fandomhigh | Guitar, Preiod 4 Thurdsay

El was playing a quiet tune on his black acoustic guitar as the students filed in, seemingly not noticing them. There was a plate of freshly made tacos on the side for any who might want to pick them up.

When the last student had filled in, El stood up and faced the class.

"When I spoke to you all last, I said that I would have a syllabus for you. Unfortunately, if you are a fan of syllabi, I'm afraid that I lied. I tried strict syllabi for my two classes last year, and it didn't quite work out. I'm afraid that rigid, ordered structures simply don't work for me. However, this does not mean that there isn't a plan for this semester. Far from it. In fact, there are three plans for this semester."

El put the guitar in its case and slowly latched it up. He began walking between the student's desks, clinking as he went.

"This class will have three separate components. History of the Guitar. Playing of the Guitar. And Making of the Guitar. We shall alternate between these three subjects each week. Learning about the history, learning how to play or play better, and making a guitar. At the end of the semester, you will have three options for your final. You can either write me a research paper on some aspect of the guitar's history. You can play me a piece of your own choosing, although I will count you off if you try and pick something easy, unless you play it extremely well. Or you can build a guitar of your own.

Now, for today. If you know how to play guitar? Play something for me. Anything. If you don't have a guitar with you and want to play something acoustical, you may borrow mine. If you want to play something electric, Mr. Bernadette has graciously offered the use of his electric guitar.

If you don't know how to play guitar? There are guitars over there. Electric, acoustic, bass, many kinds. Go over and pick out something that you think fits you. This will be your guitar for the semester. And I expect all of you to practice every day. Then I'll spend the rest of the class showing you the basics. Everyone else, talk amongst yourselves about why you picked those songs to play.

And, just for record's sake, my office hours will be Wednesday afternoon."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Thanks! I really liked your song too!" Miley smiled. "What's Teal Dear?"

"Fandom's one and only local band. I play guitar, and Chad's the bassist, and Pippi drums and Zero is the lead."

"There's a band? That's so cool! Zero's my big sister, I think. Where do you guys play?"

"Caritas, usually. But we go on the road sometimes, too, and we'll bring some of the students with us. You should come sometime."

"That sounds like fun, I think I will come." Miley grinned, strumming her guitar a little in excitement.

"Yay! We can always use more roadies and groupies!"

"I can be a groupie!" Miley laughed, way too excited about being on the other side of the coin.

"Awesome! Hey, if you perform, maybe you can open for us sometime or something."

"No!" Miley shook her head. "I'm...I'm not really much of a..uh...performer. Just like to sit and watch. Yup. Miley, the sitting and watching type of girl."

"Okay." Nadia shrugged, figuring this girl was just shy. "But if you change your mind, let me know and I'll talk to Parker about it. Just so long as it's none of that teeny-bopper punk junk, like Britney Spears or Hannah Montanna or something."

"Hannah Montana is not punk junk!" Miley took a deep breath. "Not that I like her or anything, cause I don't. But isn't she more pop-rock?"

~~And wow, my brain is apparently not working right~~

"I actually don't know. I listened to like, 30 seconds of one of her songs once when I was working at the record store. But what I heard? Was pretty dumb. Totally manufactured."

Miley tried to tone back her glare, reminding herself that she was supposed to be hiding. "Not that I like her, cause I don't or anything but it doesn't sound like you gave her much of a chance. Not that I listen to her songs or anything. Cause I don't. But what song did you listen to that was so dumb?"

"Not that I would know it or anything. Cause I don't. Um...know things."

Well, now, there was an odd reaction. "I'm sorry if you're a fan. I was trying to offend you or anything. But that 'Best of Both Worlds' song? Riiiight. Like that's honest. Like you can just tour around being a mega-star and well known singer like Hannah Montanna and still have a 'normal' life? I don't think so."

"Not a fan! Really, I'm just...you know, trying to be fair." Miley groaned mentally.

"You...uh...you really don't think that's an option? That you can't have both?"

"How could you? I mean, I know how much time it takes just to play guitar for a local band. Add on autograph appearances, stadium shows, studio time, publicity, rehearsal, all those things? You'd never have time for anything else."

"Well, I guess that's true." Miley sighed. "You can have the other stuff, just in less amounts. I would think. I mean, it's not like pop stars don't go to school and have friends and stuff."

"But they'd just get chased around by rabid fans. Like in that Beatles movie."

"Maybe the Beatles should have gone in disguise or something to throw off the fans?"

Nadia considered this seriously. "There is a lot you can do with just a wig and a pair of glasses. . . ."

"There you go." Miley nodded and realized that it was a little too close to the truth for her. "Uh...uh..."

"Do you think our teacher is cute?"

Nadia went cheerfully along with this change of subject. "Hell. Yes."

"He's kinda got that 'man of danger and mystery' thing going for him." Miley said, giggling.

"Also? He speaks Spanish. And kicks. Ass. Seriously. I've seen it."

Miley stared at the teacher in fascination. "Wow. Hot."

Re: Play Something

nadiathesaint - 2007-01-19 18:45 (UTC) - Expand