That's right folks, after two semesters I've decided that I can't take any more of you kids. I gotta get out of here. There's only so much a person can take. I'm sick and tired of hearing bad players playing badly. I'm now a worse musician for having known you guys.
The truth is, that was a complete lie. Your crappy playing is only part of the reason I won't be back. Actually, you guys are all really talented. In fact, pretty much everyone of you guys are better than me. The talent that exists within the Byng band is mind boggling.
Let's go back in time with Mr. A, and see I came to be here.
When I was in the sixth grade, I was completely tone deaf. I couldn't tell any distinction between a Bb and an F. I didn't know how to tongue, so I looked as stupid as I sounded. I really didn't have anything going on for me exept the SI drive that keeps me going each day. I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be the fastest. I practiced everyday. I would go through each exercise until I could play it perfect, and I wouldn't go on until I could do so. I managed to secure first chair for the whole second semester.
The summer after sixth grade I knew I would be going up against eighth graders. I wanted to keep up with them, and I was afraid the other trumpets in my grade were practicing to get better than me. In retrospect, this was rediculous because no one practices, ever. Nevertheless, I would become not only the strongest player in the Jr. High band, but the best trumpet player in all the program. I didn't let it get to my head though. In my mind, I wasn't nearly as good as I was, and I was just happy enough playing music.
I wanted to get better so I practiced every day, and eventually I got better and better. I loved to play so I did all the extra stuff too, like All-District, OBU, solos and All-State. By my senior year I was burn out from trumpet, but I still loved music.
Everyone in the ECU band wanted me to be a band director, but I didn't want to be one. I entered college an Accounting major. I was still in band, since they were paying for school. As a freshman, I made second chair trumpet, which is the highest you can get due to a predetermined section leader. Again, everyone there wanted me to be a music major, so I could be a band director. I wanted no part of it.
However, since I still loved music, I minored in it, soaking up all the knowledge I could. For me, that's what it was all about. A quest for knowledge. (And that's the way it should be for everyone of you. Maybe not music, but whatever suits your best interest.)
So all I had was a semester of theory and music history. That's right, I'm not technically qualified to teach any of you. Which makes sense because I'm positive none of you learned anything from me. (Although I took the OSAT recently and passed, so now I'm technically qualified to teach you. Not certified, but qualified.)
Anyway, like I was saying, I never wanted to be a band director. One week before school started this year my mom tells me that Mr. Howard left Byng. I sat there in silence for about a minute. And then I said, "I'll do it." (I still don't know what I was thinking.) The first day of school rolls around, and at this point I have no idea what I've got myself into. I had absolutely no idea what to expect the kids to be like or how well they played.
It turned out that your sight reading skills were absolutely wretched. This worried me to a great extent. I had a hard time believing anyone that age could be that bad at sight reading. (Don't worry, it's not your fault.) I really didn't enjoy being there, and I could tell not everyone enjoyed me being there. (That's the way I am at first, I'm fairly cold and lifeless before you actually get to know me.)
I had applied for jobs elsewhere during the year. Everyday I checked my email to see if I had an interview for accounting. But I soon discovered that once you guys actually practiced something you could play almost anything. Just because you couldn't do something the first time, it didn't mean you wouldn't eventually get the next time. Turns out, you all are really awesome. I found that not only where you guys amazing musicians with a plethora of talent, but I really liked hanging out with you.
One day I got a call with the Nation for an interview. Finally my chance to get out of here and go to bigger and better things ($$). Lets's face it, I nailed the interview. It was easily the best interview I'd ever had. But I just wasn't ready to leave, just the way I'm not ready now. I more or less turned them down to stay at Byng. I could've had job security and more moneys. I regret nothing.
This was a great year. As far as great years, you guys don't even come close to being my greatest. But you were pretty dang good. The St. Louis trip was the second best trip I'd ever taken. There's really not a whole lot more that I want to do than come back next year. But I guess fate has me going on a different route.
You guys are all really talented. In fact, pretty much everyone of you guys are better than me. I wish I had the talent that you guys have. If you worked hard, you could do so much. There's no reason for this band not to go to state the next couple of years. If you wanted, everyone of one of you can make All-District. Some of you can even make All-State. I truly believe this.
Everyone of you has something to add to the band. Trevor is easily the best drummer Byng has had in years. He can actually read sheet music for trap set. Nathan barely tries, and he makes both All-District and OBU. Justin is probably the only one that ever practices, and you can definitely tell by the way he plays. As ditzy as she is, JoAnn can really play that clarinet; she, among others suprised me at how far they made it on the scale test. Right now, Clint is a better guitarist than I'll ever be. Blake picks up on anything I've thrown at him. Buck is one of the smartest guys I've known. (You mean for a high school student? No, I don't.) Jessica...well, she's a good sport sometimes. Even Zac shows some signs of rock potential.
I could go on all day about each and everyone of you. And as great as you are and as great as you could be as musicians, I feel like it pales in comparison to how great you are as people. Yes, I'm really going to miss you. I consider you all more friends than students. (Again, I taught you nothing.) Since I'm no longer needed here, I now announce my retirement as the greatest and most handsome assistant band director Byng has ever had.
Is this the last you'll ever hear from Mr. A? Probably. But remember, Mr. Monroe's Fantastical Tango of Fun and Awesome and Mr. Monroe's Fantastical Swing Dance of Fun and Awesome have yet to be written.
Goodnight you princes of band, you kings of Byng High School. I bid you farewell, a farewell to kings.
Mr. A
