28 Jan 2019, 02:10
Practice makes perfect
Rose slipped into the rehearsal room, and was immediately awed. She had been looking for a place to practice her instruments, and when someone finally told her about the rehearsal room that's usually empty, she had grown incredibly hopeful.
In her left hand she clutched the handle of a small violin case and in the other hand she held a thick black binder, one containing all the music she could possibly want to play for her chosen instruments. Although Rose played violin, she also played a variety of other instruments. However, not wanting to take up too much room, she was only allowed to bring her violin. Looking around the room, excitement filled her as she saw all of the instruments she played, plus more. Setting her case down against the wall, she picked up a stand and set it down right next to the harp. She placed her binder on the stand, flipped it open to one of the pieces she was working to perfect, and sat on a chair in front of the harp. She then carefully leaned the harp back onto her shoulder and strummed the strings, checking to make sure they were in tune.
They were, thankfully, as she didn't know where the tuner was. She then got her hands into positions, and softly played the first chord. She let the notes surround her, the music wash out all the thoughts and worries from her head.
As the music grew, so did she. As it became faster and more intense, her face changed to mirror it. Finally, when it returned to it's soft, calm state, her body physically relaxed, and she plucked out the final notes. Happiness had filled her like a balloon, a pure smile fixed to her face. Although she did miss the occasional accidental note, she was quite pleased with how she sounded, considering the fact that she hadn't practiced in a week. Setting the harp back to it's upright position, Rose then leaned back and sighed out of pure bliss.
She only gave herself a moment to take a few breaths before taking out a pencil and marking the notes she had missed. She then resumed the position again and started at the hardest sections of the piece. Practice makes perfect after all, she thought, cringing as she missed the same note for the third time. Well I take that back. Perfect practice makes perfect.
In her left hand she clutched the handle of a small violin case and in the other hand she held a thick black binder, one containing all the music she could possibly want to play for her chosen instruments. Although Rose played violin, she also played a variety of other instruments. However, not wanting to take up too much room, she was only allowed to bring her violin. Looking around the room, excitement filled her as she saw all of the instruments she played, plus more. Setting her case down against the wall, she picked up a stand and set it down right next to the harp. She placed her binder on the stand, flipped it open to one of the pieces she was working to perfect, and sat on a chair in front of the harp. She then carefully leaned the harp back onto her shoulder and strummed the strings, checking to make sure they were in tune.
They were, thankfully, as she didn't know where the tuner was. She then got her hands into positions, and softly played the first chord. She let the notes surround her, the music wash out all the thoughts and worries from her head.
As the music grew, so did she. As it became faster and more intense, her face changed to mirror it. Finally, when it returned to it's soft, calm state, her body physically relaxed, and she plucked out the final notes. Happiness had filled her like a balloon, a pure smile fixed to her face. Although she did miss the occasional accidental note, she was quite pleased with how she sounded, considering the fact that she hadn't practiced in a week. Setting the harp back to it's upright position, Rose then leaned back and sighed out of pure bliss.
She only gave herself a moment to take a few breaths before taking out a pencil and marking the notes she had missed. She then resumed the position again and started at the hardest sections of the piece. Practice makes perfect after all, she thought, cringing as she missed the same note for the third time. Well I take that back. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a one sided coin.
28 Jan 2019, 03:09
Practice makes perfect
Katie walked in, and immidiately was hit with the sound of a harp playing.
A harp???
this surely wasnt care of magical creatures, then. suddenly, she found herself nervous. this wasnt CoMC. this wasnt even a classroom. this was the room where she'd run into that other griffindoor singing and made a complete fool of herself because so many girls had fallowed her and she'd been trapped and shaking and curled up in the corner and...
she found herself grabbing her arms, shivering slightly at the thought. but it wasnt happening now. right now, she was just nervous at the memory.
and then another memory hit. the other time she'd been overwhelmed by new-person fear, this girl had been there. the griffindoor who had almost introduced herself as a ravenclaw. oh, goodness. now katie was shivering again. no. stop. you're a big girl. just walk away.
and just as the girl had steeled herself to do that, the griffin girl turned around. apparently Katie's oversized cloak, or her shivering, or something had made a noise. it had given her away. and now she was staring the girl in red in the eyes. too tounge tied to speak, she just gave a (very dorky) wave.
