Class .01 - Advanced

[Harmony Lupin]

The Start of a new term, and new faces to meet and teach. Exciting? that was a bit of an understatement for the new Muggle Studies professor. She was thrilled to be back in the castle again, teaching some kids she once looked at as peers was just an added bonus. Dressed in her normal teaching attire, the young Lupin entered her new classroom, it already neat and clean, considering she had come in earlier and cleaned it up. The drapes pulled open and the sun shining in, the afternoon light proved that today looked to be a very pleasurable day.

Placing some things on her desk, Harmony checked her schedule. She had the advanced students now - humm. Interesting she thought to herself, pushing a stray piece of blond hair form her eyes before reaching into the drawer behind her desk and pulling out a record. Walking over to the record player she placed the record in it and allowed the needle to play on the now spinning record. Music began to play from the bell, but not just any music - Jazz. It was one of her favorite tones, Harlem Nocturne. It wax perfect for today's lesson for the advanced Students - Jazz.

Walking back over to her desk, Harmony took a seat upon it and awaited for the students to arrive.

[[ 72 Hours to arrive. ]]

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Holden walked toward the Muggle Studies classroom. He didn't want to go to class today. The Hufflepuff was so freakin' sick. From his lower half spine to his sholders hurt. He couldn't even pop his back or neck. He could barely breathe out of his nose and was spitting mucus every five seconds. Holden felt like he wasn't thinking. Everything sounded muffled and felt his ears had water in them.

He covered his mouth as he coughed. Eh. Holden walked into the classroom and took a seat in the back. He put his head on the desk and closed his eyes. Hopefully he wouldn't fall asleep. This was one of his favorite classes even though he was a Muggle born. Many asked why he even took this class. Simple. It was funny to watch wizard kid's faces when they saw something new.

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[Timothy Levesque]

Tim had loved Trio's Hogwarts and he had loved to be back in Hogwarts and back in the castle after staying home for the term change break. Everything had been fixed up and brand new and everything was so clean and he loved it. After beeing in the Hufflepuff Common Room most of the time he had decided to go to his class. The weather was getting kind of cold but he had wore a pair of black sweat pants and a dark blue t-shirt and a heavy black robe on over it that had the Hufflepuff house shield on the robe.

Walking into the Muggle Studies classroom, everything was very neat and very clean. He had seen Holden and Harmony were already in the classroom. "Hello Professor!" He had kindly said to Harmony with a shy smile. Tim had then turned his head to say hello but had decided not to because Holden looked sick or as if something was bothering him. Going to a random desk he had sat down waiting for the class to start and for others to arrive.

[Jade "Lizzy" Silvernacle]

Muggle Studies. To her and the muggle borns simple, to purebloods not so much. Though there was the rare pureblood that was orphaned and brought up by muggles. Then it was easy. As it was to Lizzy. Though she still took the class because she didn't know what she was going to do once she graduated from Trios.

Walking through the familiar halls once again Lizzy saw very few students going to and from classes, but since most classes didn't start for a few days it was logical. A few classes started earlier than others, and so there were a few students here and there. Other than that it was pretty deserted in the corridors.

As she neared the Muggle Studies classroom Lizzy smiled. She loved classes and was glad to be back in them. When she entered the room she saw that there were two Hufflepuffs and the professor so far. Shrugging to herself she took a seat at random. Opening her bag she pulled out some parchment, a quill, and ink. Putting it on the desk she sat there lightly tapping her fingers on the desk waiting for more students to arrive.

[Harmony Lupin]

10 points Hufflepuff [ being on time ]
5 Points Slytherin [ Being on time ]

Giving a friendly nod to the three students that had entered Harmony's class, she still sat upon her desk, looking a bit worried at the Hufflepuff boy who had first entered the room. She had recognized him from when she was still a student [ he would have been very young then ],l but she did not know his name. Tilting her head to the side, she addressed him. "If you need to go to the nurse, then by all means go" she told him with a nod, looking to the clock. Time to start.

Hopping of her desk - quiet literally - Harmony stood in front of them. "Great. Three people" she said, turning her attention to the door. She pouted her lips off to the side for a moment thinking before ignoring the fact that only three students had attended the class. "Alright, Let's begin. I am Harmony S. Lupin, but you lot will call me Miss Lupin, Professor, Professor Lupin, and other names like that." she explained. Turning her attention behind her to the record player that was still playing Jazz behind her she looked back to the students. "Does anyone know what that is playing behind me?" she questioned.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

"I'll be fine professor. I'm just sick. I'll be fine," he said as his voice began to go hoarse. Hopefully she wouldn't make fun of him like Professor Black and Nicole Lupin did. ;_; He still was going to get revenge for them. >=] Just you wait till the next class came.

Holden knew the answer to the question easily, he was Muggle-born after all. "It's jazz. It was started by African Americans and it was influenced by African American music with a bit of European. It was made around in the nineteenth century. Maybe a bit earlier or a bit later. It was somewhere around there."

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Maybe she would give him extra work to do like the last professor did.[/blockquote][/size][/font]

[Harmony Lupin]

[[ This lesson will be extended until I can complete it, due to lack of activity ]]

Giving a small nod to the Hufflepuff, Harmony had to trust him to ensure that he would be alright for the class. Though, she had to laugh a bit at the fact his voice was so hoarse. Reaching into her desk, Harmony pulled out some muggle cough drops, something they use to sooth the throat. She tossed a few to Holden. "Here you are, dear. These should help a bit with the sound of your voice. Eat em up" she told him with a small grin, moving on with the lesson.

