Have you ever dreamed and lived for something that you thought was impossible but then you think to yourself and you try doing the impossible well?
Do you mean that long line of musicians that you come from?
Yes! starts speaking faster My family has been musical for like.... generations. And ever since I was young, I knew that I had to follow my family's legacy of music. So when it was time for me to choose a career path, it was easy.
Easy huh? I bet you've been making music since you were able to hold a pencil.
laughs You know me too well. I began taking piano lessons when I was only three years old. And as soon as I started learning how to read music, I began writing my own songs. starts speaking faster When I turned twelve, my family gave me this beautiful classical guitar, and from then on, that became my instrument of choice.
Then started your journey in playing for big crowds.
smiles mischievously Ah yes, playing for big crowds was always my dream! As soon as I entered high school, I began performing in front of my classmates and even teachers! It wasn't easy though, my heart would pound so loudly, and my hands would shake. starts speaking faster I remember one time, during lunch break, I was so nervous to perform that I accidentally dropped my guitar. But I didn't give up! I kept practicing, and soon enough, I became the lead guitarist of the school's band!
This was all in Junior High right? Or was it Elementary School?
Haha, you're right, this was in elementary school! starts speaking faster I had always dreamed of becoming a great musician, someone who could make people feel emotions through my music.
Emotions indeed. See I used to sing. Well, maybe not sing, more like yell into an empty bucket. Because everytime I was told that I had beautiful voice and should sing more. I was too shy to. When you got a bit older you started singing to your friend Akira, yes Luna's mom, remember when you snuck up to Kazu's house and heard him playing his electric guitar? You felt like you didn't need to be shy because Kazu's mom was helping him so why not try with Akira. And your beautiful melodic voice boomed throughout that old shack of a house. Making Kazu come out of his room wondering what was going on. Well as soon as he saw you, you immediately turned bright red and ran off. Leaving Kazu asking who you were and wondering how he had never heard your voice before. When people hear a beautiful voice it brings them joy and brings happiness to their hearts. See Luna reminds me of that little boy you once were Richer.
pauses for a moment, sighs Yes... I remember that day clearly. I had always wanted to share my love for music, to show others how music could make them feel... happy, sad, excited... anything. looks down at his hands, gripping the guitar tightly But every time I tried, I... I just couldn't. I was too afraid of what others might think. sniffs, wiping a tear away I guess... I just wanted to be accepted, you know?
Whispers We are always accepted Luna, Richer and Akatsuki are two sides of the same coin. I accept you, do you accept yourself?
gulps, nods slowly Y-yes... I-I've been working on that lately, accepting myself as I am... it hasn't been easy, but I think I'm getting there...
How much more do you have to work on it? And if I may ask, what made you start working on it in the first place?
voice begins to shake Well... it's hard to say... but I guess... things just got worse after I transferred to a new school. Everyone seemed to already have their groups and cliques, and I didn't fit in anywhere... voice begins to quiver even more I felt so alone... but one day, I saw you... you seemed so confident, so carefree... and I thought to myself, 'If she can do it, why can't I?'
Wait... I know you. I'm the one with a carefree mindset, not you Luna. Maybe I need a refresher course. Look Luna, the first step of accepting oneself is knowing their self worth. That person must know why they deserve love and affection and kindness. After that it's simple. Accept yourself as you are now knowing that you can be anything you want. Do you accept yourself Luna?
voice trembling Y-yes... I... I accept myself... bites lip, tears streaming down face B-but I'm still scared... scared of being rejected...
Rejected? From who? Your parents? No. Your Teacher? No. The people you want to play your music to? They will gladly listen to you because they are respectful people, and they will learn from you that it's okay to accept themselves as they are.
takes a deep breath, wipes away tears Thank you... thank you for saying that. You really... helped me gain some confidence.
