|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:22 am
That was it. It was horrible. One was blowing it the wrong way, another didn't even have the bag inflated all the way, and they weren't even holding it right! Ugh! He wanted to kill them both, and he watched one wrong pipes and the other one held it sideways. IT wasn't hard! YOU JUST – TURN – NOT THERE!
AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
He was covering his ears when he heard more Jack-awful attempts from other students, but the bagpipes dying further down from him were the worst. Like hot daggers into his ears and heart.
At last, one of the boils waved him over, and he sighed in relief. YES! He couldn’t get in trouble if they ASKED for his help, and he eagerly stood up, grabbed is chair, slung his saddlebag over his shoulder, and moved over to them. "You two have been killing me this entire time." He pointed out, breathed deep.
"And put that down! You're holding it the wrong way." He pointed at Ren, not at all liking how the bag was being manhandled by the pair. Setting his stupid harmonica to the side, he opened his bag and pulled out a bagpipe of his own. Ren had been right in his assumption. Calder knew how to play. He knew how to play well. He was taught this instrument since he was a foal and he was forced to practiced. It had been his hope he could dazzle people with his instrument, but it seemed the teacher had other plans.
"First off, you have to fill the bag with air and you do NOT blow through the drones." He pointed to the three pipes in the back that stuck out. Calder's bagpipes were actually made from a fish lung, but the shimmering bag was covered in a sewn cover of green plaid, his Devon plaid colors. The pipes coming from it were glossy black with white decorations of vines. "This is a canter." He said, pointing to the long pipe that turned out at the end. "Blow on it and fill the bag with air. After that, you tuck the bag under your arm and it stays in place."
Calder was going to give them the simple version because it wasn't like they were going to sing 'Scotland the brave' anytime soon. "You tuck your elbow here, and put your mouth here. You just need to blow to fill the bag, and press your elbow to squeeze the air out. Hold the canter like this…" To which he placed it in his hands, another pipe going into his mouth. "….and play it like a downward flute."
To this, he demonstrated with Flower of Scotland.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enoh Love rolled 2 6-sided dice:
3, 6
Total: 9 (2-12)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:32 am
Whelp, okay, hugging the Cello wasn't going to work. Still frowning, she stared at the neck piece for a little while, trying to get her foggy mind to work. It was incredibly tempting to look around and see if a Cello player near her (which pretty much meant Christof right now) was playing, but even he seemed a little off.
Also, when she went to look at him, she nearly dropped the cello.
Note to self: Don't move your head and arm at the same time, stupid.
Stepping back a bit, she let the cello lean on her instead, the neck of it resting against her more solid left shoulder, and put the bow down a little further to try again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:36 am
Blue seemed pleased with all of the noises the students were making. It was interesting to watch them try when they had no idea what they were doing. Some did okay, some really just didn't get it. He'd teach them later, but this was play time. Until of course he seen Calder, and he found a small smile. Oh little water horse. He gave him a smile after he played the bagpipes, before saying, "Wonderful. Now, little water horse, back to the instrument I assigned to you."
Lizzy passes, Blue seemed to be having ideas of taking her out to the pool. He ignores these, but he gives her a nod to signify she's done.
Rosciel and Arachne also got a nod from him.
He could only shake his head at Renaissance and Gabrian as they pathetically tried to play. He approved though, they tried, even without any direction from him.
His eyes seemed to linger on the small child, Amrita, while she tried to play the cello. Oh, he'd definitely give her some private lessons later. Perhaps by the pool. That sounded like a wonderful place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:36 am
[ one day Ren will pass.
One day. ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kuropeco rolled 2 6-sided dice:
1, 3
Total: 4 (2-12)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:37 am
Ren was pissy. And that was not really a good thing. Not only had Gabrian managed to actually make a decent sounding sound from the bagpipes, but he now did not need Calder to teach him. Which, Ren still did. The kelpie had come over now, an indignant look on his face.
"Er," Ren said, eying the bagpipes as Calder explained what each part was. He hadn't ever thought much of the instrument; to him it was just a bag with tubes and some air. While the kelpie was fiddling around with his, Ren picked up the harmonica he had set down, absently twisting it between his fingers.
Calder's playing was beautiful; Ren had not thought that the bag of air could produce such a lovely melody, and he raised his eyebrows, somewhat impressed by the kelpie.
