New readers start here: Let it Rock Chapters 1 & 2 or check out the music here: Spotify Playlist
LYNN
Music.
It was loud, and it poured over us like honey. It seemed to come from everywhere. My eyes darted around, scanning the room’s corners to find the speakers. The sounds I heard finally came into focus and I banged my hand on the tiny desk. "The Beatles," I whispered out loud. I'm excited...was this the first time all day I've been excited?
The strong beat made the floor thrum, as a male voice with an English accent reverberated around the walls.
It felt like he sang only to me.
"It was twenty years ago today.
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.
They've been going in and out of style.
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile."
I'd expected that we'd be listening to tunes for homework, but I didn't think he'd have music blasting in the classroom. With the fab-four, no less. I put my hands behind my head and leaned back. My breath slowed to match the beat.
I looked back at the podium to see that Mr. Lee was smiling at us as the song played. After the second verse, he picked up the controller again, and make a grand wave with his arm as he pushed the button.
The music changed instantly.
I didn't know this one but it was familiar, somehow. The quality was different than the first, tinny, like it was being played through a pipe. The teacher just grinned.
So I listened. It's just one guitar, I think. The guitarist played long, slow notes, and maybe I heard something that was being dragged across the strings. I couldn't tell. Is this what we'll be learning?
A voice sang out,
"I went to the cross-roads
fell down on my knees."
This isn't singing as much as begging, really. Painfully, since he was pleading. A few minutes ago, all I heard in here was the random chatter of a class waiting to begin. Now it seemed that all of us, everyone in this gigantic classroom was perfectly still as we listened to the struggling voice,
"I went to the cross-roads
fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please."
"So cool," I heard myself say quietly aloud.
Again Mr. Lee lifted the remote and again he flicked his wrist.
The contrast was shocking. A stampede of notes picked off a guitar streamed from the speakers, bounced off of the ceiling, and slammed into my ears. A scream ripped through me, followed by a slow, electric beat and some synthesized growls. The music purred, like a cat with a velvet guitar.
"Prince!" I yelped in recognition. I nodded my head and closed my eyes, closing out all distractions. How did Mr. Lee know? This is my all-time favorite Prince song.
The musical montage continued. Song after song.
I finally opened my eyes and looked around. This room seemed smaller, somehow. It didn't feel like a college classroom anymore, or a theater. It felt like a school party. Kids were laughing, some were talking to their classmates, and an occasional whoop or a cheer would sound out as certain bands or lyrics struck them in just the right way. A group a few rows back had arms around each other's shoulders, and sang along as a group. A few along the center aisle jumped up to dance, but then they quickly sat down, looking embarrassed.
Then, just as abruptly as it had started, Mr. Lee raised his arm and shut it all off. The silence was heavy. He took a full count of ten to turn his head, left to right. He was beaming, which reminded me of my brother Jim's face when he ripped the plastic off of a brand-new cassette tape.
We were all so quiet. Someone coughed, and it echoed. Is this what they mean when they say 'you can hear a pin drop'?
"Now that I have your attention, welcome to History of Rock n Roll," Mr. Lee began. His voice was interesting, definitely not a New Yorker. "Let me tell you first how your grade will be calculated in this course. Be assured, you will work hard. This will not be an easy A, regardless of what you may have heard."
Papers shuffled, pencils were picked up and notebooks opened. We moved as one, like we were dancing.
After the lecture, most of the students packed up their belongings and quickly left. I felt the girls on either side of me get up and leave, but I didn't move. I just stared at my open notebook. The page was covered from edge to edge with my scribbled notes.
Wow, just wow. Wow again. That teacher was incredible. He ruled. He owned the classroom with the music, and his energy. I learned so much, just in one day. I can't believe I thought he was a dork at first. I totally loved this course. I couldn't wait to tell Jim, and Zoe, and everyone all about this class.
Mr. Lee said there was a listening room, I think. Somewhere I can go to do homework assignments, or just to hear old recordings. I've got to visit there today. Did he say where it was? I flipped back through my notes, but didn't see anything.
I took out the syllabus again to look for the listening room information but ended up lingering over the topics coming later this year. We'll be starting the blues in...October. Again I remembered the pleading voice of the crossroads singer. Mr. Lee said his name was...I flipped through my notes to check... Robert Johnson. I whipped out my highlighter and marked it. I'll remember that.
As I packed my bag, I sang softly to myself, then headed out for a quick lunch at the Union before the afternoon classes.
I didn't put my headphones back on.
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Janet
again, anxious for the next chapter