWO OF THEM BUT THAT'S
IT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: THIS IS THE
GUITAR YOU LEARNED TO PLAY ON.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THIS WAS IT, I
JUST SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE ON
THIS LOCAL ROCKBRIDGE GUITAR AND
THEN I DECIDED TO PHOTOGRAPH THE
TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, POSTED IT
TOGETHER AND MY FRIEND AT
ROCKBRIDGE SAID SILVERTONE, OUR
BAND KING WILKE RECORDED WITH
ONE OF THOSE, THAT'S A GREAT
GUITAR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE
IT FIXED UP?
AND HE MADE IT PLAYABLE AGAIN.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND IT PLAYS?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: WELL, NOT
ANYMORE.
>> TERRI ALLARD: I JUST WANT TO
FEEL IT, IT'S JUST MY SIZE.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: YES, IT'S
PERFECT, IT'S A LITTLE PARLOR
SIZE GUITAR, THOSE WERE
AVAILABLE BY SEARS & ROEBUCK,
THE SILVERTONE GUITAR FOR $14.95
WITH A PLECKTRUM, A NECK STRAP
AND A 45 WITH HOW TO PLAY GUITAR
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN GENE AUTRY
AND ROY ROGERS WERE POPULAR AND
PEOPLE WANTED LITTLE COWPOKE
GUITARS, BUT THIS IS WHAT I KEEP
BY MY BEDSIDE AND IF I WANT TO
NOODLE ON SOMETHING.
>> TERRI ALLARD: WHEN YOU WRITE
THE SONGS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SONGWRITING.
YOU HOST THE LOCAL, THE
RESTAURANT, THE LOCAL'S
SINGER-SONGWRITER NIGHT.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THE CVILLE
SONGWRITER NIGHT, EVERY MONDAY
NIGHT.
IT WASN'T STARTED BY ME, IT WAS
STARTED BY JESSE HARPER AND
BRIAN CAPUTO IN ABOUT 2010 AND
I'VE BEEN ON AND OFF WITH THEM
ON BASS BECAUSE WHAT IT IS IT'S
A BAND BACKING UP SINGER
SONGWRITERS SO IT'S UNIQUE IN
THAT REGARD IT'S NOT JUST AN
OPEN MIC NIGHT, BUT ONE THING WE
DO IS WE HAVE A SONGWRITING
CHALLENGE EVERY WEEK AND THAT'S
A PROMPT. AND THAT'S TO WRITE A
SONG EVERY WEEK TO MEETS A
CERTAIN CRITERIA LIKE WRITE A
SONG ABOUT A PLACE NAME, WRITE A
SONG THAT INCORPORATES A CERTAIN
LYRIC, WRITE A SONG ABOUT A
TELEPHONE, WRITE A SONG ABOUT
CARS, WRITE A HAPPY SONG IN A
MINOR KEY, WRITE A SAD SONG IN A
MAJOR KEY.
>> TERRI ALLARD: YEAH.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: AND THESE ARE
ALL PROMPT IDEAS, YOU'RE NOT
REQUIRED TO DO IT BUT IF YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION, DARN IF
SOME PEOPLE DON'T RISE TO THE
OCCASION.
♪♪♪♪
♪♪♪♪
>> MICHAEL CLEM: ONE OF OUR MOST
POPULAR, I ACTUALLY, I'M
INSPIRED SOMETIMES TO CONTRIBUTE
WAS TO WRITE A SONG THAT
INCORPORATES THE WORD
DEFENESTRATION IN THE LYRICS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS,
TERRI?
>> TERRI ALLARD: OH, OKAY, NO.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I THINK IT
WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR
A GRAPHIC PUT IT UP.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: DEFENESTRATION,
YES, DEFENESTRATION IS THE ACT
OF THROWING SOMEONE OR
SOMETHING OUT OF THE WINDOW.
>> TERRI ALLARD: HMM, OKAY.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THERE'S A SONG
IN THERE.
I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH I
WANTED TO WRITE A DEFENESTRATION
SONG UNTIL I DID.
♪♪♪♪
>>TERRI ALLARD: WHEN YOU'RE
WRITING, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO
WRITE ABOUT BESIDES THROWING
PEOPLE OUT OF THE WINDOW?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THAT'S ONE
IDEA. IT CAN START WITH A
SUBJECT, IT CAN START WITH
NOODLING ON THE GUITAR AND
HAVING A LICK THAT BOY IF I CAN
JUST FIND A LYRIC THAT COULD
WRAP AROUND THIS, IT HAPPENS A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS BUT I
LIKE DEADLINES.
I LIKE KNOWING THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO BE
READY FOR BECAUSE IF THERE'S NO
DEADLINE THERE'S NO INSPIRATION
TO GET IT DONE IN TIME.
>> TERRI ALLARD: SOME OF YOUR
SONGS ARE HILARIOUS.
I MEAN, REALLY -- YOU HAVE THE
CROWD THAT --
CALL AND RESPONSE --
>> MICHAEL CLEM: ITS CALLED
COWBOY AND ITS ACTUALLY A VERY
SENSITIVE SONG.
I WROTE THAT TUNE DURING A
HURRICANE UP IN FALLS CHURCH.
>>TERRI ALLARD: THERE'S A
DEADLINE.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: THERE'S A
DEADLINE, ABSOLUTELY.
JOHNNY CASH HAD JUST PASSED
AWAY.
AND I WAS THINKING I WANTED TO
WRITE A COWBOY SONG, IN THE
SPIRIT OF JOHNNY CASH.
BUT WITH A COUPLE CANDLES AND
THREE BOTTLES OF PINOT I GOT
THROUGH THE NIGHT OKAY, MY
GUITAR AND A PIECE OF PAPER,
THAT'S THE SONG THAT CAME OUT OF
THAT NIGHT.
