Music ♩=♪=♫=♬

[Tally Cat]

Julie smiled at the answer to her question and then blushed hard and looked away at Robert's comments on her musical talents.

"I, uh, I played the clarinet back in... back in middle school. I was one of the senior players when I decided to pursue other things," she explained and smiled shyly on one side of her face, looking slowly back toward Robert. "I think I got complimented more times in the last 5 minutes than in probably the rest of my life for musical stuff," she made a joke and laughed. "I'm sure that's not literal but you get what I mean," she continued anxiously and took a deep breath, opening her notebook so she could take notes when the teacher started the lesson. "What about you? You said you play the bass? Bass guitar?" she asked while she did that.

[azirik]

Robert took out a note book and rummaged through his pack looking for a pencil or a pen, looking up and listening as Julie spoke to him. He smirked and chuckled a little seeing her shy half smile and her little joke "Yeah.....I play bass guitar....but kinda limited to an acoustic one right now. I can't afford a amp sooo rather hard to make a electric bass sound good unplugged." finding a old slightly chewed on ball-point pen he held it up slightly before him "HAH found one." he glanced over towards Kaien then looked back at Julie
"Between you and......I think his names Kaien, I'm pretty sure we got the two best singers in the school in this class." he places his pack back on the floor and watches as the teacher finishes taking roll.
He looks at Julie and smirks as he speaks in a mostly hushed tone to her "Are ya blushing?"

[Shani]

The squirrel's exuberant entrance got a giggle out of Kenny, but he stopped himself short, feeling that his voice sounded off to his ears, too high pitched. Silence settled on the class once again, and his full attention was on the teacher. That is until Eddy came stumbling in. He watched him fix his composure and make his way over to sit with him, bright eyed and all smiles.

"Glad to see you made it," he said in a hushed tone. "If I get to choose, I think I'd like the clarinet. But I'll wait and see what everyone else picks first." Kendall looked around the classroom to see if there was indeed a drum set there for Edwin to claim.
When Kaien sat to his other side, Kenny turned to him with a smile. "That was some nice singing back there," he said. He was pleased to hear the question the thylacine had posed to the teacher, for he was wondering the same thing.

[Nykel]

"Heyo!" The squirrel just doesn't. Stop. Bouncing. As she waves to Julie. She groans when the teacher delays her inevitable tuba solo. "Fiiiine. How about an organ? Or a bass guitar. OOOH, a bassoon! I bet I'd be awesome at bassoon! Or cymbals. Cymbals are good."

She's like sunshine, just naturally spreading energy. And also the first to cause complete chaos, almost guaranteed.

[Humus]

Of course, there was no missing the one late student sneaking into class just after final bell had rung, but rather than give the meerkat trouble for it on his first day, Mr Walters merely picked up his pen and corrected the one absentee he'd marked off on his list, saying, "Nice of you to join us, young man."

"To answer your question, we do indeed have a full percussion set, so you can rest assured," he added with a soft chuckle.

Next, the fennec fox addressed Alex's snarky remark on the class, but he did so jovially and without a hint of recognition of the raccoon's bitter attitude: "Well now, that all depends on how much you plan to suck in this class, my good lad. But personally, I find wind instruments work better when you blow." There was always one heckler in every group of students, Mr Walters noticed, but it was nothing he couldn't handle after teaching for almost six years now.

"And... Kaien, right? To give you an idea of what the expectations are this year, I fully intend to teach each and every one of you how to write your own, personal song. Which, by the way, will account for thirty-percent of your final grade. Everything you'll need to know about this class is outlined on the worksheets in front of you..." He paused to pick up another set papers, which he hopped off his desk to hand to Julie behind the piano. "Here... There's also a short questionnaire I'd like each of you to fill out before the end of class today. It's nothing serious. Just five simple questions. To help me gauge your individual needs. I'll give you all a few minutes to yourselves, then we'll start assigning instruments. If you have a preference, let me kn--yes, I know, Casey. We'll discuss it shortly."

Stepping down from his stage-like podium at the front of the class, Mr Walters then moved into the back-room where the instruments resided, gradually stocking a wheeled cart to bring out the first selection of instruments that included flutes, clarinets, trumpets and trombones. The tuba was strangely absent of course. For now, at least. He wanted to be certain the squirrel could properly respect the expensive instrument. So for the time being he considered putting her on trumpet duty.

[Riana]

Miriam, the quiet mouse that she was, didn't dare speak up and let her instrument of preference be known. The other students would laugh at her and tease her for it, she imagined. Even the teacher might chuckle and tell her to be more realistic. She fingered the worksheet in front of her, pondering all these things, and then picked it up to read it in earnest.

---

The civet hadn't considered what instrument they'd like to play. They tried to think of ones they were familiar with or liked the sound of, when the thoughts came pouring in again.
'Wonder if he smokes weed.'
'Suspenders? Really?'
'They'll laugh at me...'
Max shook their head, and tried to concentrate. "The oboe sounds nice," they said finally.

