Chapter 4: Request
The orchestra is definitely young, definitely new, and definitely inexperienced. But I have to admit that they're all immensely talented. As concertmaster, I am basically 'second in command' to the conductor as far as running this orchestra. This is nothing new to me, as I've been a concertmaster many times. At Sina Institute, I was the concertmaster of my class, even though I was much younger than all of my classmates. The three years I played in Karanese, I was concertmaster. I'm not unfamiliar with the roles of concertmaster. But I have to say that the position of concertmaster for this group will prove to be a challenge for me. Not because they are a bad group, but only because I've never played with such a group before.
From the first minute I stepped into my role as concertmaster, simply leading the tuning, I could sense that these next three weeks would be an adventure. I could feel the energy around me as, slowly, one by one, the other musicians joined in on my ringing note, tuning their instruments to mine. And during the few easy warm up tunes, the entire atmosphere felt very unfamiliar to me. Usually the warm up pieces bore advanced groups like this. They're too easy, too effortless, and the group just seems eager to get on to the actual performance pieces. But this group plays their warm up pieces as if we were currently sitting in front of an audience. They put their hearts into their instruments.
When the warm ups come to an end, Erwin steps down from the podium and pulls out a thick stack of papers from his folder. I automatically stand, knowing the drill, along with the rest of the section leaders. He divvies up the scores by section and passes the smaller stacks off to their appropriate leaders, who then in turn pass out the scores to their group. I take my seat again and open the score on my stand, getting ready to play whichever bars Erwin wants to test out. But I'm surprised when the rest of the orchestra stands and collects their things as if getting ready to leave.
"With new scores, Erwin has us split off into our sections to practice as groups," Eren's voice says suddenly from at my shoulder. I startle slightly and look up at him. "Once we get a start on learning the pieces as sections, then Erwin will bring us back together to start practicing it as an orchestra."
How odd, I can't help but think. But I don't question what Eren says, instead standing and following the rest of my group, along with Eren's I notice, off of the back of the stage. I watch as the rest of the orchestra heads into a hall and starts disappearing into a number of rooms. Surely not all fifteen of us will be cramming into one practice room, right? And is Eren's group joining us? Are all violins practicing together, instead of divided into first violins and second violins? Well if fifteen of us won't fit in one practice room, thirty-one of us definitely won't.
But when Eren opens one of the doors, I see that the rooms in this hallway are not normal practice rooms. They're much bigger, with many chairs and stands. These are group practice rooms, and this one is definitely big enough to fit all of us, first and second violins together.
"Normally first and second violins separate, since our pieces are as different from each other as they are from the trumpets, but seeing as it's your first day with an unfamiliar orchestra, I decided that we should all practice together," Eren tells me with a smile.
I just nod, absent mindedly scratching at my arm. The pain shoots through my anxiety, but it doesn't lessen it. I know I'll get used to this odd style of running an orchestra, but at the moment it's all so new and different that it's making me nervous. Well I won't have to deal with it for long. Only three weeks. I can handle three weeks.
Everyone rearranges the chairs into a pattern they deem comfortable. There is no rhyme or reason to it. The chairs are just haphazardly placed about the room. But everyone seems to be somewhat facing Eren and I seated up against one wall. Eren is even turned slightly towards me.
"Before we start, can we hear you play, Mr. Ackerman?" a girl to my right asks. Murmurs of agreement run through the room and Eren turns his wide eyes onto me, full of hope and excitement. How could I possibly say no to that?
"Alright," I agree with a shrug. "What do you want me to play?"
Before any suggestions can be made, Eren hastily digs through his folder to produce the well worn, well loved copy of the score I helped him with yesterday, the score that I composed. He puts it on my stand and I sigh with a nod. I hand him back the score though. I don't need it.
The room grows stiflingly quiet as I lift my violin to my chin. I can literally hear each individual breathing, the creak of their chairs, the occasional click of a bow stick accidentally coming in contact with the body of a violin. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before letting my bow slide across the strings to fill the room with music.
