Music Notes

By Sarah Likins,
Orange County High School,
a Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School project
Published: May 29, 2008

After working with him for three years, I can honestly say that Jeff Tylutki is so much more than your typical band director.  He is an amazing teacher, a composer and an awesome musician. But, most important, he is someone that we can talk to when we have a bad day or rejoice with when something amazing has happened. In many ways, Mr. Tylutki plays the role of a second parent and a great friend. He teaches us about music and about life and let’s us grow through our wonderful experiences.
It is amazing how band students can express themselves so well through the music we play. But so much of this is dependent on the environment that Mr. Tylutki has fostered since he arrived three years ago. We all connect through the music because we connect on a personal level. All members of the band are friends and take care of each other through hard times as well as good, just as Mr. Tylutki takes care of us.
The band has improved so much since Mr. Tylutki came to the high school simply because of the importance that band has in all of our lives. Instead of band simply being an elective that we have to have to graduate, we all cannot wait for band during the day. It gives us all a chance to let go for an hour, to not think about the test we have next period or about the argument we had in first block. Instead, we play the music with all our hearts and forget about all of our troubles, if only for a short period of time.
Band has had such a huge impact on my life and on the lives of all of my friends. We not only have a special talent, but lifelong friends and memories that will last forever. I cannot thank Mr. Tylutki enough for encouraging us to push our limits every day and grow both musically and in our lives. The discipline we learn from practicing each day, the emotional growth we gain from the songs we play, the strength to be a stronger, better person, these are all lessons that Mr. Tylutki has taught us and that we will carry with us forever.
All I really want to say is: “Thank you, Mr. Tylutki. You’ll never know just how much our time with you means to all of us.”