Ch. 12: Music

For NavyAIR1914 who requested this scenario. Thank you for your patience and hope you enjoy!

A warm fire, a cup of tea, and music sheets to review; truly what else did one need on a windy afternoon? As far as Mr. Grasshopper was concerned, very little else. Sipping his tea, the elder insect leaned back on the family's comfortable couch as he reviewed the music the orchestra was rehearsing.

The sound of light footsteps on the stairs snapped Mr. Grasshopper out of his reflections. He looked up as James descended the stairs and entered the living room.

"Finished your homework, James?"

"Yes." James sat down on the couch next to Mr. Grasshopper. "We have a math test next week, but we've been doing practice problems every day."

"Excellent. Practice makes perfect, after all." Mr. Grasshopper tapped his music sheet. "And believe me, this piece will take some practice."

James looked over at the music sheets. "Is that music hard to play?"

"In a matter of speaking. For me personally? No. But the entire orchestra must be able to play every piece in perfect sync. As such, it's less learning the music for myself than being familiar enough with it so that I can tell if anyone else is having problems."

"Oh." James looked at the music sheet again and then back up at Mr. Grasshopper. "Is it okay if I sit with you while you work?"

"Why, James, most certainly." Mr. Grasshopper wrapped his two right arms around his son and pulled the little boy to him, James happily curling against him. "I can think of nothing better than having you here."

"Mr. Grasshopper?"

"Yes?"

"Did you always know you wanted to play music?"

"Well, not always. But from an early age, yes, I knew. Why do you ask, my boy?"

"I was just wondering. Some of my friends want to join the school band, but they can't until fifth grade."

"I see. Tell me, James, are you interested in learning to play an instrument?"

"I'm not sure. I've thought about it a little."

"Have you?" Mr. Grasshopper smiled at his son. "I know it will be a few years before you could be in the school band, but I would more than happy to tutor you beforehand if you would like."

James ducked his head slightly. "Would you still teach me about music if I don't lay an instrument?"

"My dear James," Mr. Grasshopper assured him, gently stroking James's hair, "I would be happy to teach you everything I know about music whether you choose to take up an instrument or not. What's important to me is that you're happy with whatever path in life you decide to follow."

James smiled and nodded, leaning closer against Mr. Grasshopper again, assured by his guardian's words.

"If you don't mind me asking, dear boy, did your parents play any instruments?"

"Mum had a piano," James said. "But she didn't play it much." The little boy laughed a bit. "She always said she wasn't very good at it."

"Oh?" Mr. Grasshopper chuckled a bit at this. "How so?"

"Well, Mum would say that whenever she tried to play a song, every dog in town would howl."

Mr. Grasshopper laughed at that, pulling James a little closer to him. "Oh, is that so? Well, I doubt she was that bad."

"She still liked music, though. Both Mum and Dad did, but they mostly listened to it."

Mr. Grasshopper smiled, drumming the fingers of his lower left hand on the couch. "I think, my boy, I should at least teach you to read music. It's quite beneficial, even if you don't end up laying an instrument." Mr. Grasshopper picked up the top sheet of the composition and allowed James to look it over. "Music and math are closely connected."

"I do like math," James admitted.

"Yes, your teacher is full of praise about you." Mr. Grasshopper nodded at the music sheet. "As such, you'll likely notice various numerical patterns in music."

James titled his head, studying the notes carefully before looking up at his guardian.

"Are there always five lines on a music sheet?"

"Yes, James. Five lines and four spaces make up the staff. Notes F, D, B, D, and E correspond to the lines and E, C, A, and F are the spaces."

"Is that way for every instrument?"

"Indeed. Music is quite a universal language." Mr. Grasshopper smiled fondly at James before continuing.

" Now, each note must be read from top to bottom, with the large note here, the treble clef, telling us what range the instrument must be played in. What that means is..."

The fire burned on, sending its warmth throughout the room. Indeed, what was better than a warm fire, a cup of tea and music sheets to review with his dear son? In Mr. Grasshopper's opinion, nothing could be better.