"Nicely done," he said, cracking a smirk, and raised the harmonica to his lips, whistling out a quick, easy tune. Now that was an easy instrument to play. If only the bagpipes were that easy...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:42 am
"Little Water Horse" perked up considerably at the praise and wanted to continue to play, but was denied even that simple pleasure. While Ren and Gabe probably would have jumped up with glee at the idea of not being able to play bagpipes, Calder's ears dropped and he slowly, with clear delicacy and care, put the pipes back into his bag with a defeated "eeeeerrrrrrrr" of the pipes as they deflated, much like the boil. Putting the bag aside, he picked up the harmonica and looked to the pair. "You shouldn't know what to do with this, would you?" He said, pointing ot the harmonica as if it was the most pathetic thing in the world. So small. :c
It seemed Gabe at least was doing better, but Ren was still having trouble. Reaching over, he tucked the boil's elbow in more to adjust it so it fit against his side better. "Now squeeze the bag, hold onto the hard pipe, and blow hard." It was advice, but poorly phrased.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smerdle rolled 2 6-sided dice:
3, 3
Total: 6 (2-12)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:47 am
All right, time to play. How hard could it be? West gripped his drumsticks firmly enough to feel a bit of sticky blood trickle from his palm and brought them down hard against one of the cymbals in front of him. The impact reverberated back up his arms and he began to chuckle to himself. There was already so much anger swirling around in here and now he got to give an inanimate object a beatdown? Despite its sucky start, he now doubted this day could get any more awesome.
He smacked at the drums a bit more, then suddenly realized he sucked. Huh. How did one go about playing the drums?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kuropeco rolled 2 6-sided dice:
5, 2
Total: 7 (2-12)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:52 am
Ren let Calder move his arm into position, wincing slightly at the awkward feeling. He didn't particularly like how he was sitting now, but at least he knew, sort of, what he was doing.
...sort of. More like the kelpie knew what he was doing and Ren was just copying him. He glanced up at Professor Blue, his own tail flopping dejectedly down over his chair when Calder's ears drooped in disappointment. "The harmonica is so much easier than these," he grumbled, passing the little instrument back over to Calder in exchange for the bagpipes. "So," he said, blowing a few stray strands of hair from his face. "I just...hold this bag here and blow into here, right..."
Eeeeerrruuuuuuuggghhhh.
"JackDAMMIT!" Ren screeched. "This. Is. Ridiculous."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MoonKitsune rolled 2 6-sided dice:
1, 5
Total: 6 (2-12)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:55 am
He breathed out calmly, trying to not get huffy. He forgot at times he had a lot more practice and these guys were just tossed the bagpipes. He had to be gentle with them, but this was getting a little ridiculous. It was at least good that Gabe managed a note, and he applauded his accomplishment before looking back at Ren. That was until he looked back at the harmonica and noticed that it could play music. Still, he didn't like it any more than before.
Scooting his chair over, Calder readjusted the bag and scooted back again. "Come on now. You act as if you haven't blown a day in your life. This boil here knows how to do it. You should take some practice lessons from him. Just hold on this hard pipe right here, firmly now, and bring it to your lips, squeeze the bag, and let the pipes release their music." Again, poorly phrased.
Taking the harmonica back for Gabe to play, he looked at it and frowned. "Oh, so this little thing can play? Hmm." He still thought it was dinky, but he brought it to his lips and blew. The noise it produced wasn't anything close to the tune Ren played. How any failed at the harmonica was a mystery. "Guess I'm blowing too hard. I like pipes better."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beejoux rolled 2 6-sided dice:
1, 4
Total: 5 (2-12)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:56 am
The reassuring pat, while it did earn the nergal a little smile, didn't really do a whole lot to improve the djinn's mood. Then again, he was there, and that was better then not. After a small pause she returned the pat, leaning in to give him a small peck on the cheek before looking back up at their teacher as he began to speak again.
When he stopped and they were then left on their own to practice she turned her attention back down to the trumpet. Picking it up, she placed hands where she was relatively sure they belonged and gave the valves an experimental little press. There was only 3, how terrible difficult would it be to play something passable?
More difficult then she thought. She brought the horn up to her lips, took a deep breath and.. Nothing. Nothing came out as she blew into it. What the jack?
She tried again. Nothing.
"Did I get a busted trumpet?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:00 am
Gabrian watched as the kelpie explain the instrument to, and aside from nodding from time to time, as if to point out that yes, he was listening and paying attention, he moved not a finger. Specially not when Calder lifted his own bagpipe and played a lovely melody with it, "That was beautiful, Calder," he told the other boil, "I'm sorry you didn't get a bagpipe - you'd have done a wonderful job with it."
He set down his own instrument on his desk and picked up the harmonica the 'water horse' had presented them with, "I know a thing or two, but I'm no master. Not like you with the bagpipes at least," he raised it to his mouth and hesitated for a moment, "You don't mind sharing, do you?" he waited for confirmation before blowing into the instrument, producing a sweet, but clearly simple melody with it. When he was done he offered it back to the kelpie, pointing at where he'd blown, "I believe the trick is taking care with the way you breathe into it. You produce different sounds by blowing into different holes; I also suggest you use both hands to hold it."