Blinking, Harmony was very shocked at his answer. "Very good response, 5 points to Hufflepuff" Harmony told him, stepping in time with the playing music as she went to the chalk board. "Now, Jazz has a different sound and style of playing then regular classical music. The Musicians actually strive for certain ways of playing. Either of you have an idea - yes, no, maybe so? Even a guess is fine"

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Why was no one answering? People in this class couldn't be that dumb, or could they? Holden sighed and spoke again, "Jazz is a mix of African American music traditions mixed with a bit of European music traditions. Most jazz has an up-beat sound. They're rhythms are from beats from African American chants that were sung in the early seventeen and eighteen hundreds."

[/color]

Holden hoped this teacher would give him a lot of homework. This class was very easy and since Holden liked music a lot he usually went on the internet to look up things about everything. Holden waited for the next question since he figured he would be answering that one too.

This was very sad. He was a Muggle-born answering Muggle Studies questions. Of course he was going to get these right. How could he not? It would be very very depressing. Hopefully more people would either show up or start to answer.[/font][/size][/blockquote]

[Harmony Lupin]

[[ Thank you for participating ]]

Listening to the same Hufflepuff boy speak again, Harmony nodded. It was very similar to what he had said before. That wasn't really what she was looking for. "Yes, we know the rhythms and up beats and how it originated with African Americans, but I'm looking for something else about jazz, something more obvious when you listen to it" Harmony said, gesturing to the record that was playing in the background. "I want you lot to listen, and tell me what you hear. What about it is different from classical music, or the music you listen to today?" she asked, hoping someone might get it. If not, then she would gladly explain.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

"I really don't listen to jazz since I can't stand it. But it seems that it has, I don't know how to explain it. I mean, music I listen to is like screamo, heavy metal, and rock. In my music people scream the whole time or have heavy guitar solos and drum solos. They talk about life, death, love, hate, life, etc.

"This music seems I guess softer and more calm to me. I don't know I'm winging this since it seems I'm the only one partcipating today."

[/color] Holden missed his old Muggle Studies classes. Don't get him wrong; Harmony Lupin was a good teacher but in his older classes people actually participated. But even then too Holden knew most of the stuff since he was a Muggle-born.

"But honestly I have no clue where you're going with this so I'll just listen and nod."[/color][/font][/size][/blockquote]

[Harmony Lupin]

Harmony gave an almost insulted look. "Can't stand Jazz?" she asked him, a bit shocked. jazz was one of her favorite kinds of music - ever. "Well, you are entitled to your opinion I suppose" she told him, listening to his choice in music. True, Harmony did listen to that too quiet a lot. She grinned. "We'll get there eventually, Holden. but at the moment lets get jazz on the brain" she told him with a small wink, moving over to the record player.

Harlem Nocturne had been playing for a while now. "When I listen to this specific piece" Harmony began "I think of a man in a long trench coat, a top hat, standing under a lamp post playing his trombone late at night" she gave a small shrug. "But the answer I was looking for, Holden you are correct in a sense. In jazz, the players strive for a raspy tone, and a more free mood and feeling. In classical music, you follow the music on the paper, in Jazz you improv a lot of it" Harmony explained.

"On that note - does anyone know what Improvisation is?"

[[ Harlem Nocturne ]]

[Holden J. Caulfield]

"Oh come on professor you know you like that,"

[/color] he said before he started making some moshing sounds with his voice. "It's a classic,"[/color] he joked. Holden gasped and acted like he was offended. "I do have jazz on the brain professor. I'm the only one answering or trying to answer anything."[/color] It was true.

A sigh came from Holden's mouth as he began answering the next question. "Improvising is to improve something. To make something better than what it is."[/color] Now he was starting to get fustrated. How come no one else was answering anything? Holden wasn't the one needing to take this class. 1] it was an elective 2] he was Muggleborn.

"I want to know why I'm taking this class. I'm a Muggle-born taking Muggle Studies. Makes no sense what-so-ever."[/color][/font][/size][/blockquote]

[Harmony Lupin]

Harmony grinned a bit at the Hufflepuff. She liked him, he kept her entertained. That, and Harmony knew he was right. After all, he was the only one in class answering her questions. "Well, I thank you Holden. When it comes time for the exam, you might not have to take it at this rate. I'm starting to wonder why the rest of my students are becoming coormat and collecting dust..." Harmony said more to herself then the other students in the room. She shrugged it off.

Moving on with the lesson, Harmony nodded. "Correct again. I should give you a gold star sticker": Harmony said with a small grin, continuing off what he had said. "Improv is pretty much taking things up off the top of your head and playing it - thus making the music better because you can add emotion and anything else" Harmony gave a broad smile. "Now that is exciting. Where else can you hit a very wrong note and turn it into something good?" she questioned, not giving time for students to answer. "Well, in Jazz Improv is extremely important and popular. In just about every song there is a soloist who adds their own twist onto the music."

Arching her eyebrow at Holden, Harmony gave a deadly smirk. "It's because you love me so much..I know, it's alright to admit it" she said in a joking manner, looking around to the rest of the class. Why are they so..dead? She was tempted to poke them with a stick, to see if they where alive or not.