[Jessito]

Edwin greeted Kaien with a wave, "Heya Kai~" hoping he didn't mind the shortened name. He grinned to the teacher and made a small fist pump when he answered his main concern. His drums were assured. This just made one class in the day not really feel like a class but more like a free break with jams. Woo! Wonder if anyone would try making a garage band this year...

[Tally Cat]

Julie definitely was blushing but tried to hide it.

"A black cat doesn't have to answer those sorts of questions," Julie responded. "Are you flirting with me?" she risked saying in hushed tones. "Feels like I've... feels like it's been a while," she continued and shook her head. "I appreciate the friendliness but I have someone else on my mind, honestly," she said, trying not to be too harsh. She adjusted herself in the seat and her face still felt hot.

Ugh, why, hormones?!, she thought to herself as she jotted something down in a particular section of her notebook away from most other things, now that she was thinking about Lexy, again. It was a note she was writing for her, though Julie wasn't sure that she'd ever be able to show it to her.

[azirik]

Robert smirked slightly at her response, then looked down at his notebook with a ear perked towards her and smiled again when she asked if he was flirting with her. As he looked to her with a soft smile, then heard her hushed comment about having someone else on her mind his ears drooped slightly. "I was...." he said under a soft hushed tone meant for her "I understand.....sorry if I made you feel .....uncomfortable." he looked towards the teacher as some of the instrument were brought out on a cart. His ears drooped more as he saw what was on the cart, seeing nothing he would even want to try and play. He grumbled silently to himself.

He sat and wrote in his notebook

[kepora]

"Hey there! And yes, Kai is fine." He says with a giggle - though he restrains the urge to cringe at Casey's outbursts. And then her requests. He feared that someone like her may have been why Beethoven went deaf. Please, for the love of all that is good in the musical world, do not let her have cymbals. At least the damned tuba might wear her out. Kaien snaps out of it as the papers are presented, smiling again and nodding. "Thank you!" With that, he passes them along - humming a bit as he went straight into filling out the form! "And our own song? That's a rather tall order." He wasn't being impetuous or anything - though there was some concern in his tone. "You have to admit that trying to arrange a tune that no one else has ever thought of is...quite difficult, to say the least." Hell, even he doubted his ability to do so. Still, he filled in the form - gladly putting down what he could do. Singing, piano, some training with string and woodwind instruments; then again, given how he was brought up, and by who...

---

Alex, on the other hand, responded to the Fennec's jab with a glare, and nearly a snarl as well. He just shook his head again, glaring at the teacher for a bit before looking away, holding up his hand and chewing on his thumb claw a bit. Heckler? He actually seemed genuinely angry now. He taps a claw on the desk as he looks out the window, his mind going back to what he saw outside - as well as the things his mind made on it's own. There was a bit of a delayed reaction to the sheet being placed in front of him, the raccoon shaking his head before looking at it. He liked guitars, but he could only really sing. Even then, he highly doubted anyone in here would care for an aspirant metal singer.

[Nykel]

Casey had a pen in her hand moments after the questionnaire was dropped in front of her. Green ink, gel. Aww yeeeeah.


~1. Have you ever played an instrument before? If yes, what instrument did you play?~
Oh, that one's easy. Kazoo! Also piano. Her family had a piano, and she messed around on it sometimes. She hadn't taken lessons or anything, but she had a decent ear and could imitate with enough trial and error.

~2. Given the choice between brass, percussion, string and woodwind instruments, which is your favorite and why?~
Ummm... ok. So. What does piano fall under? Is that string? Wait, no, it hits things. Percussion? Cymbals are percussion. Percussion then. Though she'd add that anything that makes LOUD NOISES is good.

~3. What genres of music do you enjoy listening to and who (if any) are your favorite artists?~
Genres? GENRES?! Does Mongolian Throat Singing count? What about Babymetal? Eh, she'll just jot down 'basically anything', and add The Who, Philip Glass, and Gojira.

~4. How many different types of instruments can you name?~
...wasn't the answer right there in question two? Brass, string, woodwind, percussion, and keyboard, right? Wait, there we go, pianos are keyboard! But they're also percussion. Instruments are weird. Or is it just different instruments in general? Kazoo, cymbals, piano, oboe, bassoon, flute, trumpet, organ, tuba, guitar, bass guitar, drums, chimes, xylophone... do triangles count?

~5. Do you have any questions or concerns regarding this class?~
When do I get my tuba? Obviously that's what's important here. Also the cymbals. She could probably play them at the same time!


Questions... DONE! The squirrel chews on the end of her pen as she sits back and glances around the room. There's that one kid that kept shooting her worried looks, nose deep in filling out his own paper. That growly 'coon kid is still growly. Hey, there's that super shy mouse! Julie's got an admirer apparently. She missed the meerkat sneaking in, she couldn't really get a read on him yet. She almost missed the civet over to the side, looking kinda distracted. Hmm, wonder if they're the ringer that's gonna make everyone else look bad...