Watching Ren's frustration, he reached out with a hand and patted the gryphon's shoulder; he wished he could reach up and pat the other boil's head or his ears at least, but... given where they were, that simply out of the realm of possibility, "Relax, Ren. It doesn't matter if you don't get it. No one's going to hold it against you. I think mine was more luck than skill."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MoonKitsune rolled 2 6-sided dice:
4, 3
Total: 7 (2-12)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:04 am
Calder beamed at the praise, clearly happy to be told he was good at anything. His parents would be proud! "I practiced since I was a kid, so I'm naturally good at it." To this he pointed out to the pair, knowing they must be getting frustrated, especially Ren, at not doing well. "I was horrible at first though. It's not an easy instrument if you are handed it out of the blue." To which he glanced at the professor and narrowed his eyes. That was why HE should have the bagpipes and not some small harm-onica that wasn't even noticeable.
Sighing, he decided to give the harmonica another go and listened to Gabe's instructions. "Holes?" he said, frowning. "Much prefer pipes. Wish I could have gotten a trumpet or clarinet at least. Not this. It's weird to hold it." He said, noticing how his fingertips had to curl around as if the thing would fall out.
Deciding to be a little more gentle, he leaned in and blew, and actually produced a sing note. It wasn't a tune or 'Halloweentown Blues', but it was something. He pulled it away and shrugged. "Guess it's something." He looked over at Ren, who was still having difficulties.
"Use your mouth more. Blowing really works your jaw, so you have to keep inflating the bag to make the music." It really did take a lot of practice. Most of the time you started out with just the chanter and then moved on to the full instrument. Still, Calder believed in perseverance as much as the next person, and tried to be encouraging. "You're close to getting it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:07 am
At the nod from the Professor, Lizzy heaved a sigh of relief before smiling at the Demon, giving a nod in return to tell him that she had seen his 'okay'. She eyed her guitar case again, but remained in her seat beside Sepheran and Myr; it would be unfair if she were to pick up her own guitar now... Too much general unhappiness from the students around! She turned to the boils near her; she had yet to hear a peep from them, although they might just be warming up?
Plucking at the harp strings absentmindedly, she noticed Amrita and her... Oversized instrument. She winced, frowning as the ghoul attempted to play her instrument; if only she knew how to play the cello! She had always avoided the instrument because it never really sat well with her. Literally.
Instead, she kept looking in Amrita's direction, worried about her friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AyeAvast rolled 2 6-sided dice:
5, 6
Total: 11 (2-12)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:10 am
Sure, she had complained directly to the teacher, but he didn't seem like he had been listening so when he turned and addressed the witch she let out a tiny squeak of embarrassment before ducking her head. Oooohhh, she had been reprimanded by the teacher and now he hated her and ooooh! She was in trouble~
Well, probably not, but best to stay quiet and keep one's head day in the event he did decide to hate her.
But now they had to play. So taking a deep breath, the witch sat up a bit straighter and lifted both drumsticks hesitantly. With one dramatic swing she reached forward to attempt to hit one of the two smaller drums directly in front of her. (Perhaps Professor Blue needed to have gone over what exactly she was hitting besides 'a drum'.) But being so dramatic about everything caused one of the drumsticks to fly from her hands and instead of just tapping the drum, Belladonna smacked it with her palm. It was actually really loud.
"Oops..." She mumbled, ducking her head once more and glad her witch hat could over up the red that was staining her cheeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kuropeco rolled 2 6-sided dice:
2, 5
Total: 7 (2-12)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:11 am
[ GDI FINALLY ]
Ren felt Gabrian's warm hand against his shoulder as the other gave him a reassuring pat. He turned a pathetically despairing glance towards the nix.
"Easy for YOU to say," he said, almost wailing. "Nothing I've done has worked! I've blown into the tubes and squeezed the bag, just like Calder said and still nothing! I'm still holding it right, aren't I? Or is it supposed to be the other way? What am I doing wrong?!"
Ren debated throwing the bagpipes across the room, but he figured that might get him detention, so instead he heaved a frustrated sigh and tried once more to blow into the tube.
Which, to his astonishment, produced a low, melodic note. Ren pulled away, staring, then flopped his head down on the desk in relief, half leaning against Gabrian and suddenly feeling overwhelmingly exhausted. He turned his head back towards Calder.
"Thank you for helping," he said, and sighed. "I'll give you a carrot the next time I see you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
