Airin checked their schedule again. Is this the right room? It’s awfully small.

They stood on their toes to peer through the small window. It was an empty practice room with a black upright piano. No one was in it. Airin had passed two other practice rooms to find this one, P3. Practice room 3, maybe?

The teacher isn’t here yet.

Airin opened the door and went in.

There were no chairs except the piano bench, so Airin put their stuff on the floor in the corner. Previous students had etched various messages on the walls, which were lined with acoustic panels. The largest note read, “Simpson was here ‘09” in red marker. Muted piano music floated through the open door, so Airin guessed the rooms were soundproofed.

The door opened and the teacher entered. She had golden skin and long, black hair pulled into a low ponytail. Her clothing was professional, yet simple: dove-gray slacks and a cream-colored blouse. She carried a black folder. Her lips were drawn in a flat line.

“I am Niara Dayal. My pronouns are she/hers. You may call me Niara or Ms. Dayal. I will also be teaching you in chorus next period. You must be Airin Darklighter?”

Why is my stomach bouncing like a beach ball? They put their hands on their middle, trying to still the bouncy feeling. “Just Airin. The Darklighters are…my sponsors.” Airin had heard their parents use that term for the strange relationship they had with the Darklighter family.

“I am one of the voice teachers here at Eclipse Arts. Usually, students must audition for private voice lessons.” Her voice was slightly stern, as if Airin had done something wrong.

“Can I audition now? No one told me I needed to audition.”

Niara sniffed and glared at Airin. “Since you are already here, and I need to hear everyone sing in chorus in any case so I can place them in sections, we will hold your audition now. I will need to hear you sing to judge your range and ability and to identify your weaknesses. I may transfer you out if I think another student would benefit more from private lessons, no matter what your parents want. I’ve done it before.”

My parents would be thrilled to have me pulled out of voice lessons, Airin thought. But Mrs. Darklighter would think something terrible would happen if I were. That wouldn’t be good. And I want to learn how to sing properly.

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Niara sat down and played a chord on the piano. “Sing ‘Ah’ and then go up by five notes until you can go no higher, then go down again.” She demonstrated, singing “Ah-ah-ah-ah-AH! AH-ah-ah-ah-ah!” and playing along with each note. Her voice sounded like a bell in the small room.

Airin sang “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-AH!” as high as they could. They struggled for breath while the notes kept getting higher and higher.

Niara twisted up to look at Airin. “A high B? Good. Take a breath.”

Airin took a deep breath.

“Now you do the same thing, only this time go down until you cannot go any lower.” Niara sang the part again, going down first, then up, then played the first chord again. “You can take breaths during warmups whenever you need to. I will follow you on the piano. When you start learning songs, I will tell you where you should breathe in each song.”

Airin sang down, but they didn’t think they could sing as low as they could high. When they started running out of breath, they paused to breathe, and Niara paused, too.

“Now, I want you to sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in this key. When I change keys, follow me into the new key. Understand?”

Am I doing this right? I’m not really sure what she wants to hear. Airin shifted from one foot to another, trying to catch their breath.

Niara played the melody of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and then nodded to Airin to start. They tried to sing out, but their knees started shaking. Airin grabbed the side of the piano for balance.

Niara changed the key, and Airin started the verse again in the new key. It was a little out of tune at first, but they found the key by the third note.

After Airin had sung in several different keys, Niara stopped.

“Well, you certainly have a natural talent. Good sense of pitch and tempo. We need to work on your breath control and confidence, though.” Niara rubbed the piano keys back and forth gently like they were a soft kitten. “Let’s continue lessons for a week so I can get a better sense of your training and range.”

“Is there a certain way you want me to sound?” Airin didn’t know how to word the question in musical terms, but they would do anything to stay in voice lessons.

“What do you mean?” asked Niara. “I want you to use your natural voice.”

“My natural voice?” Airin didn’t know what she meant. They had lots of voices that felt natural to sing in.

Instead of trying to explain, Airin decided to show Niara what they meant. They started singing the first line of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” again, but this time, they sang in the voice of the girl who had sung in the assembly last period. On the third line, Airin imitated Niara’s voice, and then flipped into the voice of the singers in the old movies the Darklighters liked to watch, first a female, then a male.

Niara stared at Airin, her mouth open, her hands draped on the piano keys.

Airin stopped. “Mrs. Darklighter thinks that my voice is lucky for their family, so training would be good for me. I like to sing, and I want to sing as much as possible. Please let me learn how to sing the right way. If I have a natural voice, I will learn it.”

Niara slowly closed the piano cover. “Well, this is very unexpected. I don’t think I’ve ever had a student like you before.”

Airin felt their insides roiling. Will she let me stay in private lessons?

Niara stood up and put a hand on Airin’s shoulder. “We’ll start with learning how to practice on your own tomorrow. I will find some songs for you to learn and bring them with me.”

Then she smiled.