A harp???
this surely wasnt care of magical creatures, then. suddenly, she found herself nervous. this wasnt CoMC. this wasnt even a classroom. this was the room where she'd run into that other griffindoor singing and made a complete fool of herself because so many girls had fallowed her and she'd been trapped and shaking and curled up in the corner and...
she found herself grabbing her arms, shivering slightly at the thought. but it wasnt happening now. right now, she was just nervous at the memory.
and then another memory hit. the other time she'd been overwhelmed by new-person fear, this girl had been there. the griffindoor who had almost introduced herself as a ravenclaw. oh, goodness. now katie was shivering again. no. stop. you're a big girl. just walk away.
and just as the girl had steeled herself to do that, the griffin girl turned around. apparently Katie's oversized cloak, or her shivering, or something had made a noise. it had given her away. and now she was staring the girl in red in the eyes. too tounge tied to speak, she just gave a (very dorky) wave.
nervous, shy, and sweet as pie.
that's the way to reach the sky
Strength: 2 agility: 9 control: 14 stamina: 5
29 Jan 2019, 03:05
Practice makes perfect
Rose heard the door open and footsteps walking in. This didn't bother her, as the rehearsal room was open for everyone to use and practice in. However, after a few moments, she didn't hear anyone playing anything. Or even any normal sounds of when you're getting ready to practice. Rose tried to just keep practicing, but eventually curiosity won out, and Rose turned around.
Her eyes met the eyes of a girl. A girl she's seen before. Where have I seen her? I know I've seen her somewhere..... Rose thought about it and finally it clicked. The library. The first day I was here. She was the one who was timid and shy.
To her surprise the girl merely waved in a sort of awkward manner, to which Rose didn't know what to do besides wave back. Finally, thinking she should say something, cleared her throat and said, "You can go ahead, I won't stop you from practicing." Rose nodded towards the instruments organized throughout the room. Thinking back to how much comfort the Hufflepuff had to show this Ravenclaw in order for her to seem less shy, Rose gave a her a quick smile. I wonder which instrument she plays..? Rose thought to herself.
Her eyes met the eyes of a girl. A girl she's seen before. Where have I seen her? I know I've seen her somewhere..... Rose thought about it and finally it clicked. The library. The first day I was here. She was the one who was timid and shy.
To her surprise the girl merely waved in a sort of awkward manner, to which Rose didn't know what to do besides wave back. Finally, thinking she should say something, cleared her throat and said, "You can go ahead, I won't stop you from practicing." Rose nodded towards the instruments organized throughout the room. Thinking back to how much comfort the Hufflepuff had to show this Ravenclaw in order for her to seem less shy, Rose gave a her a quick smile. I wonder which instrument she plays..? Rose thought to herself.
Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a one sided coin.
29 Jan 2019, 03:24
Practice makes perfect
Katie smiled as the wave was returned, nodding as she spoke. and then, the full gravity of the words actually hit her. Go ahead. she could play her instrument. well, that was just fine and dandy, except she'd been looking for CoMC class, not to practice. of course, she could play the flute alright (every Willows kid had to learn an instrument, mother's orders) but she didnt have it with her, nor did she really have the tongue to say she wasnt here for it. it was too busy tying itself in knots.
so she just nodded and found a flute on the back wall, silently cleaning the mouthpeice before going through a few basic warm-up excercises. it was a little longer than hers at home, but she quickly adjusted, turning away from the griffin girl to hide her red face as she begun playing some songs she knew. they were all simple melodies, but she didnt exactly have her music with her, now did she? plus, she wasnt prepared for this, nor did she much want to do it.
and suddenly, she found herself enjoying it. this felt like she was at home, playing under her mother's instruction or copying a melody from youtube. it felt normal. her face drained of red as the peice went on, and eventually, turned sitting away from the other occupant of the room, Katie was smiling.
