Practice Is Good

From Redwall MUCK Wiki


Caleb shows up at the end, but got some of the stuff before cause was a good role play

RW Abbey: Cavern Hole


This room is slightly smaller than Great Hall, but still of a size large enough to accomodate a great number of gathered beasts. A large fireplace is set into one of the walls, and there are a series of small tables and chairs near one end for beasts who are eating late, or simply prefer the smaller tables for their meals. Cushions and blankets have been set in one corner. A short flight of steps leads up to Great Hall, and along the walls of the stairs, going both ways, the word 'Redwall' has been carved into the stone.


                       Exits/Entrances:
                  [G]reat [H]all
                  [Ki]tchen

Cynthia sits in one of the chairs. The harp is beside her and she has played it someday. She has also tried to finish up a lesson or more like practice writing some letters out and sighs, why so many times she wonders.

A shrew strolls in the bells attached to his braids and clothes and shaggy fur chiming and ringing with every step. He raises a paw as he approaches the young mouse, "And ye must be Cynthia, tha darlin' lil mouse maid ma ole friend Benar has been telling me all aboot," He hops up into a chair grinning at her and sweeping off his hat, "Aye'm being Oswald, GOUSIM shrew and bard at ye service young miss."

Cynthia smiles a little "Yeah I am Cynthia." She feels a little concerned on just what he has heard about her as she places her papers in a stack beside her. "Its..very nice to meet you sir"

He waves a paw back and forth, "None of that sir business lassy, I am Oswald ta you! Now then tha fair old Abbot as tempted me in to teach ya music! Says he found me a rare ole' gifted student which'll keep me up for a bit. So why don'tcha show me wot ya can do?"

Cynthia smiles as the subject of music comes up and she nods "Yes the harp here and...I sing, a little" She starts to place her fingers on the harp strings and at first is unsure, I mean playing in front of someone is a big step but she takes a deep breath and lets her fingers move along the strings and plays a soft tune on the harp, she hums a little tune but has yet to sing anything, for now it’s just the harp playing.

Oswald listens, nodding his head as she plays he stands up and walks around behind her, "Naj bad but try this." He reaches out and bends her elbows, shifting her stand on either side of the strings, "Dun reach all tha way, and pluck with yer claws"

Cynthia allows him to show her and nods, she tries again and this time uses the claws carefully and smiles as the music is better this time and when she is happy and relaxes more, she seems to do better and even sings a little tune, a short one of maybe 2-3 lines that tells of winter ending and hopes of spring.

The shrew steps back listening and tinkles the bells on the end of his bandana and smiles "Yes see you have skill lassy, ah would be proud ta teach ya the basics yer need to make this really shine"

Cynthia smiles at this "I would love that!" She then quiets "Sorry..si..I mean Oswald. I would like that sir, music makes me happy and from what heard makes others happy as well."

He wags a paw under her nose, "No callin me sir lassy, or I will call ya Mistress Cynthia and make yer dress tha part oh prim n proper Abbey lass. Now then wot else ken you play?"

Cynthia nods, dresses are not her thing, maybe for something important and that’s a big maybe, "I can play this one tune I heard a couple seasons ago...well sort of" She goes on to show him, she does mess up a couple times with the wrong string but tries not to let it get her down. It’s a tune close to the 3 blind mice song.

The shrew nods along listening to the tune then pulls out the strange device he was playing at the feast. It is a wooden frame with pieces of silvery metal of varying lengths attached. "Ok then let's see if'n ya can be a following me tune lass." And he starts to play the actual three blind mice, "Can yer hear wot I am doing?"

Cynthia watches him and listens closely. "It’s...a slight different tune and this music is different than the harp. And...sounds like notes of music have times where its higher and.ter..right?"

Oswald smiles and nods, "It does indeed, octaves are wot we be calling it when the music floats higher or lower, and there be eight basic notes we can be reproducing."

Cynthia blinks at the shrew, "8 notes?" This seems a surprise to her but it’s clear she is very willing to learn more. "I..never really learned notes I just watched the paw movements of an old vole maid once, for about a little under a season"

Oswald nods, "Yup and they are A," He plays a note, "Up ta G," He plays a series of notes, a rippling cascade up the Xylotar, "And then thar be the sharps and tha flat notes, alterations of the other seven."

Cynthia nods as she tries to listen very carefully, "And where would those be on the harp? I believe I have played least some of them as...sort of sound familiar, even if not on the harp"

Oswald moves to the harp and reaches out, showing her the notes, 7 repeating strings, note by note by note, "Tha flats and sharps are played by plucking higher or lower on tha string."

Cynthia smiles as s watches and tries them herself, she messes up once but tries a 2nd and 3nd time using her claws and gets better. She shows the willingness to learn and not give up and she stays focused on what she is shown" I want to one day maybe play at one of the feasts, some old Redwall song or maybe even a new one"

The shrew nods, "Well aye will be 'appy ta teach ya lass, though sometimes ye may end up aving ta travel with me abit from time ta time when I go a wandering ta play to the crowds and all. Or ave some gaps in yer teachings."

Cynthia nods "I would not mind traveling, as long as Abbot Benar was ok with it and my father of course. I could and will also practice a lot of what I am taught. I am good at listening to tunes and remembering where paw movements are. I am not sure how really, I just sort of learned What I do know just watching another play a harp and then one day I went to play one."

The shrew grins and adjusts his bandana which makes all his bells ring, "Well lassy ye ave a natural skill is all mah friend"

Cynthia smiles, "Thank ya..Thank you Oswald. I am enjoying learning more"

The shrew grins at the mouse "Now then let’s go over those basics again, got to get tha notes down pat before we move on any more."

Cynthia nods as she remembers the notes and goes up and then down the scale. If needed she will allow a repositioning of her claws and try again. She also tries to make high and low notes and even hums a little with them and it seems to help.


After practice ------

Caleb is in the kitchens making some blackberry scones and also some brown bread.

Cynthia walks in, “Hey Caleb, ya cooking tonight?”

Caleb turns and smiles “Well just the bread and some blackberry scones and the scones are desert. I heard you playing the harp and singing, you’re doing good.” He then backs up “Don’t get mad..sort of watched from the kitchen for a short time.”

Cynthia shrugs and smiles “That’s ok with me, see ya at dinner” She then heads to her room.

Caleb waves and smiles as he places some mellow cream on the scones that are done.