It was a day just like any other at Melody Academy. Professor Rifo just finished instructing his students in Advanced Ballet dance class and dismissed the students to head to their next classes or hit the showers.
And as the students exited the studio, Carmine came in with the cleaning droids to clean up the studio.
"Ah, Carmine. Perfect timing. This floor is filthy today." said the Tholothian teacher.
"No problem, Professor." Carmine said. "You heard the man, guys. Time to get cleaning."
So, Carmine got to work making sure all the droids were cleaning the floors properly while he cleaned up around the piano.
Carmine got to dusting and wiping the piano, accidentally hitting a few keys as he did.
Carmine paused for a moment. He looked around. No one was around, so he pressed a few keys on the piano.
The sweet sound of the piano. Music to Carmine's ears in more ways than one. He played a few more keys, this time in a more melodious way.
"Hmm..."
Carmine found himself sitting on the stool and playing a pretty little melody on the piano. He closed his eyes and felt the music flowing through his veins as a song grew in his heart, and soon he found words to fit.
I close my eyes and I can see
A world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home
Carmine started to play a little louder, adding more passion to the song.
They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, if they call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design
In his head, Carmine imagined how wonderful it would be to be performing on a real stage someday being adored by lots of fans who wanted to hear his music, hear him sing, and loved him when he unleashed the magic in his voice.
'Cause every night, I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make
There's a house we can build
Every room inside is filled with things from far away
Special things I compile
Each one there to make you smile on a rainy day
Outside the classroom, a Twilek woman happened to be walking by. Ms. Susy, a beginners' ballet teacher and music teacher at the academy. She heard someone with a beautiful voice singing and carefully peered inside to see who it was.
They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say we've lost our minds
See, I don't care, I don't care if they call us crazy
Run away to a world that we design
'Cause every night, I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make
Ms. Susy couldn't believe her eyes when she saw and heard Carmine singing and playing the piano so beautifully. Carmine's voice was amazing! He sounded like a siren, the mermaid-like creature with a hypnotic voice, not the wailing kind of siren.
However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me
We may be right, we may be wrong
But I wanna bring you along to the world I see
To the world we close our eyes to see
We close our eyes to see
Every note, every scale, Carmine sang right on key naturally, seeming so effortless. Susy
Every night, I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make
For the world we're gonna make
Carmine heard someone clapping when he finished his song, and practically jumped, having not realized he was being watched.
"Carmine..." said Ms. Susy.
"Oh! Ms. Susy. I'm so sorry!" Carmine said, getting back to cleaning. "I'm getting back to work. I just saw the piano, I played a couple keys and-"
"Whoa now, Carmine." Ms. Susy said. "You're not in trouble. Why didn't you tell us you could sing like that?"
Carmine put his hands in his pockets and blushed.
"I'm... I'm kinda shy. And, I suffer from mild depression and anxiety." Carmine said. "Ever since my dad and grandma died, I haven't been the same. And other kids make fun of me all the time, so I tend to keep everything to myself."
Ms. Susy gently lifted Carmine's chin up.
"Well, I believe you have real talent. There's a lot of potential in you, and you would learn a lot if you took classes here."
"That's very kind of you, but I can't afford to go to school here, as much as I'd like to come."
But before Carmine could get back to work, Ms. Susy stopped him and told him that the school had been looking to hand scholarships to underprivileged candidates to enroll. Ms. Susy believed that Carmine had a good chance of getting one. One scholarship, and he would be able to attend the school for free, and continue to do so as long as he kept his grades up and worked hard. But... there was a catch. Carmine had to pass a really hard entrance exam.
The entrance exam was like the biggest audition any aspiring performer could ever do. He had to sing songs from at least four different genres, follow in a tryout dance class, and demonstrate musical talent on at least two instruments.
"Wow. This school has higher standards than I thought." Carmine said.
"You think the biggest stars got famous by taking it easy? They challenged themselves, practiced, and most importantly, played from the heart."
"When's the next entrance exam?"
"The next one occurs after the school year ends, which is in four months. Pass that exam, you'll be a freshman at Melody Academy next fall."