so she just nodded and found a flute on the back wall, silently cleaning the mouthpeice before going through a few basic warm-up excercises. it was a little longer than hers at home, but she quickly adjusted, turning away from the griffin girl to hide her red face as she begun playing some songs she knew. they were all simple melodies, but she didnt exactly have her music with her, now did she? plus, she wasnt prepared for this, nor did she much want to do it.
and suddenly, she found herself enjoying it. this felt like she was at home, playing under her mother's instruction or copying a melody from youtube. it felt normal. her face drained of red as the peice went on, and eventually, turned sitting away from the other occupant of the room, Katie was smiling.
nervous, shy, and sweet as pie.
that's the way to reach the sky
Strength: 2 agility: 9 control: 14 stamina: 5
30 Jan 2019, 01:25
Practice makes perfect
The girl smiled and nodded at Rose's words, but didn't move for a couple seconds. Just as Rose was about say something else the Ravenclaw, who Rose still didn't know the name of, moved to the wall and picked up a flute. Not a bad instrument. At one point in her life, Rose had considered playing the flute. The girl did have quite a lovely tone too.
Rose was about to go back to practicing when the other girl started playing some simple melodies, nothing crazy or elaborate, but still sweet and pretty. Rose even recognized most of them.
Back home, in her band she had a few flute friends, and she quite distinctly remember them playing a few of these tunes. Back then she had played the harmony on her clarinet, but she still remembered which chord the notes had come out of. If she could just remember all the chord progressions to the harmony part.....
Yeah, I can probably remember them all. Besides, if I get a note or two wrong, you can't notice too much. It is just a harp after all. Rose reasoned.
So Rose listened very closely to the song the Ravenclaw was playing, and started playing the harmony part on the harp.
Rose was about to go back to practicing when the other girl started playing some simple melodies, nothing crazy or elaborate, but still sweet and pretty. Rose even recognized most of them.
Back home, in her band she had a few flute friends, and she quite distinctly remember them playing a few of these tunes. Back then she had played the harmony on her clarinet, but she still remembered which chord the notes had come out of. If she could just remember all the chord progressions to the harmony part.....
Yeah, I can probably remember them all. Besides, if I get a note or two wrong, you can't notice too much. It is just a harp after all. Rose reasoned.
So Rose listened very closely to the song the Ravenclaw was playing, and started playing the harmony part on the harp.
Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a one sided coin.
30 Jan 2019, 04:07
Practice makes perfect
when the harmonies started, Katie froze. it was strange to be reminded that there was another person there. she paused, merely for a moment, before suddenly she was back in the living room. none of her siblings played the harp, but with a little bit of imagining it was the twins playing harmonious duets on the piano, matching time.
sure, there were a few mistakes, but who cared? she was just playing with Kayla and Kacen. this was fine. she was fine. it was fun, even.
she finished the song, feeling confident with a stranger behind her for the first time in... well, this had to be forever. Her voice, though naturally soft and demure, didn't radiate the fear it had at their last meeting as she turned to face her actual duet partner. she flicked a peice of hair over her shoulder, smiling a little and waving again before finally introducing herself. "I'm katie." It was calm, confident. well, confident was a strech. but she wasnt stuttering through it. and for katie, that was very much a win. then she asked the question, extrending a hand out to point over at the griffin girl while her left hand held the flute.
"you?"
sure, there were a few mistakes, but who cared? she was just playing with Kayla and Kacen. this was fine. she was fine. it was fun, even.
she finished the song, feeling confident with a stranger behind her for the first time in... well, this had to be forever. Her voice, though naturally soft and demure, didn't radiate the fear it had at their last meeting as she turned to face her actual duet partner. she flicked a peice of hair over her shoulder, smiling a little and waving again before finally introducing herself. "I'm katie." It was calm, confident. well, confident was a strech. but she wasnt stuttering through it. and for katie, that was very much a win. then she asked the question, extrending a hand out to point over at the griffin girl while her left hand held the flute.
