Ambrose just laughed. That had felt -good-. Maybe he'd talk to the studio about getting a metal gig soon he could stand to stretch his legs again, so to speak. He'd not done badly but it felt, to him, as if he was a bit out of shape. To both Dana and Celeste he half grinned.
"Different is good, but next time I think it might work out better if I had the right instrument."Â?
Belle had earned herself a wink. She'd done a damned fine job keeping up all the way around tonight.
Hrmmmm... well...
"Why don't you see if you can teach an old dog new tricks. If it comes down to it I can give you the sheet music for the other."Â?
A Sharing of Music ((open, attn: Ambrose and Ysabel))
With the help of two of the staff members, Dana carted every instrument stand and most of the instruments from her room to the library. Her quarters simply were not big enough to house more than her playing many different instruments, not to mention the acoustics in her room were abysmal.
She was meeting Ambrose and hopefully Ysabel today and share music with them. The library had a very well tuned piano, and plenty of space for them. Once everthing was deposited on the floor near a deep arm chair, Dana went about setting up each instrument, while the staff brought her four straight-backed chairs from some other room.
When she finally had everything arranged to her exacting standards, she sat down and tuned each instrument, starting with the simple guitar, to the balalaika, to the gittern, her newest acquisition the banjo, and finally her favored, very temperamental lap harp.
Ambrose
14 years ago
Dana
14 years ago
"Well then let's start with something simple shall we?"
Laughing lightly, she plucked the lute from its stand, and after checking the tuning handed it to Ambrose.
"The action on that particular lute is easy and winsome. You hold it thusly."
She placed the end of the lute against the upper part of his right thigh, and his left hand on the neck.
She pointed to the strings as she spoke again. "This lute is played in courses, or two strings at a time. And are tuned A, B flat C D E F G A D and F. To achieve a sound you pluck the strings in a pattern. There are no 'chords' on a lute as each string is played."
She smiled at him. "Any questions?"
Laughing lightly, she plucked the lute from its stand, and after checking the tuning handed it to Ambrose.
"The action on that particular lute is easy and winsome. You hold it thusly."
She placed the end of the lute against the upper part of his right thigh, and his left hand on the neck.
She pointed to the strings as she spoke again. "This lute is played in courses, or two strings at a time. And are tuned A, B flat C D E F G A D and F. To achieve a sound you pluck the strings in a pattern. There are no 'chords' on a lute as each string is played."
She smiled at him. "Any questions?"
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel smiled back at Ambrose and sat quietly while a lute lesson began. She looked on with interest; she knew a little bit about the lute but hadn't really played one seriously herself. Dana didn't seem to mind the extra interest, so she folded her hands in her lap, watched, and listened.
She was looking forward to seeing Ambrose step out of his comfort zone some. He was a man who liked things the way he liked them. Changing them made him grouchy. But if he took the step himself she was happy. In her opinion, being flexible was one of the keys to a long life as a vampire. Sure, they all had their preferences - she knew that better than anyone with her admittedly outdated clothing preferences. But Ysabel knew how to accommodate changing times and had done so on many occasions in the past. So, if Ambrose was going to try something new even if it was taking a step back into the past, she was in favor of it.
She was looking forward to seeing Ambrose step out of his comfort zone some. He was a man who liked things the way he liked them. Changing them made him grouchy. But if he took the step himself she was happy. In her opinion, being flexible was one of the keys to a long life as a vampire. Sure, they all had their preferences - she knew that better than anyone with her admittedly outdated clothing preferences. But Ysabel knew how to accommodate changing times and had done so on many occasions in the past. So, if Ambrose was going to try something new even if it was taking a step back into the past, she was in favor of it.
Ambrose
14 years ago
Winsome? Ambrose didn't think he'd ever heard that word before, he sure has hell hadn't used it. OK focus on the instrument.
The lute felt odd to him. If nothing else it had too many strings but the size and shape was off too. He'd be better off with a banjo. Well, maybe it was remotely like a mandolin but that was the best he could do.
He frowned a bit and went a head and picked out a note on each string just to get a feel for it. He couldn't get a good feel on the neck of the instrument, it felt awkward.
"You nave no idea."Â?
He said with a tough of grim humor. He wasn't the best student in the world but he was going to at least try.
The lute felt odd to him. If nothing else it had too many strings but the size and shape was off too. He'd be better off with a banjo. Well, maybe it was remotely like a mandolin but that was the best he could do.
He frowned a bit and went a head and picked out a note on each string just to get a feel for it. He couldn't get a good feel on the neck of the instrument, it felt awkward.
"You nave no idea."Â?
He said with a tough of grim humor. He wasn't the best student in the world but he was going to at least try.
Dana
14 years ago
Dana watched Ambrose for a moment. He was clearly uncomfortable. She nearly offered to give him something different, but she had a feeling he would like that just as much as she would.
"It sounds much more complicated than it is. Here, like this." She took his hand and repositioned it on the neck, setting his first finger on the third course, his second finger on the second course and his first finger on the first, as though he were walking down stairs with them.
"Now with this hand." She placed his hand over the box, thumb at the fifth course and his other fingers down the courses. "Now pluck each string from thumb through fourth."
She glanced up and smiled at Ysabel. Her gentleman would learn this, but the Lady seemed interested as well. "Would you like to pick one to learn, Ysabel? I would be happy to teach you as well."
((She's got just about anything with strings with her, so feel free to pluck a name out of the hat and we can go from there. ;D))
"It sounds much more complicated than it is. Here, like this." She took his hand and repositioned it on the neck, setting his first finger on the third course, his second finger on the second course and his first finger on the first, as though he were walking down stairs with them.
