LRAB Page 464
Page 464
He hadn't come here early in the morning for a long time since winning the gold medal at the National Games.
“So I wanted to ask you something,” said Mizuno Kaze.
As soon as you open the sliding door to the first music classroom, you can hear the voice of instructor Kitahara Hakuba:
"You use short notes with alternating high and low notes in a certain rhythm, but your voices get messed up halfway through. The reason is simple: your mouths can't keep up."
"Look here, there are several legato notes in the bass part of the score. It's easy for your mouth to not be able to keep up with the fast tempo of the legato notes. You need to practice a lot. It's really a bit difficult for beginners."
"Teacher Kitahara? Can I keep looking at the metronome? I always feel like I can't keep up."
"It's best not to. The metronome is just an aid, just like our normal breathing. It's important to us, but that doesn't mean you have to pay attention to it all the time. Paying too much attention to it will make your breathing deliberate, like breathing for the sake of breathing."
The large, golden-painted surface in the shape of a morning glory reflects the two people standing at the doorway.
Teacher Beihai is teaching two new members of the bass section.
Both of them are second-year students, and both are very cute and petite girls.
However, what made Kana Eto and Kase Mizuno feel a little uncomfortable was that Hakuba Kitai was too gentle when coaching, completely unlike the "gentle and handsome devil" he was before winning the gold medal.
Now, all that remains of his gentle teacherly aura is Yuan Wenrou.
“Minister Eto.” Kitai Hakuba noticed the two people standing at the door.
Kana Eto's throat bobbed slightly as she nervously took off her shoes, grabbed her document folder, and stepped onto the sound-absorbing cotton laid on the floor. Her white calf socks looked very clean.
"Minister Eto" The two second-year students quickly stood up and bowed, one playing the bass horn and the other the drum horn.
Although they were born in the same year as Kana Eto, they had long heard that Shenxu's bragging club now values merit above all else, and that one cannot use their age to inflate their own status.
People like them, who are at a low level, are the "bottom of the barrel" in the bragging department. They were prepared for this when they joined.
"Good morning, Kamaya-kun, Hariya-kun." Kana Eto smiled slightly. "Good morning, Kita-oi-sensei."
Just as Bei Hai Bai Ma was about to ask her about the enrollment list, the door to the first music classroom was suddenly pulled open, accompanied by a strange singing voice:
The door opened, and Takahashi Kami walked in. She hadn't even bothered to put her indoor shoes out properly before stepping onto the floor.
"There are so many people, and... and Teacher Beihai too."
She hunched over, looking rather stiff. Seeing her like this, Harutani Kōsō, who was holding a euphonium, couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Chapter 342, Section 341: Kitahara Hakuba Prepares to Participate in the Sage's Journey (4)
"Why are you only arriving now? (The last part is a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly.)"
Urged on by Kana Eto, Kami Takahashi stepped forward somewhat shyly, sniffed, and said:
"I'm so sleepy when I wake up in this weather, it's hard to be as eager to get to school as before. Besides, Kuno-senpai hasn't arrived yet either, so why single me out?"
"You fell asleep in history class the other day: learn your lesson."
In Kana Eto's mind, she could lose her temper with Kami Takahashi, but she wouldn't dare to lose her temper with Tachibana Kuno.
"Minister Eto, may I see the list of new recruits?" Kitahara Hakuba raised his voice.
"Yes, this is it."
Kana Eto snapped out of her reverie and handed him the folder as she spoke.
"There are only four first-year students and six second-year students joining this time."
Kitahara Hakuba nodded, the girl's fragrance lingering around his nose. It wasn't the sticky, milky scent of Saito Harukori, but rather a herbal fragrance.
"Then the wind band only has fifty-nine people right now?"
Kami Takahashi placed her hands on the table, her skirt not even properly adjusted, and plopped down on it, revealing her pale thighs. She gently swung her legs and said...
"There are far fewer than I expected."
"Vice Minister, be a little more serious." Kana Eto quickly stepped forward and helped her adjust her skirt.
"Not one by one"
Kitahara Hakuba shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the name printed on the A4 paper, and said...
"To be honest, the fact that fourteen more people could be added is beyond my expectations. In any case, the specific situation will depend on the number of new students next year."
I believe that if you want the wind band to develop steadily, next year you need to do your best to maintain the number of first-year students at thirty, and you need to ensure the depth of the bass section in advance. If you find any new students who are interested in playing wind instruments, you must actively recruit them.
"Minimum of thirty people?"
"Yes, when you are recruiting new members, you should also respect their wishes. Even if they are not clear, you should still try your best to send out a copy of the club's sheet music. As for the instruments for new members, you can decide on them after they join the club. I suggest you conduct a private screening first and give priority to members who bring their own instruments and those with good skills."