That didn't sound like a lot of time to prepare. Carmine wasn't sure he could do it. But he yearned to go to this school so bad. But... he was going to need help.
"How do I prepare?" Carmine asked.
"Meet me back here at eight tomorrow."
It was Saturday the next morning, meaning many of the students were either at home with their parents, hanging outside of school, or in their dorms doing their stuff.
Carmine met with Ms. Susy back in the dance studio where she'd discovered him playing his song. She went into the lost and found and managed to find song clothes in Carmine's size for him to wear. Black tights, a blue shirt, and some ballet slippers.
"As you know, it's going to take more than one pretty song to earn you a scholarship to this school." said Ms. Susy. "Dancing is one of the most essential pieces to making it in this school."
"Well, I did used to follow dance videos all the time with my grandma."
"Videos can be helpful for practice, but they cannot give you instant feedback like a live teacher can. Let's see what you can do."
Ms. Susy first tested Carmine on the five ballet positions of the feet and arms, then tested his knowledge of ballet terminology by naming random ballet terms, starting with various leaps and turns. The grande jete, pirouette, and saute were easy to remember, but he got mixed up with pas de chat, temps de poisson, and temps de l'ange.
Ms. Susy had Carmine do a few movements on his own, and took notes of which areas they needed to work on.
"Well, Carmine... you have a wonderful amount of energy. Very spritely, very passionate, and you seem to have a lot of fun dancing. However..."
That last word worried Carmine.
"Your knowledge of terminology requires some attention, your timing when landing was slightly wobbly, and you start to lose your balance when you do allegro turns."
"So... how do I get better?" Carmine asked.
"We're going to see how you do in other forms of dance first. How do you feel about ballroom dancing?"
Carmine remembered when he was little, his grandmother taught him to waltz like the people in a princess movie he watched with Polly and Wilfur once.
So, Ms. Susy tested Carmine's skills in various forms of social dancing. Waltzing, merengue, swing, country-western, slow, and quickstep. Like ballet, Carmine definitely had energy, but... he required some help mobilizing certain parts of his body.
Ms. Susy had Carmine come outside to begin training.
"Uh... why are we outside and not in the dance studio?" Carmine asked.
"A great dancer finds ways to practice even outside the studio. Not all dancers had the proper training facilities in the beginning. Some only could practice in their backyards, their living rooms, or even in the park." Ms. Susy explained. "We're going to start with helping you lighten yourself on your feet."
Ms. Susy got out a hose and made a big, but small puddle underneath a tree, where she hung a bell from a high branch. The challenge was Carmine had to jump up, ring the bell, and not splash the water.
Carmine was confused. How do you jump from high up into a puddle without splashing?
Carmine started out jumping up and ringing the bell, but each time he landed, the water splashed. He tried again, and the water splashed again. For ten minutes, he kept going, but the water just kept splashing until he just stomped one foot in the water and splashed in frustration.
"This is impossible!" Carmine said.
"Give up after one day because training holds challenges is the easiest way to end your dream of being a performer." Ms. Susy said. "Part of improving your skills is figuring out challenges. Sometimes, things that appear the most complicated have a simple solution. Think outside your body."
Carmine wasn't sure at first what his teacher meant by that. He sat down on a nearby bench to stop and think. He was good at jumping, he bent his knees as he landed to avoid hurting his legs, but he was too heavy not to splash water. He remembered from bath time when he was little, even his little bath toys splashed the water when dropped into the water from a high enough height.
Even with magic, Carmine couldn't go against gravity. For one thing, using his powers would be cheating, and he wanted to get into the school because he was good at music on his own, not because he took the easy way out. He knew it wouldn't be what his grandmother would want either. She and Qui-Gon both taught him that magic was only to be used to defend and protect, and occasionally have a little fun. But not to cheat their way into getting what they wanted.
But then he watched as some leaves fell from the tree. None of them splashed when they landed in the puddle because they were lighter than air. No amount of exercise and healthy eating could make anyone lighter than air. And Carmine was not about to use a lighter than air spell. And then, Carmine spotted something else... one of the leaves hit the water, tip first, and then lying flat.