"you?"
nervous, shy, and sweet as pie.
that's the way to reach the sky
Strength: 2 agility: 9 control: 14 stamina: 5
2 Feb 2019, 01:29
Practice makes perfect
It wasn't the most pleasant start, but they quickly found their stride and from that point on it sounded lovely. Their notes mixed and danced together, as if it was coming from one instrument. The girl's sound improved too.
It's always easy to tell when someone becomes comfortable, they're sound increases and they're dynamics become more noticeable. They shape the notes more, and become more musically. Finally the song ended and the last note rang out, and Rose found herself smiling. She looked over at the Ravenclaw and saw that she was smiling, just a bit. The girl gave a slight wave and said "I'm Katie,"
Ah, finally. A name. Rose thought, satisfied. She eyed the girl, and took note of her tone of voice. So much had changed in those few minutes.
This girl went from seeming like she would melt under my gaze to a somewhat confident, non-stuttering person. It's truly amazing what music can do. Rose mused.
"You?"
"Rose Sherwin." Rose replied. She gestured to Katie's flute and asked "So how long have you been playing?"
Rose kept a generally neutral expression on her face, a nice smile and soft eyes, but on the inside she was absolutely giddy with excitement. She didn't have any friends at Hogwarts for the mere reason that she didn't know how to start conversations with people. But perhaps this girl.....? Rose tried to calm herself. She shouldn't get her hopes up, since Katie was, after all, a stranger who she had only seen a few times. Rose couldn't get ahead of herself. So she sat there and smiled as she waited for Katie's response.
It's always easy to tell when someone becomes comfortable, they're sound increases and they're dynamics become more noticeable. They shape the notes more, and become more musically. Finally the song ended and the last note rang out, and Rose found herself smiling. She looked over at the Ravenclaw and saw that she was smiling, just a bit. The girl gave a slight wave and said "I'm Katie,"
Ah, finally. A name. Rose thought, satisfied. She eyed the girl, and took note of her tone of voice. So much had changed in those few minutes.
This girl went from seeming like she would melt under my gaze to a somewhat confident, non-stuttering person. It's truly amazing what music can do. Rose mused.
"You?"
"Rose Sherwin." Rose replied. She gestured to Katie's flute and asked "So how long have you been playing?"
Rose kept a generally neutral expression on her face, a nice smile and soft eyes, but on the inside she was absolutely giddy with excitement. She didn't have any friends at Hogwarts for the mere reason that she didn't know how to start conversations with people. But perhaps this girl.....? Rose tried to calm herself. She shouldn't get her hopes up, since Katie was, after all, a stranger who she had only seen a few times. Rose couldn't get ahead of herself. So she sat there and smiled as she waited for Katie's response.
Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a one sided coin.
2 Feb 2019, 02:13
Practice makes perfect
rose. that's pretty. Katie thought it suited her too. she was nice, but not weak. or at least, she was the one who wasnt weak in THIS convorsation. then again, Katie was never the strongest at anything. she would've voiced her sentiment, but she didnt want to come across as weird or creepy and drive her away, so she just sat.
it took her a long second to realize that rose had spoke. that it was a question. what had it been? oh, how long she'd pplayed?
"s-since i was two." she said, trying to hide the slight stutter. her whole family had played their whole lives. Kaden, the oldest, had started his drums at six. then, that same year, at four, kamden had taken up the harpsicord. Kai took upright base when he turned 3 4 years later, and from then on everyone started at two, picking an instrument. the twins both picked piano, but everyone else chose something nobody had done before. all the way down to Katie attempting to blow into the flute like a recorder as a kid (and actually making some decent noise out of the thing like that) (not good. but loud, to be clear).
"you?"
it took her a long second to realize that rose had spoke. that it was a question. what had it been? oh, how long she'd pplayed?
"s-since i was two." she said, trying to hide the slight stutter. her whole family had played their whole lives. Kaden, the oldest, had started his drums at six. then, that same year, at four, kamden had taken up the harpsicord. Kai took upright base when he turned 3 4 years later, and from then on everyone started at two, picking an instrument. the twins both picked piano, but everyone else chose something nobody had done before. all the way down to Katie attempting to blow into the flute like a recorder as a kid (and actually making some decent noise out of the thing like that) (not good. but loud, to be clear).