I nearly get lost in the sound, but when I remember where I am, I open my eyes. Everyone is watching me in wonder, and when I catch sight of Eren, my bow nearly falters on the strings. He's staring at me with those beautiful wide eyes, full of awe. His lips are parted slightly, and he's leaning ever so slightly towards me. It's almost impossible, but I force myself to look away from those stunning eyes and to focus on the instrument beneath my fingers.
I let my eyes close again, diving into the song, recalling all of the feelings and emotions that I had poured into this particular composition. I don't even have to think about it, I don't even have to try. The loss and grief flows effortlessly from the strings, filling the small room. It's nothing new, nothing different. With my eyes closed, it's easy to pretend that I'm in a practice room, and not surrounded by only a few others in an interactive setting. When I finish the piece, the last note echoing through the small room, I open my eyes to a room full of awed expressions. They all look shocked.
"I've... I've heard that piece played wrong my whole life," Eren suddenly breathes, shattering the silence.
The girl to my left, the one that requested I play something, looks like she's about to cry. "You're right, Eren," she breathes, tugging at one of her loose black ponytails. "You play it with so much more... emotion."
"I could feel your pain," a blonde kid with thick sideburns points out.
"What inspired that piece?" Eren is the one who asks that question, and I hesitantly turn to regard him. He's leaning even closer now, his elbows resting on his knees with his instrument and bow dangling between his legs. "I mean, if that's something you don't want to share, that's fine. I can tell it's something very personal to you."
I shake my head, my brow drawing down into a frown. "Don't we have a piece we're supposed to be learning?"
Everyone seems to snap to attention, straightening in their seats and focusing on the music in front of them. Even Eren straightens in his seat, turning to face forward again. He has a guilty look in his eyes. I get the strongest urge to pat him on the shoulder and tell him that it's fine. Or to reach up and rub away the crease between his eyebrows. But I keep my hands to myself and force my attention away from him and onto the piece.
"Okay, uhm, I guess I'll lead the practice this time? Just so you get a feel of how these things go," Eren tells me.
I nod, not saying anything else. He signals for everyone to get ready to play. "Let's just start from the beginning, and we'll take this at half tempo," he instructs. "We'll play the first page, but skip measures eleven through... fourteen. We'll come back to those later." He glances over at my first violin sheet, then nods in affirmation for the first violins to do the same. He pulls a wooden pencil from his music folder and taps it against his metal stand, setting a slow tempo. "One two three four, one two three four."
The first violins start on the upbeat, and I listen to Eren tap away for only a few more beats as I play before I tune him out. I play a little louder than marked to hold the tempo as Eren stops his tapping. He picks up his instrument and begins to play when the second violins come in. Everyone listens to my violin, keeping tempo with me as we play. It sounds pretty good considering everyone is sight reading the piece. I've played this piece before, so I can allow myself to split my concentration between my playing and the rest of the room, listening for any mistakes or anyone losing their tempo. I can hear a first violin starting to split, and Eren hears it at the exact same time as I do, because we both start verbally counting the tempo at the same time.
"Cut, cut," Eren exhales sharply after a few more bars. The music cuts off and everyone lowers their violins. "Someone in the back is off by half a beat. Listen to Mr. Ackerman and I for the tempo. Pay attention guys."
Eren counts us in again and we start from the beginning. The familiar score and the slow tempo allow me to continuously look up and scan the group. I notice a younger girl in the back frowning at her score, her bow paused on the strings. I stand and walk around the group. The music stops and all eyes turn on me, along with the wide eyes of the girl. I kneel next to her, looking up at her score. First violin. So I guess that means I'm in charge of her.
"What part are you stuck on?" I ask her.
"Uhm..." she murmurs nervously. "This measure right here."
I help her with the measure, as does the other first violinist next to me. Once she is a little more comfortable with the phrase, I return to my seat. The rehearsal continues in a similar fashion for the rest of the afternoon, Eren leading us slowly through the piece, and the two of us helping those that need assistance. I actually find that I enjoy this method of rehearsal. I was worried about the interactive nature of the method, but it's not too bad.
