Band teacher tells music students they’re hopeless, so students rickroll entire school concert to get payback: 'That was one concert for the history books'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Dec 11, 2025 6:00 PM EST

Some classrooms run on encouragement and patience. Others run on a teacher who seems permanently on the brink, snapping at students and declaring them talentless for reasons unknown.

That was the situation here, where a group of honors music students were preparing for their annual concert. It was intended as a student-led show, meant to surprise parents and staff, all while dealing with the frustrations of a band teacher who seemed to regret every career decision that led him to this point.

After one particularly dramatic blow-up, the students decided to channel their frustration into something a little more… melodic. They kept the official program intact, practiced like normal, and waited for the perfect moment.

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  • Cheezburger Image 10584416256
    via Grant S For Unsplash+

  • Then, during the performance, the traditional opening piece cut out and the tenor sax launched into the unmistakable intro of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” A full rickroll. Live. In concert.

    The audience loved it. The band loved it. And their teacher’s stunned expression was the kind of reaction you can’t rehearse.

    Honestly, I admire the restraint. When adults act like the dramatic ones in the room, sometimes the most satisfying response is a well-executed joke—especially one with its own soundtrack.

  • "Band teacher told us we were failures. We rickrolled him at the winter concert."

    Hey guys! I'm new to this subreddit so sorry if this is the wrong sub. Every year, the students in the honors music classes put on a concert for teachers and parents.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • This is completely student led, so no teachers know what the songs are (we have a senior who's basically in charge of everything, she was given permission to approve our songs and make sure it was nothing inappropriate so it could be a true surprise).
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • a-woman-playing-a-trumpet-on-the-street
    via Nina Zeynep Güler For Unsplash+
  • My band teacher is problematic, to say the least. He has a short temper and I don't think he really wanted to be a teacher if I'm being honest.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • He got mad at us in class one day and blew up at us, saying stuff like how we were hopeless and had no talent (not true, in case you were wondering).
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • So we got plotting. My friends L and N and I had the idea of rickrolling the audience, so we got composing.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • Basically we started off playing some traditional band piece, then the music stopped and the tenor sax played the intro to "Never Gonna Give You Up," and it went from their.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • person-playing-trumpet-during-daytime
    via Joonas Sild For Unsplash+
  • It. Was. Epic. The look on the band teacher's face was PRICELESS. That was one concert for the history books.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • RidiculousLibrarian Band kids are awesome.
    via RidiculousLibrarian
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 I know
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • alexromo Did anyone get video???
    via alexromo
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 Yeah, but it says the name of the school in it so I can't share it. Also I wouldn't want to post it without getting everyone's consent anyways.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • Artistic_Head_5547 My middle school band teacher threw music stands- those really heavy black ones- weekly (at least). He also let certain girls nap on the couch in his office. Yeah. But my high school band teacher was awesome.
    via Artistic_Head_5547
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 Wow. Just wow.
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • dehydratedrain When my son was in middle school, the entire band learned to play Megalovania (song from incredibly popular video game Undertale) perfectly, and would do it as he was walking into class. They begged to add it to the concert, and basically played it every day just to drive him insane. Of course it worked, and they probably never realized that he was secretly thrilled that they were so driven to practice on their own.
    via dehydratedrain
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 I love that song!
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • Kitten_Mittens_0809 I'm sure the audience loved it!
    via Kitten_Mittens_0809
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 By the sound of the applause, I'm sure they did
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • alargepowderedwater Your typo sounds like an underground school music ensemble, dedicated to playing banned and disapproved music exclusively: the Contraband.
    via alargepowderedwater
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 I know, I think I got confused and was writing contrabass but then started writing band, but I thought it was funny so i left it
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • Fast Catch747 Also played all 3, tried marching with the contraband, couldn't get a neck strap to hold it >
    via Fast_Catch747
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 lol a marching contrabass? we have a bari sax in our marching band and that's our biggest instrument
    via RedditWhereReddits2
  • MikeyGC66 Please tell me you got this on video! If you did, you have to post it for us to see!!!
    via MikeyGC66
  • OP RedditWhereReddits2 Actively searching! Watch out for updates!
    via RedditWhereReddits2

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highschool students revenge concert teacher entitled people karma marching band band
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