Carmine suddenly remembered from one of the ballet videos he'd watched. Ballerinas did jumps just like that. Maybe...
Carmine stepped into the puddle again, holding a look of determination as he eyed the bell again. He took a deep breath and made the jump, rang the bell, and while he was in the air, began to position his feet. The whole world seemed to fall into slow motion as he fell closer to the puddle. And Carmine pointed his toes and slowly lowered onto his heels as he landed. And the water didn't splash!
Carmine gasped with a smile. He'd figured out his first challenge.
"Perfect." Ms. Susy smiled.
Carmine continued to practice the jumps and started to get better.
After that, in between her professional teaching sessions in the school every day and on the weekends, Ms. Susy guided Carmine through various exercises and study sessions to improve his knowledge and his skills
To improve his dance skills, she had him do things like spin a hula hoop, play jump rope and later double dutch, and balancing a book on his head while he practiced walks in order to improve his rhythm in his steps, hip mobility, and posture. She also guided him through various forms of yoga and pilates to strengthen his body and increase his flexibility.
Carmine also went through various vocal exercises and breathing exercises to help his singing. Blowing bubbles, breathing through a straw, laying down and taking big slow breaths with a small stack of books on his stomach, humming the tunes to various songs, and doing various vocal warmups to the piano. Even yodeling to open his esophagus and strengthen his vocal chords, which felt pretty silly at first, but was kind of fun too. Tongue twisters also helped with his annunciation.
Carmine also practiced every song he learned on his guitar and on the piano. Ms. Susy also let him browse the many instruments in the music room. But he played more than a few. So many beautiful musical sounds, how could he pick just one?
The harp with its lovely twanging sounds. No matter which strings were played in what order, each note sounded like it came straight from the heavens above to bless the mortal world with its lovely sound.
The different kinds of drums to keep the beat and lead other instruments into creating a harmonious song that was pleasing to the ears of anyone who loved music.
The violin with its unique sound that could easily sound romantic, scary, or funny depending on what song was played on it.
And the different wind and brass instruments, the way some were best at playing high notes or lower notes.
For the next few months, Carmine practiced and practiced under Ms. Susy's tutelage, and eventually she convinced a few others to help out by turning everyday tasks into musical performances.
Creating rhythm as he helped the librarian sort through books, stamp them, or putting them back on the shelves, even opening and closing the books on a rhythm. Turning mopping or sweeping the floors into a dance with a partner or dancing with a prop.
Day by day, Carmine got better and better with music, dancing, singing, and everything. He studied and practiced every day, and prepared for just about every possible scenario he could think of. He stocked up on chamomile tea and honey to keep his throat clear and healthy, stretched and exercised every morning to keep his muscles mobile and strong, practiced every instrument he could, and selected a selection of songs and dances to perform at the entrance exam.
And soon came the day for entrance exams. In the entrance exam, all the guys were separated from the girls because part of the test was seeing how the guys performed on their own when they weren't acting show offish to impress the girls, and because before anyone could dance with a partner, he or she must know how to dance with themselves.
Carmine was so nervous as he watched the guys and girls walk into different classrooms, each of them being called up as it was their turn to begin their audition.
Over a course of four days, there were four parts to the entrance exam. Auditions, Written Examination, Instrumental Performance, and Dance Tryouts. There were multiple levels to each part too, and only a certain number of candidates would make it to the next level of each one. In other words, you had to be the best of the best to even pass the first level.
It was common knowledge that the music industry was very difficult to get into. It was not for the faint of heart. The rejection, criticism, and dealing with harsh judges and not making the final cut after months of hard work. The entire experience could feel like the world wants to make you fail.
But Carmine remembered his father and grandmother's words of love and wisdom. Miranda always called him her little song of joy, and Qui-Gon, whenever he sent a letter or Force message or came in person, he always told Carmine that the real music in him was something the galaxy needed to hear because it could spread joy and bring people together.
Carmine sat and waited for a long time until it was his turn. But he was so nervous. He saw a lot of candidates run out crying, stomping or smashing a guitar in anger, or bawling their eyes out, screaming "Why?!"
