"Let's start with the basics."
In one of the rooms with production equipment, there's a whiteboard on the wall and YG with a marker in his hand.
Jun was sitting in the middle of the room like a student.
"Now, first of all, what is the definition of music arrangement?" YG asked him the most basic question.
Jun answered, "It's a re-conceptualization of a previously composed work that should be different from the original."
YG nodded, "that's right. And you know what things are involved?"
Before Jun answered, YG wrote on the whiteboard.
1) Orchestration.
2) Melodic Paraphrasing.
3) Reharmonization.
"These three are very important if you want to learn the arrangement.
Let's talk about Orchestration. What do you know about the Orchestra?"
Jun didn't know much about it in both lives. All he knew from the YouTube videos that they are a group of people sitting on chairs with different instruments and there's a person who stands in the middle and waves the stick and his hands.
But, as he was before YG who was filled with expectation, Jun tried to explain it in a more formal way, "It's a combination of instrumentalists using different musical instruments. The conductor will direct them."
YG didn't comment anything on his answer and continued his teaching. "Do you know what a bassline is?"
Jun nodded, "Low-pitched instrumental part."
"Okay, what kind of music do you use bassline for?" YG asked him.
Jun instantly answered him, "Traditional, Electronic, Dub, Funk, Blue, and Jazz."
"Name some instruments that can be used for the bassline." YG's Q&A didn't stop.
Digging from both of his memories, he answered but took a bit of time. "Piano, Cello, Synthesizer, Electric bass, Double bass… Hmm, and there's Organ too."
"You forgot keyboard…" YG reminded him.
"Ah!" Jun remembered it and lightly bowed and apologized.
"Don't think orchestration is the same as arrangement. It is just a part that is limited to assignments of notes to instruments.
Now, let's get to Melodic Paraphrasing. What do you know about it?"
Jun once again answered the things he learned during his piano lessons from his past life. Although it has nothing to do with it, Private tutors sometimes teach extra stuff to let him know that his paid fees are being well spent even if he wasn't talented.
"We use melodic Paraphrase to arrange notes in a musical passage. It is also the same as rewording a paragraph."
As Jun continued to display his knowledge, YG kept silent and replied with a simple nod before proceed to the next topic.
Three hours later;
"Okay. At the very least, you have all the basics covered, at least theoretically." YG was right now, not at all happy. He wondered whether his suspicions are true…
But, YG was correct from his side even if it was a misunderstanding. After all, Jun composed and produced an amazing song, which puts him at a genius level.
If he hadn't known a thing about the music arrangement, YG would have at least believed Jun might be a natural composer but he found that Jun knows everything about an arrangement in theory, and yet, he wasn't able to arrange it in practice. What does this say…
He decided to confirm it right now with his own eyes.
Now, Jun and YG sat before the production equipment this time for practical lessons.
"Since we don't have much time, I'll start with showing you a piece of original work and then, the arranged one. Your task is to spot the differences and write them. So, concentrate…"
*Ding! You received an Emergency Mission.
Jun was taken aback by the sudden mission but he was also excited at the same time as he would receive rewards, mostly attribute points.
Description: Clear YG's doubts.
Rewards: 0.1 Music attribute increase.
Jun didn't know how should he clear his doubt as the description was vague, nevertheless, he accepted it.
While YG played both of them one after another, Jun concentrated on the music.
The first one was sung by a male and female while the second one was sung by the same female.
"Oh! It's Rose"… Jun recognized the female but didn't recognize who the male one is, although it felt familiar.
As a person with 8.5 music skill points, Jun easily recognized the differences but still, wanting to impress YG, Jun thought of depending on the system that will store his memory.
After having such a thought, he was frozen, 'Ah! That's right… I can store the things that I see in my mind, right? Why didn't I watch lessons on music arrangement on YouTube and learn?'
Jun really felt like he was stupid for not even realizing how he wasted the perks of having the system. Even before the Treasure Campus, he never thought of that one perk that might have made his dance practice a lot easier.
He was thankful for this moment and also YG for indirectly making him realize it.
Originally, he wasn't a fan of watching YouTube except for Twice compilation videos and neither does the dead Jun who didn't have the time to watch it, and the other reason is that YT isn't that popular in Korea, four years ago compared to now.
After realizing the perk, Jun closed his eyes while concentrating his ears on the audio. He didn't write a single thing until both of the songs are finished.
YG frowned as the paper was blank. Just when he was about to confront Jun, the latter and spoke in his mind, "Aria, play my memory of last five minutes."
A holographic screen appeared before Jun and a video is being played. It was blank as he closed his eyes. However, the audio was being played in his ears.
As the song was only 3 minutes, 40 seconds, the last one minute of the original song was also played.
While listening to the last 50 seconds' original song, Jun heard other noises like the footsteps, which were from outside, probably the staff…
When he asked Aria about it, the latter simply replied that it was out of its range…
Jun realized that system also has limitations.
The second song was played. He straightened his back and picked up the pen. YG who was becoming impatient after waiting for more than four minutes of silence, mumbled, "finally…"
YG was taken aback as he saw Jun start to break down the song completely into several pieces and drew every note, and where the different instrument was used...
He also wrote both of the lyrics and circled the parts where the lyrics were changed.
'This kid has a terrific music sense… how…' YG was indeed shocked to see Jun's talent. He no longer doubted Jun and thought he might have really developed the song naturally.
It was actually an arrangement that was recorded by one of his trainees in monthly evaluation. As per rules, the trainees can't use SNS during trainee days except for Kakao talk, so, there's no way Jun would have known it beforehand unless he broke it into his house to copy it or know her personally. Either of them doesn't seem possible.
To test his memory and capability, YG then asked, trying not to smile and show his feeling of excitement, "Try to sing the arranged version. I'll play the music in the background."
"Love is painful, although love is painful (Uh)
Babocheoreom banbok that's what I always do (Such a pain)
But pain is beautiful (Yeah), it's same as you
Hoemangeun silmangeuro, somangeun jeolmangeuro (Woo)
Sarangi gipeo jilsurok apeumeun deep-hae deo
Ibeonen dareul georan
Chakgak hogeun gidae, uh…
.
.
Yeah, I'm falling for you"
By the end of the end, YG was already slightly opening his mouth and looking at Jun in shock.
"Did you remember everything?" He asked.
Jun replied shamelessly with a smile, "I have eidetic memory."