With a Capitol "F"

My year is all but done.

It was hard, maybe the hardest of my career.  Not so much because of the opposition, but because of the self-doubt.  But the opposition played a part, make no mistake.

My biggest challenge was my jazz class, to be sure.  Most of the problems are graduating.  But not all of the graduating members were problems.  One of the few non-problems tried to get the other seniors to sign a thank-you card for me.  They did.  They all included the phrase 'great energy' in their statements.  I immediately got the reference.

I once told them that when a festival adjudicator has nothing positive to say about an ensemble, they will say 'great energy' as a way of giving them some kind of a compliment, but it's a hollow one.

So yes, I understand.... it was their last middle finger to me.

My last conversation with the student who 'organized' the thank you card, however, was different.  This is a young man who had many personal challenges and, truth be told, he's lucky to be graduating.  He told me when he gave me the card that it is very likely that jazz was the only thing that got him out of bed and willing to go to school.  He's walking this week, and I do not take that statement lightly.

So to the young man who bought the card... you know how hard this year was for me.  I know how hard your whole high school career was to you.  If you were the only victory I can claim this year, I would say that it was worth it.  And it is.

And to the rest of the 'great energy' crowd... have a nice life.  I got you to play reasonably well,  but for all your arrogance and entitlement, you accomplished little else.   And unlike the other graduates of recent years (who set a wonderful example that you refused to emulate) you brought nothing new, nothing of value to the table.  You got an easy grade from me, but don't use me as a reference for anything.  And Fuck you, with a capitol 'F'