Around eight thirty, Erwin knocks on the door before entering.
"How is it going?" he questions, pulling up a chair between Eren and I and taking a seat. He looks between us, then focuses his blue eyes on me. "I hope Eren is showing you the ropes?"
"Yes," I reply with a nod, "he's teaching me how rehearsals are run. It's very... interesting. I've never participated in such a rehearsal."
"Will you be able to work like this?" Erwin asks.
"I think so. I'm enjoying it thus far, and I find that it is a good way to learn the music."
"Good," he smiles before looking over at Eren. "You're all dismissed for the day. Good job and I'll see you all tomorrow afternoon."
Everyone starts to pack up their instruments and music, but Erwin hangs around. I get the feeling he wants to talk to me once everyone leaves. Eren gives Erwin a quick rundown of our rehearsal as everyone files out of the room. When he finishes, he gives me a smile and a wave before he too leaves.
"If you agree to stay for the next three weeks then I'll get a contract for you and we'll arrange for your payment."
I nod, following Erwin from the room.
"Why are your rehearsals so late in the day?" I find myself asking. I don't really care, it's just so different from any other orchestra I've ever played with and I guess I am slightly curious.
"Most of my musicians are college students, and they have classes in the morning."
"College students? I guess that explains why they all look so young."
Erwin chuckles. "Yeah, they're all a bunch of kids. It makes them fun to work with though. Most of them attend Shiganshina Academy of the Arts. It has an outstanding music program. My musicians are all very talented." I admire the way he speaks about his musicians. He speaks as if he were talking about his own children. It's obvious he cares a lot about them, and it only further cements that feeling of 'family' that I get from observing this group. "So what are your thoughts on Jaeger?"
My steps nearly falter, and I struggle to cover up my surprise. What does he mean by that question? I thought I was doing a good job of hiding my attraction to the other violinist, but was I really being that obvious? If he did notice, then what does he want to say about it?
"I think he has the potential for concertmaster, but I'd really like an outside opinion," he continues and I breathe a sigh of relief. He just wants my expert opinion. He didn't notice anything.
"I haven't had the chance to observe him enough to form a definite opinion, but it is evident that the boy is determined enough to put in the effort required to earn the position of concertmaster," I answer as Erwin opens a door that leads into a small office. "From what I've observed thus far, I can comfortably agree that he does have potential to be a great violinist. He just needs the proper guidance."
I follow him inside and he gestures for me to take a seat. "I'm glad you said that, because I have a rather... odd request."
I regard Erwin hesitantly as he takes a seat behind his desk. "And what might that be?"
"I know that you've never taken an apprentice before, as far as I've heard, and I'm not necessarily asking for you to take one now, but I was hoping that you could work individually with Jaeger on top of the regularly scheduled rehearsals. You're an outstanding violinist, Mr. Ackerman, and I know that Eren could learn a lot from you. Of course, you are free to refuse."
I just stare at him a long moment, trying to make sense of what he's asking. I manage to keep my expression neutral though as my mind runs a million miles an hour. "You want me to give Jaeger lessons?"
"Yes, I suppose that is one way to put it," he says, leaning back in his chair. "You are right when you say that it'll take a lot of effort for him to get where he needs to be in order to be promoted to concertmaster. But I feel like with your help, he could do it. Just for the three weeks you are here. I won't be able to compensate you any extra for your time spent with him, but-"
"I'll do it," I interrupt him. I know that it's a bad idea for me to accept, but I can't stop myself. This will mean more time together with Eren.
"Perfect," he says with a smile. "I'll speak with Eren and arrange a time for him to meet with you. Now that that's squared away, let's go over your contract."
Just a heads up, in a week I'll be moving to Japan to do a semester abroad there. This means that my writing time will be greatly limited. So the time between updates could be really long. On top of that my internet access is also going to be limited which could also affect when I update. I'll try not to leave too much time between updates, but FotP is still my main focus right now, so I can't promise anything.