Oh oh
Kitahara Hakuba closed the document folder, placed it on the table, and said:
"Also, Minister Eto and Vice Minister Takahashi, since you two have taken on the roles in the brass band, you sometimes need to be tough on the members. Don't feel embarrassed. I suggest that Kuno take the lead in the performance environment of the brass band. I have great confidence in her abilities. You two will be responsible for handling interpersonal relationships and daily affairs within the band."
The two looked at each other, still in shock, when Kitahara Hakuba continued, "..."
"Next, regarding the auditions for the future competition, I hope the selection process will follow the 'must be selected for the competition' model that I set. This will be more beneficial to the Shenxu Wind Ensemble, so don't find it troublesome."
Kana Eto felt somewhat bewildered; was it really necessary to say these things now?
But as long as it's something Kitahara-sensei says, she just needs to keep nodding. As Minister Yukawa has said, it's definitely the right thing to do to listen to Kitahara-sensei.
“Okay, I understand,” she said.
Kitahara Hakuba asked curiously, "By the way, who is in charge of external liaison within the department now?"
“I…” Mizuno Kaze raised her slender, white arm.
"When there are free moments in club activities, try to contact other schools or organizations to see if there are more opportunities to perform. There are very few opportunities to perform outside of Hokkaido, unlike other regions where the schedule is very tight. You have to fight for these opportunities yourself. I must participate in next year's Garden Festival."
"Yes."
Kana Eto and Kami Takahashi exchanged another glance. The latter shrugged and suddenly asked with a smile:
"But speaking of which, will Kitahara-sensei be going on the school trip with us?"
“Indeed, you’re going on a school trip, so it’s not too late to do these external affairs things after you come back,” Kitahara Hakuba said, resting his chin on his hand.
Kami Takahashi said with a smile:
"No, I was asking if Kitahara-sensei will be going with us."
"I?"
Kitahara Hakuba relaxed for a while; he hadn't initially planned to go on a school trip with the first and second-year students.
He initially intended to say, as always, "I have no plans in that regard," but then he thought that if he went on the school trip with them, it would mean that he wouldn't see the third-year students for a while.
This aligns with his initial goal of "keeping his distance from girls," and as a teacher, accompanying his students on school trips wouldn't seem out of place.
And if I were separated from them for a period of time after three years, would the evil and eerie feelings that kept welling up from the depths of my heart disappear?
It seems pretty good.
"I haven't decided yet. I might discuss it with the ferry manager later," Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile.
"Hehe, I still hope to go on a school trip with Kitahara-sensei!" Takahashi Kami swung her legs lightly, her toes, encased in black socks, looking small and cute.
Kana Eto nodded quickly: "With Kitahara-sensei here, I feel much more at ease."
"Where are you going? Have you made plans?" Kitahara Hakuba asked.
There are different levels of playing instruments, and there are also different levels of school trips.
The worst schools are those that find a remote mountain, load up a few buses, and dump all the students there to play wilderness survival games, calling it "experiencing nature."
The next level up involves school trips within the local city.
But it's not a trip for leisure; it's a visit to a local factory to observe how products are manufactured, learn about the process, and even get hands-on experience, which could be of practical help for future factory work.
Further up the chain, students are arranged to experience art and culture trips, as well as unique travel destinations, in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.
The richest schools are those that arrange overseas trips for their students.
Kamaya Tsubame's eyes were sparkling:
"We went to Kagoshima in our second year! Kagoshima is so cool! I've always seen the deer there on TV, but I've never actually touched one!"
"You must be talking about Nara, right?" Takahashi Kami said.
"Really?" Kamaya Tsubame looked somewhat disappointed. "I should have joined Nara back then."
"But Kagoshima has deer too, and there's also Sakurajima, sand baths, hot springs, and the like."
"Sand bath hot spring? Does that mean taking a bath in the sand?"
"Yes, bury your whole body in the sand. :
"So you still need to take a shower after washing with sand?"
"This should be."
"Then why don't I just go soak in a hot spring? And what if sand gets into places it shouldn't be? Won't I get an infection?"
"How would I know? But I've heard their red bean buns are pretty good."
They started talking about trivial matters.
Last year, Shin-Asahi High School's school trip was just a skiing vacation in Sapporo, but now Shin-Asahi High School is the most famous private school in Hokkaido, and it has completely outshone everyone else in every aspect.
As for school trips, which concern all students, people always have a strange obsession with the idea of "once a year".
The current students of Shenxu High School are also benefiting from the school's growing reputation.
"Which year were you born in?" Kitahara Hyakuma blurted out instinctively.
"That's not clear."
In response to his question, Kana Eto shook her head directly. "We second-year students are all going to Kagoshima, but it seems there's some disagreement among the first-year students. Some classes want to go to Kyoto, while others want to go to Tokyo."
Some just want to stay in Hokkaido.
"I have a plan to let the first-year students decide."
A golden light bulb appeared above Takahashi Kami's head, and she held up one finger.
"If you say that Kitahara-sensei is going to Kagoshima, I think the first-year students will also go to Kagoshima."
Kitahara Hakuba chuckled dryly, "I don't have that much influence."