Chapter 1: Meloni
Music. It's hypnotic, whether it be listening to repeated loops, verses of pop, variations of classical, cultural percussions, or the melodies one creates themselves.
If music aligns with the fantasy in one's mind, it is delightful for the listener. And if the music creates a fantasy of its own in one's mind, it is called a masterpiece.
There is no single theory of music. Even detuned notes sound beautiful when played by a professional. Music has no strict form. This is what Meloni believes and has always believed.
A young woman in her early twenties sat on the edge of the podium, her legs dangling in the air, in a silent and reverberating opera house. She wore an oversized graphite-black shirt over blue jeans and flip-flops, swinging her legs while her violet hair cascaded over the strings of her guitar. Her nails, wildberry colored, held a G minor chord as her lavender irises wandered over the children before her.
"You hit the notes perfectly, but you're not fluent... Rhythm, even without perfect notes, can sound much better than notes that might be correct but are not rhythmically timed."
Meloni is a musician. Though she never pursued a career of fame due to her social anxiety, she believes she can do well enough as a tutor.
"It just comes from within. Sometimes I think it's fine to hit the note, then I hold... and I end up breaking the flow. Sometimes I hit the second note too fast, and it messes up the whole rhythm from the start," said a young boy in his teens, a sheet of paper resting on one side of the armrest and a guitar settled on his thighs.
"Okay...I guess...matching tempo can be difficult. If you plan to do it all alone and you're not a professional, you're bound to mess it up. So, let's look for an easier way to time your rhythms," Meloni mused, tapping her nails on the guitar's body.
"You guys should practice using software. You need to understand the concept of loops first. Download any software; Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, whatever works for you. Try to create your own music, try to improve. The more you understand MIDI, loops, and variations, the repetition will help your brain follow the rhythms you want it to."
All five children in front of her nodded.
"Everything takes time. Take it easy. And make sure to practice the series I handed out to you. I'll check your progress when we meet next week."