>> TERRI ALLARD: AND WHAT'S THAT
OTHER ONE, I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE
NAME, "““I'M GOING TO
DUHDUHDUHDUHDUH."
>> MICHAEL CLEM: IT'S THE
WORLD'S LONGEST TOWN NAME, IT
HERE ON THE MOST RECENT CD, IT
LOOKS LIKE A TYPO BUT IT
ACTUALLY --
>> TERRI ALLARD: IT TAKES UP THE
WHO LINE THERE.
SING IT.
♪♪♪♪
♪♪♪♪
♪♪ YOU CAN'T BE IN THAT GREAT A
HURRY ♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: THAT'S A GREAT
SEGWAY, TALKING ABOUT MAKING
PEOPLE LAUGH AND BEING
CENTER-STAGE, YOU JUST STARTED
ACTING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS BEEN ON MY
BUCKET LIST, I EVEN ATTEMPTED TO
AUDITION BUT DIDN'T GET THAT FAR
WITH A PLAY THAT CAME THROUGH
TOWN, THE HANK WILLIAMS STORY.
>> TERRI ALLARD: OH RIGHT?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I CONTACTED THE
DIRECTOR BUT EDDIE FROM OHIO WAS
TOURING MORE AND THEY NEEDED A
COUPLE WEEKENDS I COULDN'T GIVE
SO THAT KIND OF KILLED THE IDEA.
>> TERRI ALLARD: RIGHT. SO, WHAT
WAS THIS PRODUCTION THIS SUMMER?
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I HEARD FROM A
FELLOW AT HERITAGE VOICE &
THEATER AT UVA, JAMES GALES WHO
IS A LONG TIME EDDIE FROM OHIO
FAN AND HE SAW THIS PLAY COMING
THROUGH TOWN, HE KNEW I WAS
LOCAL, HE KNEW I WAS IN THROUGH
TOWN AND HE KNEW I HADN'T DONE
THEATER BUT I HAD SOME OF THE
PREREQUISITES IN PLACES, I
HADN'T ACTED BEFORE.
>>TERRI ALLARD: THE OTHER THING
THAT'S IMPORTANT IN YOUR WORLD
IS FAMILY.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL SON
JAMES, BECAUSE HE'S A BIG PART
OF YOUR MUSICAL CAREER.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I HIT THE
JACKPOT WITH FAMILY, AND WHILE
JAMES' MOTHER AND I DIDN'T LAST
AS A FAMILY UNIT, IN '99 SHE
WENT BACK TO HER HOMELAND IN
ENGLAND AND HE WENT WITH HER.
SO I'VE BEEN DOING THE
PARENTING THING TRANSATLANTIC
SINCE '99.
A LOT OF TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH
OVER ENGLAND, IT'S JUST BEEN
THAT EXPERIENCE GOING TO ENGLAND
AND VISITING AND BRINGING HIM
BACK HERE FOR THE SUMMERS AND
IT'S BEEN PARTICULARLY FUN SINCE
MOVING DOWN HERE TO
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
I JUST LOVE HAVING HIM HERE FOR
MOSTLY THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
>> TERRI ALLARD: WELL, AND HE'S
ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST FANS, AS WAS
YOUR BROTHER JOHN, NOW YOUR
BROTHER JOHN JUST PASSED AWAY
BUT HE MUST HAVE BEEN SO
INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR CAREER.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I COULDN'T HAVE
HAD A BIGGER SUPPORTER THAN HIM,
I'M MISSING HIM GREATLY, BECAUSE
I GOT TO DO ALL OF THE PR HE
USED TO DO FOR ME.
>> TERRI ALLARD: YOU HAD A GOOD
PR GUY.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: I NEED TO STEP
UP IN INTO SELF-PROMOTION.
JOHN, HE WAS WHY I MOVED DOWN
HERE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN DOWN
HERE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND HE
HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH SOCIAL
WORK WITH THE ARC AND WITH
REGION 10 AND HE GOT TO KNOW A
WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH HIS
WORK AND VERY INVOLVED IN THE
CHURCH.
HE WAS ACTUALLY A MAN OF THE
CLOTH, A PROFESSED THIRD ORDER
FRANCISCAN.
YOU KNOW I CAN WILL MYSELF TO
CRY OVER HIS PASSING BUT I TRY
TO KEEP IT POSITIVE MEMORIES
ABOUT HIM.
SUCH A GOOD SOUL.
>> TERRI ALLARD: YEAH, HE WOULD
LIKE THAT, TO, I BET.
♪♪♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: YOU'VE BEEN
DOING THIS, YOU'VE BEEN MAKING A
LIVING PLAYING MUSIC FOR
DECADES, MOST OF YOUR ADULT
LIFE.
>> MICHAEL CLEM: MY ADVICE,
DON'T.
IT'S A COMMITMENT AND YOU HAVE
TO DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF DOING
IT.
DON'T EXPECT OVERNIGHT
SUCCESSES.
ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE
MOMENT AND KEEP YOUR GOALS
REASONABLE, BE TRUE TO YOUR
MUSIC, WORK HARD, PLAY AND THEN
PLAY SOME MORE.
AND BE NICE TO YOUR FELLOW
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
♪♪♪♪
♪♪♪♪
>> TERRI ALLARD: THAT'S IT FOR
THIS WEEK.
FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI ALLARD.
JOIN US NEXT TIME ON
"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT."
♪♪♪♪
>> ANNOUNCER: "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT" IS MADE POSSIBLE
THANKS IN PART TO ITS PATRONS,
COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE
PEOPLE, PLACES AND QUALITY OF
LIFE THAT UNIQUELY DEFINES
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS, AND BY VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.