Would you like to learn how to play the flute? Or any other brass instrument for that matter? I'd be more than willing to teach you.
nods eagerly Y-yes! I would love to learn to play the flute. Th-thank you so much, t-this means so much to me... voice starts shaking again
I get out a tin whistle that Luna recognized as the one her mother used to play with Okay Akatsuki, put your lips over the embouchure hole... Like that. Now blow. Don't blow too hard, keep blowing. Keep blowing. There you go. Wow, you did it! Congratulations! Take a bow Akatsuki, take a bow! If you keep this up, you'll be leading the marching band in no time.
blushes deeply, takes a bow T-thank you! T-thank you so much, I can't believe I did it! grinning widely Th-this feels amazing...
And you're gonna be doing this for the rest of your life so don't worry Luna, it's gonna be okay, or at least as long as the insurance doesn't run out in 13 and a half years. I really hope my mom isn't gonna have to fight to get another paid extended warranty... Alright you ready? Be prepared to not breathe, that's when the magic happens. Blow and push the air through your tongue while pressing your tongue against the edge of the whistle. That's it, that's it. See I told you it wouldn't be difficult. Let's see here... C, D, E, F, G, A. Okay that's G, H, A, B, C. These flats make the note lower, these sharp signs raise the notes higher. Just something to remember. It's also important to know the fingerings. These cover notes can go lower. And those bypass notes. You usually use those when playing chords, or in simpler terms, when playing multiple notes at once. So to play a B, that's two octaves down from the highest note humans can hear. If you look at the top three holes on the bottom side and cover them, that will produce the note B. While covering the two
flustered, tries to concentrate on the instructions O-okay, I think I understand...
Cover the left side, not the right side. You're looking at the wrong holes. A, B, C. Focus on the third hole from the top and cover the ones next to it. Good job Akatsuki, do you know what note that is?
fidgets nervously, biting lip U-u-uhm... Is that... an E? hesitant
Not quite... See, you gotta think of numbers 1 to 7 on the key signature as the first seven letters of the alphabet. Do you remember learning ABCs in kindergarten? A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H. Those correspond to C, D, E, F, G, A, B. 7 flats, 7 sharps. Remember that pattern?
nods quickly Y-yeah, I remember! But why are you telling me this now? blinks rapidly
Alright, let's start fresh. A = C, B = D, C = E, D = F, E = G, F = A, G = B. Keep moving to the right on that row, that's your scale. Back to the top, E = C, F = D, G = E, A = F, B = G, C = A, D = B, E = C.
confused W-wait, I'm c-c-counting wrong, y-you said D, then F, but th-that's two o-octaves higher than A! T-this doesn't make s-sense!
One octave higher. See that's what happens when you hit the wrong note, it doesn't sound pleasant to your ears. Now start counting correctly. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Got it? Now try again.
nervously covers the correct holes, takes a deep breath, and blows gently E...E?! surprised Did I do it? Did I actually do it? smiles wide
Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Akatsuki, you just played an E! Hell yeah!!!
jumps up and down excitedly W-w-well I'll be damned! I did it! I actually did it! grins ear to ear I-it feels amazing! I-I-I can't believe it!
Let's move onto a tougher note. This one's a F natural. Remember, bottom side of the whistle, five holes down, count four holes to the left. Any questions? No, let's try it. Good, good, keep going, you can do this, this is easy. This one's even easier. Okay, top side, only one hole covered. Ready? Blow and push that air out. Give it all you got. You made it! It's a low note, but it's a F! Great job Akatsuki, very nice.
eagerly nods Y-yeah, I got it! blows into the whistle F! I-I did it!
Sure did, and hey, you're starting to have that gold medal kind of spirit. Remember when you broke your wrist trying to impress Kojima? Man, that sure brought out Kazu's dumbass side. Lol, and you even admit that you have dumbass moments. Check it out Kazu! Luna got her lucky break in finding her natural position, you know how many times I had to adjust my flute until my thumb started bleeding from a cut from one of the keys.
confused and startled Wha-- You mean...you hurt yourself too? Why didn't you tell me? leans closer, eyes filled with concern Oh my god...your thumb...it looks awful! Do you need stitches? Should I call an ambulance? starts pulling out phone