Music Lessons

Edit, Important: Several people have voiced concerns over the similarities between this piece and Shmeeden's "A Lesson:" [link]

To avoid any further accusations of theft (not on Shmeeden's part: she was simply concerned, and justly), let me just say that I would never, never knowingly steal another's idea and pass it off as my own. Speaking from personal experience, I know how awful it is when one's work is plagiarized, and it isn't in my character to condone or perpetuate such an act. Although I don't know most of you personally and the best estimations you have of my character come from my online interactions, I do hope you know those online interactions are genuine, and that I am not the sort of person to steal another's idea. I can understand being inspired by another artist, but outright theft is wrong: it is as simple as that.

That being said, my best estimation for what happened here is that this is a mixture of pure coincidence and subconscious influence. I saw Shmeeden's piece several months ago when she posted it, favorited it because it was wonderful, and left it at that. I can honestly say that her work wasn't on my mind when I did this. Subconsciously, it may have been, but I didn't even note the similarities and didn't even recall her strip until it was recently pointed out.

That being said, because posted "A Lesson" months before this, I credit her with the original idea. I apologize for any concern this may have sparked, but let me assure you, as vehemently as I can, that I did not, in any way, shape, or form, knowingly set out to copy and steal her work and pass it off as my own. As I mentioned, her comic had completely escaped my mind when I drew this one, and had I had the foresight to check if this idea had already been executed here on DA, I would not have posted this. The absolute last thing I want is for anyone to doubt my integrity, or to suspect or accuse me of plagiarism. It feels incredibly strange to even have to address concerns that I've stolen artwork. It's just so not me.

Again, the idea behind this strip was first created by in this comic (which, let's be honest, folks, is eons better than the one above, and absolutely darling): [link]









HEADS UP, IT'S A BIG OL' FILE! (download for best view!) Also, it reads left to right to avoid any confusion.

I worked like a dawg on this here thang. I no longer have Photoshop, so I had to make due with piecing this together in Preview on my Mac. Which took forever and gave me a headache and gas.

ANYway, I've been thinking about Erik and Christine (gee, that's new) and how exactly their music lessons would go down. We don't really hear too much about the specifics because Christine is always disappearing behind her mirror or pulling Erik's mask off and making him cry for seven hours for any real teaching to go on.

Now, I'm sorry, but as brilliant and talented as Erik is, he would be THE most frustrating vocal instructor EVER because any little mistake would set him off. Patience isn't exactly his favorite. Plus, he just likes to yell and rant throughout the day, anyway, so top a tired soprano with the world's biggest perfectionist, and you get this.

As for Christine, she'd have to get fed up with Erik's constant, "Stop!" "No!" "Vibrato, I say, vibrato!" and pop eventually. I like to picture Christine much feistier than she is portrayed in the books, mostly because imagining her tiny little self yelling at crazy tall Erik with her hands on her hips is hilarious.

Also, regarding this comic, NO, I do not mean to insinuate that they abandoned propriety right there on the floor. They kissed, fell, and kissed some more. The end. PG, PEOPLE. WE'RE KEEPING IT PG.

Except for Erik's potty mouth. Geez, Erik, way to up the rating.

Erik's potty mouth and The Phantom of the Opera is © Gaston Leroux.