It didn't take a genius to know that those kids were not handling the rejection well.
Auditions were the easy part of the exam compared to everything else. In this part, you had to have a multitude of songs and dances and play a dozen instruments to make the final cut.
Carmine looked inside the room as the boy before him just finished his audition. The judges were very well dressed, and each held an intimidating look of judgement on their faces.
Carmine gulped. But then, he remembered all the times he practiced in front of Fluffy. And he decided to just imagine the judges in bunny suits. He looked at the judges again, this time seeing them in bunny suits.
Carmine covered his mouth to hold back a laugh as he imagined how ridiculous the judges would look dressed as big, adorable bunny rabbits. And then, he was called in to do his audition.
"Hello... my name is Carmine Jinn. I'm a foster child with musical dreams." introduced the boys. "For my audition, I will be performing a series of dance routines while playing instruments and singing some songs, two of which that are very meaningful to me because they came from my family. This first one, it's a song my late father and grandmother used to sing to me. And I will play it on this guitar, the last gift they ever gave me."
Carmine strummed the melody of All is Found on his guitar, and he sang it very beautifully.
"This next song, it's the one thing I have of my mother." said Carmine, moving to another song. And he sang "You'll Be in My Heart."
So far, the judges seemed to think the lullabies were okay. But, Carmine could sense through the Force and by the looks on their faces that he needed to up his game. So, he got out a keytar and started to sing a new song.
You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare
Carmine felt a little nervous as he sang and the judges started to pay more attention to him as he went on. But he took a soft breath and continued.
I'd like to make myself believe that all the world turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
The room started to darken a little bit, and out of nowhere, twinkling lights started to appear like lots of lightning bugs, which began to impress the judges. So, Carmine began to put even more passion into his song.
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
I'd like to make myself believe that all the world turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
Please take me away from here
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
Please take me away from here
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
Please take me away from here
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
Suddenly, as Carmine continued to sing, lots of fireflies began to appear and fly all around the room in a simultaneously graceful way as though they were dancing to the music.
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said, "Farewell" (they said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar, jar)
The fireflies began to fly around Carmine as though praising him, and Carmine going
I'd like to make myself believe all the world turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe that all the world turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
And as Carmine's song finished, the lights turned back to normal. So far, the judges looked really impressed. So, Carmine decided to finish with a bang.
"This final song is gonna be called Starships."
Carmine put the keyboard down and got out his music player, which had the music to his song recorded on it. He counted the beat in his head and started out scatting to the beginning beat before singing actual words.
Uh
Let's go to the beach (Each)
Let's go get away
They (Say)
What they gonna say
Have a drink (Clink)
Found the spotlight
Good guys like me, is hard to come by
The Patrón (Own)
Let's go get it on
The zone (own)
Yes I'm in the zone
Is it two (three)
Leave a good tip
I'ma blow all my money and don't give two cents
Carmine broke out into an upbeat, fun dance routine that showed off his newfound athleticism and improved skills in dance.
I'm on the floor, floor
I love to dance
So give me more, more, 'til I can't stand
Get on the floor, floor
Like it's your last chance
If you want more, more
Then here I am
Carmine really let it all out as he continued to sing and dance, and colorful lights began to fill the room as if by magic.
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Can't stop 'cause we're so high
Let's do this one more time
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Let's do this one last time
Can't stop...
Carmine broke out into a cool breakdancing routine for the next part.
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh, oh-oh
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh, oh-oh
(Higher than any other!)
Jumped in my hooptie hooptie hoop
I own that
And I ain't paying my rent this month
I owe that
But love who you want, and love who you like
That's our life, there's no end in sight
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Now everybody let me hear you say
Ray ray ray
Now spend all your money cause
Today pay day
And if you're a
G, you a G, G, G
My name is unique and you can
Call me Carmine
Get on the floor, floor
Like it's your last chance
If you want more, more
Then here I am
And then, something magical began to happen as Carmine was lifted into the air and magical sparkles began to surround him.
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Can't stop 'cause we're so high
Let's do this one more time
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Let's do this one last time
Can't stop...