[azirik]

Robert looked at the questionnaire as he clicked his pen again and again five times, then answered the first question.

1~ Have I ever played a instrument before? Yep Bass guitar. He grumbled remembering he would have to get a after school job if he wanted to be able to buy a amplifier to be able to really play again.

2~ Given the choice between brass, percussion, string and woodwind instruments, which is your favorite and why?~ He raise a brow at the question and shook his head as he clicked his pen five times again before answering. String Because bass guitar sounds awesome.

3~ What genres of music do you enjoy listening to and who (if any) are your favorite artists?~ Robert paused at the third question, his thumb not clicking his pen as he pondered the question. He then clicked his pen and answered. What ever is loud and upsets the neighbors, Any who have real talent and can write a song that has heart.

4~ How many different types of instruments can you name?~ Robert stopped and looked around then looked back at the question. Greeeeeeat he thought to himself, he never ever thought about it , he knew string cause of guitars and then there were drums...What the hell were keyboards put under? He glared at the paper then looked at Julie and thought about asking her. NO baaaad idea he thought to himself..Ya already struck out with her ... don't totally blow any chance at being friends with a dumb ass question. He looked at the question and moved on.

5~Do you have any questions or concerns regarding this class?~ Well that was a easy question he thought to himself as he clicked his pen five times and answered No.

With the questions answered Robet sat back and glanced around as he doodled a little on his note book as he mimic a few bass notes with his left hand

[Humus]

While his students perused the small questionnaire, Mister Walters slipped back into the side room to load a second cart. This one he knew would be the more popular, as he loaded it with a pair of guitars from his own personal collection, one acoustic and the other electric. He suspected most of his class would vie for the more modern means of creating music, so he had to be particular and limited with his selections. With how small classes were becoming after all, it wasn't easy to form a proper orchestra anymore. Not that he sought to restrict any budding creatives; it was the school-board who made the decision. He merely abided by it. However that didn't mean he couldn't make the occasional exception.

After he placed a few more instruments on the trolley, the fennec fox returned to the main room, Kaien's concern still fresh on his mind as he casually addressed it. "You needn't worry too much about the complexities of creating a song just yet, young man. After all, that's what you're here to learn all about. And in my personal experience, unless you're tone-deaf, you'll have little trouble coming up with something by semester's end. And if you are, there's an optional music theory assignment."

Walters clapped his paws together then, addressing the whole class, "Now, then! If you've finished the questionnaire, you may hand it in and pick out your instruments. If you have any other questions, just let me know."

[kepora]

Kaien brightened again at the sight of the cart of instruments! He gladly turned his questionnaire in, placing it on Mr. Walters' desk before moving to the cart itself. He looked over the instruments; so many to choose from! He wanted to make a good impression, so he went for one that was quite obvious for the well-off, well-trained kid: a violin. He gently lifts the instrument by the neck with his left hand, taking the bow in his right as he moves to hold it in the proper position. He goes to see if it's tuned, placing fingers on the proper strings as he placed the bow and drew it across. He checks each one, then decides to show off a bit - playing the opening strings of Pachelbel's Canon in D. Eyes closed and a smile on his face, he played the first half minute or so - then stops, blinking his eyes open. "...I, ah- sorry. I love that piece, got a little carried away." He chuckles a little, smiling and blushing a bit. "If someone else wants the violin, though, I'll gladly choose another."

---

"Fuckin' show-off fag..." Alex grumbles under his breath, shaking his head and looking back at his sheet. Instruments? ...the guitar was appealing, but the only thing he knew he had was his voice - so he wrote that in. "Stupid." Voices rung in his head, the raccoon wincing. If he had to choose...guitars were string instruments. Percussion could work, too; maybe that'd drown out the shit in his head! Number three was easy: metal, the only real music. Fuck that poncy classic stuff, redneck country shit, brainless 'pop', and you can't spell "crap" without "rap". As for instruments, his list was...rather basic. The usual things most people knew of. And the last one...that was actually a hard one. He considered all the mean-spirited things he could write, but...decides to leave that blank. He stands abruptly and haphazardly tosses it onto the desk, moving to the cart. He stood and stared at the guitars, starting to reach for one...but then stops, pulling his hand back. "Go ahead, make a fool of yourself." "Everyone knows you're an idiot, may as well prove them right."

[azirik]

Robert walked up and placed his questionnaire on Mr. Walters desk then walked over to the selection of instruments and looked over what was there. It wasn't long before he had returned to his desk empty handed and sat down. He was used to not seeing the few instruments he could play, as they were not very popular or very few schools felt the need to carry them. He sat and watched the others as they turned in their questionnaires and went about selecting their instruments. His keen ears caught a few under breath grumbles from Alex, this made Robert glanced at him more then once but his gaze was quick to leave Alex as he watched a few others looking over the selection.