"Now with this hand." She placed his hand over the box, thumb at the fifth course and his other fingers down the courses. "Now pluck each string from thumb through fourth."
She glanced up and smiled at Ysabel. Her gentleman would learn this, but the Lady seemed interested as well. "Would you like to pick one to learn, Ysabel? I would be happy to teach you as well."
((She's got just about anything with strings with her, so feel free to pluck a name out of the hat and we can go from there. ;D))
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel smiled at Dana, shaking her head gently. "Not just yet," she said. "I have an interest, but I'm well content to listen for now, if that's all right with you."
Another instrument would be enjoyable, but Ysabel had scant enough time to learn one at the moment. Between her horses and her smallish familiar, she was already a little busy. Marie's education was something Ysabel took very seriously, and since she couldn't be a part of the young human's daylight hours, she was currently doing her best to be there for her every afternoon until she went to bed at night.
For the moment she was, indeed, satisfied to listen to Dana's lessons and to watch Ambrose pick up something new. Her eyes flickered to Celeste, however, and sparkled with amusement.
"Perhaps Celeste would enjoy learning, though?"
She wanted to include the other woman, who thus far had been somewhat stand-offish. She wasn't sure she saw Celeste as the lute-strumming type, but it never hurt to try and engage her in the conversation anyhow.
Another instrument would be enjoyable, but Ysabel had scant enough time to learn one at the moment. Between her horses and her smallish familiar, she was already a little busy. Marie's education was something Ysabel took very seriously, and since she couldn't be a part of the young human's daylight hours, she was currently doing her best to be there for her every afternoon until she went to bed at night.
For the moment she was, indeed, satisfied to listen to Dana's lessons and to watch Ambrose pick up something new. Her eyes flickered to Celeste, however, and sparkled with amusement.
"Perhaps Celeste would enjoy learning, though?"
She wanted to include the other woman, who thus far had been somewhat stand-offish. She wasn't sure she saw Celeste as the lute-strumming type, but it never hurt to try and engage her in the conversation anyhow.
Celeste
14 years ago
The first thought that came to mind when the music ended and the lesson began was to beat a hasty retreat. But, Celeste found herself lingering. Partially because it was amusing to watch someone as manly as Ambrose plucking at such an odd instrument. The other reason was less tangible, a mixture of enjoying the location and the company. Not that Cel would admit it.
Then Ysabel suggested she be included and her head began to do a vigorous side to side movement as she muttered, "No way am I going to pluck like some spazz on something so girly." Realizing a second too late that might seem a bit rude to the male in the room, she tried to qualify her knee jerk reaction some.
"What I mean is.. I'm the type who makes music with steel and guns and my fists on flesh. I don't have the patience for... this stuff." Her hand waved vaguely around to include the instruments. "Piano lessons were torture sessions." She smiled weakly at the others.
Then Ysabel suggested she be included and her head began to do a vigorous side to side movement as she muttered, "No way am I going to pluck like some spazz on something so girly." Realizing a second too late that might seem a bit rude to the male in the room, she tried to qualify her knee jerk reaction some.
"What I mean is.. I'm the type who makes music with steel and guns and my fists on flesh. I don't have the patience for... this stuff." Her hand waved vaguely around to include the instruments. "Piano lessons were torture sessions." She smiled weakly at the others.
Ambrose
14 years ago
Ambrose had been fairly intent on what Dana was showing him and coming to the conclusion that there was a reason people had invented guitars. But he was also pleased with himself, he was making some progress here. He flashed Belle a look, something like a little boy, yeah he wanted praise and he wasn't going to be shy about asking.
Celeste's comments, however, made him look up. He offered her a wry smile.
"Don't worry. I plan on shooting something after this."Â?
Having asserted his masculinity, he continued on with the lute. He managed to find a few chords on his own and even the beginnings of a recognizable tune. This wasn't going to be a calling or his favorite instrument... but it worked.
Celeste's comments, however, made him look up. He offered her a wry smile.
"Don't worry. I plan on shooting something after this."Â?
Having asserted his masculinity, he continued on with the lute. He managed to find a few chords on his own and even the beginnings of a recognizable tune. This wasn't going to be a calling or his favorite instrument... but it worked.
Dana
14 years ago
Dana watched as Ambrose worked through the courses. "If you change your mind Ysabel let me know, I am happy to share my knowledge with you."
The small exchange between Celeste and Ambrose made her laugh. They were two very interesting clan mates and she was enjoying getting to know them both. "It is my experience Celeste, that music needs an audience. Even the most soul stirring music, played in private, stirs only the soul of the player, and is lost. If that same music is shared with another then it lives on in the heart of the audience forever."
A faint blush colors her cheeks. "My apologies, I tend to wax professorial when music is involved."
Shaking her head, Dana returns her attention to the lesson at hand. She had much to teach and a willing student before her.
The small exchange between Celeste and Ambrose made her laugh. They were two very interesting clan mates and she was enjoying getting to know them both. "It is my experience Celeste, that music needs an audience. Even the most soul stirring music, played in private, stirs only the soul of the player, and is lost. If that same music is shared with another then it lives on in the heart of the audience forever."
A faint blush colors her cheeks. "My apologies, I tend to wax professorial when music is involved."
Shaking her head, Dana returns her attention to the lesson at hand. She had much to teach and a willing student before her.
Ambrose
14 years ago
The back and forth went on for several more hours. By the end of it, Ambrose could almost play a lute, well mostly. And he'd taught Dana his song, she was a fair hand at it too. Maybe they'd have to be a bit more social. Both Dana and Celeste were interesting sorts.
((OOC... all out with permission (if a slightly heavy hand
))
((OOC... all out with permission (if a slightly heavy hand
))