It's great to see that you moved on. You can't be judged by just 1 your group does. For example, if the Colts lose today but Peyton Manning threw for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns, it's not his fault. No one is going to blame him. In fact, people will appreciate what he did. This is similar to your situation. Just because your friends messed up doesn't mean it has to ruin you. Good luck finding band members. You may even want to consider talking to the members of your group that messed up. Tell them that they should be working harder (say it in a nice way). Here's another example (football again, sorry). If Peyton Manning has a horrible game and throws 4 interceptions, he won't be kicked off the team. As long as he performs well consistenly, the team will understand. You might want to give you band members another chance, but maybe not in a big gig. And also, make sure you choose a nice guitar

Yeah, sometimes other people screw up, but you just gotta forgive them. If they're your "friends" then that shouldn't be hard. You definitely shouldn't have blown up at your instructors/teachers/whatever because that looks really dumb, too, but, hey, everyone makes mistakes, don't sweat it, and we're here to help.

Well you may as well just get used to disappointment right now because I guarantee this won't be the last time you experience it! Many people who join bands eventually go solo or duet because there are just too many personalities in a band and some of them won't be as dedicated as you will be and they'll just drag you down. It's just one of life's lessons: People suck!

Don't let the way your friends acted stop you from continuing with your dream. Search for a group of people who are as dedicated as you are and work with them.

You do deserve the expensive guitar for practicing.

When the going gets tough, that's when the tough get going..

Okay, a cliche, but it's true. I understand exactly how you felt when your team-mates let you down - I was part of a massive game development team recently, and we had a major game almost 90% complete, and then our lead programmer walks off because a large company 'bought him off' with a big salary, perks, etc. Now this guy let a lot of people down - there are over 50 people on our team, but hating him doesn't really heal anything. He was a friend of mine, and he's still a friend. Just because someone let me down doesn't mean I can't try to understand - I happen to know that he had a lot of problems and was under intense pressure from his family.

Basically, each person's point of view differs, and when you understand that you go a long way towards understanding the people around you. Just remember that what's important to you might not be as important to the other people working with you - so try to find people to put on your team that are as dedicated as you are.

And make concessions for human weakness - humans aren't gods, we're still human - and humans make mistakes, they fail, they are afraid sometimes - all these things are part of being human, part of the process of GROWING.

Your experience DOESN'T have to be a total loss - not if you LEARN from it. Learn to look at people with new eyes, choose people for your team who believe in the SAME dreams that you do, and are really and truly willing to put in their best towards achieving those goals, and then work with those people towards your common dream. And then, if you find such people, help them when they fall, don't turn away from them. And you'll find that what you get out of this is more than just people working with you, but perhaps some true and life-long.. friends.

Hey, long post Take anything from it that will help, and disregard any part where I happen to be talking nonsense And take care!!