Hi Saltzburg,

I want to thank you for all that you’ve done for me. It’s crazy to think that I only had you for two years because I have zero doubt that the impact you had on me will last for the rest of my life.

I loved starting off my mornings with band. You helped me find a sense of belonging through music that I had never had before and you made me feel like I had some kind of gift to offer the world. The expectations you set for me and the confidence you had in me helped me step into a leadership role which my introverted self had kept me from stepping into for so long. The little jobs you used to have me do made me feel like an important part of the music program.

I miss the stressful excitement of concerts, parades, and jazz band competitions. I think I took it all for granted. I miss music theory and us taking every opportunity we had to pick on each other. I guess I also should thank you for giving me thicker skin. You never failed to put me at the butt end of all your jokes which now that I think about it is probably why I felt so comfortable around you. It always meant a lot to me when you would notice if I was having an off day or would check up on me if I was quieter than usual.

Your ability to constantly challenge me to do better is one of the reasons I look up to you. I think there is a part of me that will always want to make you proud because of all that you did for me.

So thank you. For everything.

Love your favorite (former) student, 😉

Lydia