"you?"
nervous, shy, and sweet as pie.
that's the way to reach the sky
Strength: 2 agility: 9 control: 14 stamina: 5
7 Feb 2019, 02:22
Practice makes perfect
"I started harp about two or three years ago, but I started piano when I was five." Two?
Wow, this girl must be really good by now. How could she not? Two years old, that's amazing. Rose thought impressed. She looked at Katie with a newfound respect and her expectation for Katie's performance raised significantly in her mind. Rose knew someone from back home who had started the violin when they were 3, and they were basically a prodigy. They were all the way up in the 64th notes, which Rose thought was absolutely ridiculous.
Once there's more black on the page then white, there was a slight problem. Rose thought to herself. The most Rose had encountered was 32nd notes, and it was only a few of them in the piece.
Rose shook herself out of her thought and eyed the rack of music on the very far side of the room.
"Wanna check to see if there's any flute/harp duet books? There seems to be like, a music book for every variation and combination of instruments and skill level over there." "And-" Rose added quickly "I really did enjoy playing that duet with you." That was the truth. Rose had always enjoyed playing duets. It was just something with how cool or pretty or mystic that it can sound with two people.
Wow, this girl must be really good by now. How could she not? Two years old, that's amazing. Rose thought impressed. She looked at Katie with a newfound respect and her expectation for Katie's performance raised significantly in her mind. Rose knew someone from back home who had started the violin when they were 3, and they were basically a prodigy. They were all the way up in the 64th notes, which Rose thought was absolutely ridiculous.
Once there's more black on the page then white, there was a slight problem. Rose thought to herself. The most Rose had encountered was 32nd notes, and it was only a few of them in the piece.
Rose shook herself out of her thought and eyed the rack of music on the very far side of the room.
"Wanna check to see if there's any flute/harp duet books? There seems to be like, a music book for every variation and combination of instruments and skill level over there." "And-" Rose added quickly "I really did enjoy playing that duet with you." That was the truth. Rose had always enjoyed playing duets. It was just something with how cool or pretty or mystic that it can sound with two people.
Darkness without light is an abyss, light without darkness is blinding. You cannot have a one sided coin.
7 Feb 2019, 03:16
Practice makes perfect
"two of my siblings play piano." she said. "i dont understand anything but woodwinds, really." she shrugged. "that's really cool that you can play the harp. our family doesnt have a harpist." she smiled, not realizing that two was especially young. it had just been expected that you picked up your first musical instrument before your third birthday in their household. she didnt understand the respect in the other girl's eyes, but she wasnt mad. maybe this was friendship.
"sure, i'd love to! i loved playing with YOU, are you kidding?" she said, running over to the bookshelf as Rose continued to speak. she'd left the flute on a music stand nearby, so when she came back with a small stack of music in her hands, she wasnt also carrying a flute. which was good, she wasnt the least clumsy knife in the sock drawer. or bull in the china shop. whatever.
she held one open, it looked a little simpler. sight-readable, easily. for her, at least. she didnt know how rose would fare, but she assumed it was easy for her. "do you want to try this? it looks like fun." she offered. the wrong note polka was the title.
"sure, i'd love to! i loved playing with YOU, are you kidding?" she said, running over to the bookshelf as Rose continued to speak. she'd left the flute on a music stand nearby, so when she came back with a small stack of music in her hands, she wasnt also carrying a flute. which was good, she wasnt the least clumsy knife in the sock drawer. or bull in the china shop. whatever.
she held one open, it looked a little simpler. sight-readable, easily. for her, at least. she didnt know how rose would fare, but she assumed it was easy for her. "do you want to try this? it looks like fun." she offered. the wrong note polka was the title.
nervous, shy, and sweet as pie.
that's the way to reach the sky
Strength: 2 agility: 9 control: 14 stamina: 5