Whee Domick. He and his quartet seemed more interesting to me than protag!Menolly, even then (likewise middle school). In retrospect it may be because McCaffrey managed to make them distinct characters who came together for music, whereas Menolly--Dragondrums' inevitability aside--seemed created to be interesting only until she found a place in society. Solitary is fine; individual is better....

Yes please to character contemplation :) whether or not I've met the chars before. (Am greedy reader, I guess.)