Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Picture found by Disarming North Korea =D)

A place for those who are musically inclined to work on their talents.

(Thank you very much! I really appreciate it.)

Zhori had been roaming the school practically euphoric, since dawn. She was oging to get to meet students and be all...teachery. Well, teachery wasn't probably the right word (she had her doubts about it even being a real word), but 'scholarly' just didn't have quite the same sort of ring to it. So she preferred "teachery."

She was actually quite excited. She was fairly new to this teacher thing, but she was absolutely certain her students were going to be quite interesting creatures. Hopefully some of them actually had a talent for music as well. That would be rather lovely. In fact, as she neared the music room, she could hear someone inside playing, and smiled to herself.

They went right in and started playing with things without even waiting for her. How cheeky.

She headed into the room, but paused in the door, loitering there as she watched a female student play on one of the keyboards. After a moment of listening to the simple melody, Zhori stepped into the room and began setting up for class.

"That's a cute little melody," she said to the girl. "But I rather think it's a bit beneath your skill. Have you had formal training? I'd like to hear you play something a bit more challenging."

Zhori paused in her work and closed her eyes, listening as the girl began another song--this one a bit more complex than the simple little tune she'd been playing previously. She smiled. Well, she did have a bit of talent, that was certain. Her playing wasn't perfect by any means, but the flaws added character. Besides, if the girl was perfect, Zhori wouldn't really have much to do.

As it was, all there was to do was a bit of polishing here and there. Just like cleaning up a precious stone.

She moved to stand next to the keyboard as the girl played, listening intently until the final note wavered on the air, then died away. "Well, it's nice to see they taught you well. I also come from a very musical family. Much of my childhood was spent with my parents teaching my brother and myself, the basics of how to play various instruments." She grinned. "I have more talent, of course."

"But I disagree that only hard songs are beautiful. The tune you played before was quite lovely by itself. Simplicity can also be beautiful, you know. I just wanted to see how good were."

"Glad you didn't disappoint me. But you can't really start a relationship without introductions, so I'm Zhori. The music teacher here. And you are?"

Zhori made a face. "Ew. Don't call me 'professor' because that just makes me sound like a creepy old lady." Well, technically she was old by the standards of many races, but whatever. She wasn't wrinkly-prune-lady old, so it didn't count.

"It's nice to meet you too, Cressida," she said. "I hope we have a productive year and all those things that teachers are supposed to say. But what I really hope is that you have fun while you're here." She stopped and studied the girl for a moment. She was pretty, doe-eyed little thing. But she seemed so serious. Serious people were actually usually fun to tease, but something was telling her this one might not fit the bill in that regard. Besides, were teachers allowed to tease their students?

Not that it would stop her, one way or the other.

((Hehehe. The talent remark was actually aimed at her brother. She'll probably make fun of him a lot, to her students.))

"Really, now?" Zhori asked. "This all must be a pretty huge change for you, if you're used to being at home with your family. But hey, if you need anything, feel free to ask. That's what the teachers are here for and all. So don't hesitate to ask me for anything at all."

She went back to setting up the chairs for her first class. "As for my class, well, it really depends. Classes for different years focus on different things. Beginning music obviously focuses on simple things like how to read music and music history. Everyone gets to experiment with different instruments within each unit. Intermediate classes are a step up from that, and students begin to focus on a music specialty, and there is more focus on the particulars of different types of music. But Advanced Music is obviously more, well, advanced. We discuss music theory, composition, and analyze the works of past composers. And everyone can focus on their specialty, as well as learning to compose their own music."

She smiled. "Now, I'm assuming you're in one of my classes--which level are you going to be taking?

"Oooh, nice," Zhori said. "Actually, don't tell the other students I said so, but that's my favorite class. Beginners need so much help, while Advanced students are usually just too independent. But the Intermediate students are the best--they're that perfect blend of independence and curiosity."

Well, that was lovely. It was always nice to have a talented student in her favorite class. She wrinkled her nose slightly. "But you don't have to call me ma'am either. Zhoooori. It's actually not that hard to say. No where near as difficult as my full name." She prodded Cressida gently. "Seriously, I much prefer being called by my name. You're not a child any longer so it's perfectly acceptable to address me in a more casual manner. I'll be calling you by your first name, after all."

"It's only fair that you reciprocate."

"Oh not really," Zhori said. "There actually isn't any class right now so I'm just sort of arranging how I like. I'll probably end up changing things around anyway." She smiled. "Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it."

Well, at least the girl finally seemed to be loosening up a little. "Now, while you're still here--am I to assume you'd like to focus your studies on the piano or keyboard? Or do you actually have another preference for an instrument. In the intermediate class, I like to have everyone choose just one and stick with it for the remainder of the year. Of course, if you really want to try to switch at some point, I'll probably allow it. But I'd rather everyone choose wisely from the start."

"By the time someone is ready for the intermediate class, they really are ready to pick a specialty. Though, really ambitious students are also allowed to choose a secondary instrument if they like. But they have to be able to profe they can handle working on two at the same time."