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 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 2:07 pm
Lily grinned as she entered her favorite music store. The walls were lined with instruments of every kind all for sale, the middle had bins with music of every kind on every sort of device, from records, to cassettes, and cd's, and in the back against the wall was a piano.
Lily inhaled deeply, happy to be able to visit the store after being gone for so long. She headed straight for the bins of old music and began her search for an new cd of an old song and she hoped that the store had it. She had it on her computer, but in truth a cd was the very best backup. So long as it wasn't lost or damaged she would have an easily up-loadable source.
She sang softly to herself as she searched through row after row of cd's.
"(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Wah-ah-ah)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you
Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you ..."
It was soft, but lovely and extremely obvious that the girl was a practiced singer, who might have the talent to go far.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:38 pm
It had been a while since Nathan had been able to get away from the grind of daily life to do something pointless. Everything had meaning now, which was odd for him. Living at the apartment with Tony, he now found himself with obligations. While he rarely did them, just the act of purposefully avoiding them made his actions purposeful. It was a vicious cycle. On top of that, he was a senshi now. And that was a whole lot of 'important s**t to do'.
Today, he was just going to slack off and not do a damn thing.
He came into the music store and looked around, spotting some of the display instruments. The owners did allow people to play on some of them, including a small piano. He went to that, sitting down and cracking his knuckles. Of course, he would have played it regardless of if they had let him or not.
Playing by ear, since he didn't know how to read sheet music, he tried to play a song he had once been taught some time ago. The notes didn't come as easily as he had hoped, and his song was less than impressive. He didn't hear or even see the girl singing to herself, so focused on his playing as he was. He was much better with the guitar, he decided.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:55 pm
Lily looked up when she heard the piano music that started to fill the shop. At first it seemed nice, but it was obvious the person was either out of practice or newer to playing. Lily stopped her search and went over to the piano standing behind the boy and listening.
She couldn't help, but to frown at every wrong note or missed timing. After a moment she simply couldn't take it and she reached over to play a note that was coming up which the boy had been timing incorrectly.
She had been playing the piano for years and though it was not her passion, she was good at it. Not as talented at her brother, but she played well. This boy however did not and Lily really did not wish him to continue to assault her poor ears.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:43 pm
Nathan looked up in frustration when a hand that was not his own hit a key. He looked at the girl and squinted disapprovingly, shaking his head. How rude!
"I am obviously still using this one. Wait your turn," he grumbled.
He got up though, looking a bit huffy. He knew she had come over to fix his playing, and that made him feel embarrassed. If there was one thing he did not deal with very well at all, it was embarrassment. Feeling like he was being laughed at, or judged, or someone was expecting something of him that he couldn't deliver.
He watched her for a moment, then frowned again.
"So what? You're a piano player or something? Or some gift to music, that has to go around and correct those of us less fortunate than you?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:19 pm
Lily took a quickly step back at be fussed at. She really had not meant to insult him, she was only trying to help. She frowned slightly and looked down. "Sorry, I was only trying to help. I did not think you would mind. I did not mean anything by it," she said softly, even though she really had wanted to fix his errors and save her ears. How she hated noise.
Lily looked up to see the boy frowning, but then her was asking her a question or rather questions.
"Uh, yes, I play the piano. I had a lot of lesson when I was young, but it not my true talent, but yes I can play well enough. I enjoy it. I'm sorry about that again. I hope I didn't insult you. I thought you wouldn't mind a little help."
Lily moved around the boy and sat on the bench leaving a space for him and turning back to the piano. "Sit please," she said as politely as she could.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:30 pm
Nathan watched her, frowning thoughtfully. He saw her looking offended, which usually wasn't a big deal for him, and he often made people get that way on purpose because it was fun. And it wasn't a big deal for him now, but he did find himself interested in her offer to help him.
He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Alright, then," he said, moving to sit down. "Fine."
He sat down next to her, not commenting on her apology. He didn't really believe in them, as people mostly just said 'I'm sorry' on reflex, without really meaning it. Maybe she did feel bad, but it didn't matter. He looked down at the keys of the piano, then over at her.
"So you play well, huh? I know I suck, but I've never taken a lesson. So yeah. Don't pick on the guy who can't play, but wants to. Not really a great way to motivate anyone. Anyway, play something."
He still hadn't introduced himself, but he wasn't worried about that. He was focusing on the piano now.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:02 am
Lily didn't notice the boy cross his arms over his chest, but she did turn to him when he sat down, instructor mode taking over. She was about to speak, but then he was asking questions so she waited for him to finish.
"Yes," she answered simply, "and that is an amazing talent to have. You can play without someone having taught you. Playing by ear is wonderful, but is simply easy and more accurate when you have had lessons."
Lily turned to the piano, placed her fingers in position and starred to play Once Upon a December. It was a beautiful song and it was short, so it would not take to long to play. Lily eyes were closed while she played enjoying the music, but after a few moments she started the second half of the song.
It was her passion, she simply couldn't help it.
"Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song
Someone sings
Once upon a December ...."
Lily stopped and placing her hand in her lap and turned to the boy. "Have you ever heard that song before?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 3:04 pm
Nathan watched her, not really thinking this was a lesson of any kind, since she wasn't teaching him anything. Just playing to show off, as far as he was concerned. He watched her fingers, though, as if he could remember where they went, and how they made the song come out in a pretty notes.
Instead of missing some every so often, as Nate did.