[VOCAL ADRENALINE (with UNIQUE)]
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh, oh-oh
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh, oh-oh
(Higher than any other!)
And in a flash, a pair of white and gold butterfly-like wings patterned with music notes appeared on Carmine's back. Carmine was so lost in song, he didn't realize he was actually flying.
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Can't stop 'cause we're so high
Let's do this one more time
Starships were meant to fly
Hands up and touch the sky
Let's do this one last time
Can't stop...
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-ohhhh-oh-oh-ohh
(Higher than any other!)
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-ohhhh-oh-oh-ohh
(Higher than any other!)
And Carmine landed on the floor with a flash of light, and the room and he was back to normal.
Carmine had no idea what just happened, but for the moment it didn't matter because the judged gave him a standing ovation and so much praise for his astounding performance.
"Where did someone so young learn such original effects?" said one judge. "Were your parents professional performers as well?"
"Not that I know of." Carmine said.
"Well, Mr. Jinn." said another judge. "I think we've all come to a decision."
All the judges checked Yes on their clipboards.
"We look forward to seeing you at the exam tomorrow."
Carmine literally flipped when he exited the room.
He was jumping around so happily, and music started playing out of nowhere as he felt another song coming on.
I got my ticket in my pocket
I got my heart here on my sleeve
Don't worry 'bout me 'cause I got this
They're gonna regret doubtin' me
Carmine danced on through the halls as he imagined his future as a performer. Sure, this was just the first level, but he could see it now. Bright lights, loud music, people cheering, and everyone seeing the real him.
The lights are bright before the crazy
I see it all from my window
Buildings are tall, it doesn't phase me
Don't gotta worry 'cause I know, I know, I know that
This is where I'm supposed to be
I might be young but I'm mighty
So let the talkers talk
They can say what they say
They're gonna see my name in lights
Up on the marquee one day
I'ma do what I do, make the city mine
I might be small, but I'm
I'm headed to the big time
I'm headed to the big time
Ooh, yeah
People are starin' as I walk by (walk by)
They wonder if I've gone insane (too crazy)
But I brush off every sigh (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Walk with a smile on my face
'Cause I know, I know that
This is where I'm supposed to be
I might be young but I'm mighty
So let the talkers talk
They can say what they say
They're gonna see my name in lights
Up on the marquee one day
I'ma do what I do and make the city mine
I might be small, but I'm
I'm headed to the big time (headed to the big time)
I'm headed to the big time (headed to the big time)
Ay
"Pft. You got lucky, foster kid." said some other kid who'd aced his audition. "They took pity on you this time. Just wait 'til the exam. You're toast."
Carmine felt a little worried when he heard those words, and the other kid and his friend laughed and walked away.
But then, Carmine looked inside his locket and saw the love and happiness on his father and grandmother's faces. And he remembered all the times they showed him how much they loved him and believed in him, even when he felt lonely and scared when other kids were bullying him.
I'll make you proud of me, I swear
I'm workin' hard, I'm almost there
And if I prove my worth
And prove everyone wrong
Well, maybe then I'll finally feel like I actually belong
'Cause if I make it big
I won't get left behind
So yeah, I'm small but I'm
Carmine could feel this feeling inside of him growing. He knew he had to do this. He was going to make his dream come true and become a successful musician so he could show the world who he really was, and let them know that his family's love and hard work meant something.
This is where I'm supposed to be
I might be young, but I'm mighty
So let the talkers talk
They can say what they say
I'm gonna see my name in lights
Up on the marquee one day
I'ma do what I do, make the city mine
I might be small, but I'm
I'm headed to the big time
(I'm headed to the big time)
I'm headed to the big time
Carmine lay on his bed in the faculty dorm with Fluffy beside him.
"Got a big day tomorrow, Fluffy." Carmine told his bunny. "I guess I'd better get some final studying done."
Carmine put on his headphones with classical music in them to help him concentrate and began refreshing his memory reading every book on music he could find.
Featured Songs:
1. Fireflies by Owl City
2. Starships by Nicki Minaj
3. Big Time by Rueby Wood
Some of the words were changed slightly.