Wind Instrument Booth
1
Character icon
An

What do we do?

The convention's gonna end soon!

2
Character icon
Boy

...

3
Character icon
Boy

What am I doing wrong?

4
Character icon
Toya

I can't say for certain, since I've only been practicing for a little while...

5
Character icon
Toya

But as far as I can tell, you don't appear to be blowing too hard or holding your lips incorrectly.

6
Character icon
Toya

Which means there must be another reason.

All we have to do is figure out what that is...

7
Character icon
Mafuyu

All we can do is keep trying as many different things as we can...

8
Character icon
An

Then, let's make good use of every second that we have left! I'll do my best to help, too!

9
Character icon
Boy

No...

10
Character icon
Boy

I doubt there's any point.

11
Character icon
An

What?

12
Character icon
Boy

I still can't play, despite all the help you guys are giving me...

13
Character icon
Boy

I don't think I'm cut out for this, after all.

14
Character icon
Toya

...!

15
Character icon
Boy

But I'm glad I tried.

Thank you all...

16
Character icon
An

B-But...!

17
Character icon
Toya

Please wait.

18
Character icon
Boy

Huh...?

19
Character icon
Toya

I understand why you feel like giving up.

20
Character icon
Toya

But... That's exactly why I don't want you to.

I know this is very selfish of me...

21
Character icon
An

Toya...

22
Character icon
Boy

...

23
Character icon
Toya

You mentioned how you struggle to produce a good sound, despite your best efforts.

24
Character icon
Toya

The truth is, I've experienced something very similar.

25
Character icon
Boy

Huh...?

You have?

26
Character icon
Toya

Yes.

But it wasn't the trumpet in my case.

It was the piano and the violin...

27
Character icon
Toya

Just as you're struggling now, I had a lot of trouble producing the sound I wanted.

28
Character icon
Toya

That ideal sound... No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach it.

29
Character icon
Toya

I felt just as frustrated as you are at the moment. Every time I failed, I felt like crying, because it was a reminder of my lack of skill and talent.

30
Character icon
Toya

I don't remember how many times I wanted to give up.

31
Character icon
Boy

...

32
Character icon
Toya

However, after a year or two of practicing, my sound began improving.

33
Character icon
Toya

It was subtle, but I started getting closer to that ideal sound I had in my head.

34
Character icon
Boy

Really?

35
Character icon
Toya

Yes.

Again, it was very subtle.

36
Character icon
Toya

But that made me so happy...

Even though I still had to endure some very hard practices, I couldn't stop playing.

37
Character icon
Toya

And each time I put in an honest effort, my music changed for the better.

38
Character icon
Toya

Before I knew it, I could play even more beautifully than I had imagined.

39
Character icon
Toya

So...

40
Character icon
Toya

If any part of you still wishes to produce beautiful music, then I implore you to not give up here.

41
Character icon
Toya

Because you will be able to... Someday.

42
Character icon
Toya

At least, that's what I believe.

43
Character icon
Boy

...

44
Character icon
Boy

Okay...

45
Character icon
Boy

Then, I'll keep trying for a bit longer...!

46
Character icon
Toya

...!

Yes, let's keep trying together.

47
Character icon
Kanade

(That desire to play beautiful music...)

48
Character icon
Kanade

(Oh, come to think of it...)

49
Character icon
Toya

So, let's give it another try.

Would you mind showing me again how you're buzzing your lips?

50
Character icon
Boy

Okay!

51
Character icon
An

Huh?

52
Character icon
Mafuyu

That sound you just made...

53
Character icon
Kanade

I-I did it...!!

54
Character icon
An

Yoisaki?!

55
Character icon
Kanade

Thank goodness...!

56
Character icon
Kanade

That discussion you just had about wanting to play beautiful music reminded me of something I learned when I was little.

57
Character icon
Kanade

About how important it is to have a clear mental image.

58
Character icon
Mafuyu

A clear mental image?

59
Character icon
Kanade

Yes. Even with good technique, it's possible to become so overly conscious of your playing that things stop working.

60
Character icon
Kanade

Which is why it can be helpful to take a step back, clear your mind and focus only on the sound you wish to produce.

61
Character icon
Toya

The sound you wish to produce...

62
Character icon
Toya

Yes, you're right...

I fell into the very same trap.

63
Character icon
Toya

(Compared to when I was just practicing to get better, I always seemed to produce a much better sound when I focused on playing like Dad...)

64
Character icon
An

So, if he does what Yoisaki says and really focuses on what he wants, then he'll be able to play properly?

65
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Toya

Yes!

Let's give it a try!

66
Character icon
Boy

Okay!

Next Chapter: Beautiful Sound