When she started singing he frowned, looking around the store to see the odd and interested looks they were getting. Sighing, he waited for her to finished, rolling his eyes and leaning on the edge of the piano. He hated 'music' people.
"Yeah, it's from some dumb cartoon or something," he said, shaking his head. "So? We've already established you have talent. No need to rub it in."
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Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:17 am
Lily frowned at his comment, "Im not," she said sternly before turning back to the piano. She looked to the boy beside her and felt her irritation rise, fore she had not expected such an attitude from the boy, but she tired to put it out of her mind.
She took a few deep breath before folding her hands in her lap. Without looking at him and in a no nonsense tone she said, "Play it."
Her hands balled into fist bunching the fabric of her skirt, but she unclenched them after a moment. She knew this was probably a horrible way to teach, but it seemed that the boy beside her was going to be a difficult student.
"I will help you if you get stuck," she said calmly, "just try you best and have fun with it."
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:46 am
Nathan frowned at her order, looking at the keys. He could see she was getting frustrated with him, but what else was new? Everyone he met was generally angry with him. That was the point, and why he acted the way he did. Mostly.
He grinned at her, not letting her irritation phase him at all, though he did clearly register that she was, in fact, getting angrier. It seemed he just didn't care.
"Play it? How am I supposed to..." he sighed, taking the challenge anyway. He moved his hands to put his fingers in the right place to start playing. It was a bit of a rough start, but he found the keys he was looking for and played slowly, much like before, trying to figure out the notes as he played. In that sense, at least, he was doing well, being able to recall the way it sounded and play it back, but he still missed notes.
"Damn it," he said, every time something sounded sour.
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Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:42 am
Lily was surprised at the grin she recieved from the boy and it made her slightly worried. She seen some people play terribly on purpose because they were annoyed.
She was a bit frustrated, but she wouldn't give up, even if he played worst. At his protest she was tempted to give him a pointed look, but he started to play.
Lily couldn't help but to smile because while there were mistakes and muttered curses it was slightly better. Apparently it had helped him having seen it played while hearing. When he finished she was grinning.
Lily stood, "wait here," she said before heading over to the sheet music, flipping through and pulling out a few song. One was 'Once upon a December', one a more modern song and on a simple and short song. She headed to the counter and was handed to more books before she was wrang up and headed back to the piano.
She sat down and placed the music up before the. She pointed, "You have this part, but I think you missed this note here and then these two."
Lily walked her finger across the notes in a playful manner knowing correction could be rather boring. Her teacher had not made it fun, but her brother had. She was being silly and it probably appeared childish, but Lily didn't mind.
"You see," she said with smile.
She played them again softly calling out the notes. "Try it and take a listen, then see if you can play the beginning."
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:59 pm
Chaonis had finished his song and rather thought he would get some applause for his efforts. And he did get some scattered claps through out the store it didn't really do much to boost his confidence. After all, it was not the best thing he had ever done, and he knew that, but the last thing he wanted was people pitying him it.
He frowned at the people clapping as well as the people who weren't.
Staying put, he looked back over his shoulder as she moved away, thinking it kind of funny, at least, that they had taken over the shop and were now using it for a tutoring session. The man at the counter, however, didn't seem to mind, so it seemed the lesson could continue.
When she returned he stared at the sheet music, shaking his head. He might as well have been looking at scribbles.
"I don't care about what the notes are called, or what they look like on paper," he said, a classically bad student with no drive to do anything that might require effort. He did replay the notes though, echoing what she had done rather than reading and learning for himself.
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:13 pm
Lily was amused by the people in the shop, but for the most part she ignored them focusing on the boy who she was helping. His resistance was irritating, but he did as she instructed, so she chose to ignore the attitude as well. Even if he did not fully pay attention Lily knew that he would learn. He was obviously listening and repeating what she did, so he had to be picking up something.
"You know," she said looking thoughtfully at the sheet music in front of her, "it is not hard to learn the notes. The are basically like pictures on lines, like the word in a book."
Lily played the scales calling out the notes and waved her hand over the key in a motion for him to copy. "Its not like anyone can force you, but if you think of it as fun than it will be. I means who wants to think of playing as work. Its fun and relaxing, but most of all rewarding!"
Lily smiled and pulled out the book she gotten at the counter and opened to search for something, "Try the scales, then play the song again." She did not look up when she said this but instead focused on the book in her lap.
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:27 pm
Nathan frowned at her, but he was frowning a lot so it was difficult to see any different in the expression. He shook his head, then moved his hands over the keys and tried to do the scales. He had to do them a couple of times before he got through one.
He sighed, though, clearly not enjoying it.
"Okay, okay, enough of that. Let me do the song again."
He shifted, like he was getting serious at last. He put his fingers to the keys and started to play, focusing harder now just so he didn't mess things up. He wanted to, after all, get better and even more than that he wanted to prove to her that he didn't need to know sheet music to be able to play well.
And, even to his own surprise, he was doing better.
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:34 pm
Lily looked up a little surprised to hear the song coming from the piano. There were far less mistakes and it sounded rather nice. She was grinning again when he finished.
"You have some talent. I bet you could be great." She looked back to the book having finally found what she was looking for and held it up to him.
"I knew I saw this before," she said looking down at the book, "its a chapter full of tricks on making it easier to play by ear, or rather finding the right notes the first time. Afterall you can not learn to read music in a day. Or at least I don't think you can."
She handed it two him and then was distracted by her phone chiming at her waist and turn to answer it. "Excuse me," she said softly before standing and moving a bit away to take her phone call.
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