Went into this completely open minded having no idea what the film was about and hadn't even heard of it before but it was on BBC iPlayer late when I couldn't sleep. I'm partially deaf and watched mostly without being able to hear which is just as well cos I don't care for jazz and would have probably found the jazz heavy, lengthy drum rape a bit too much.

As a musician and former student to an abusive, vile bully like this, I got what it was doing or aiming to do and distinctly felt a lot of what the students felt during classes. I just didn't buy into the characters or their stories at all.

Initially I bought Andrew's desperate hopes to impress this legendary music teacher everyone fears but respects. I recognised and bought Fletcher's abrasive and vile personality, the harsh, unnecessary and physically abusive practices because I know that very sort one of whom was head at the school of music I attended.

It all went tits up and lost me when the two characters became unbelievable and did what would directly contradict and conflict with their natures. Fletcher's abuse increases to physical violence and assaulting students one of whom we later discover has killed himself and it wasn't checked or picked up on at all until things reached a head with Andrew who pasted him and was kicked from the school but not before helping to bring a case and see Fletcher loses his job.

Andrew has given up on his dreams and drums but happens to stumble on Fletcher playing in a bar and I bought his initial intrigue, curiosity or willingness to at least speak with his former teacher. Fletcher seemingly having awareness and acknowledging his faults was immediate suggesting it was genuine because his vile temper and inability to curb and control it wouldn't have enabled him to think so quickly on his feet and have that whole act ready to roll out.

When he invited Andrew to join him, this confident, self-assured kid that flattened him in front of everyone and cost Fletcher his job suddenly became the keen, eager and totally naïve young first year student all over again. He'd been robbed of his dreams and given up on his passions solely because of Fletcher so it made zero sense to me that he'd allow him the chance to do it all over again in a hurry - and yet he did.

When Fletcher was setting him up for complete failure and humiliation, I could see how that might happen but not how things went from there.

Andrew had the balls to refuse to let Fletcher win, goes back on stage, picks up his sticks and drums like it was the last time he'd ever drum which fit his character.

Fletcher has a few brief outbursts in anger then suddenly takes Andrew's sheer defiance and attitude as something worthwhile, visibly reacts and encourages Andrew to really go for it which he does.

Then two men are supposed to have met each other on equal playing fields, found mutual respect with Andrew the next Charlie Parker and Fletcher the reason for it? That just would not have happened.

I know teachers, trainers and instructors in many areas and disciplines that believe you have to push someone harder and beyond what they think is their limit in order for them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. I'm sure there's an element of this being true and in many cases an approach that does work because you have to step outside the comfort zone to find where the magic happens.

This level of accepted bullying and abuse is pretty common in the performing arts and as I say, it's something with which I have a lot of experience but it's much less obvious, seldom physical, usually a psychological, emotional stripping of someone's confidence and self-assurance under the guise of them only aiming to push students so they can reach their full potential.

I would have believed and been on board were Fletcher either less physical and / or if Andrew had less balls which would account for him putting up with Fletcher.

Neither of the two men would tolerate each other let alone discover a new, sudden mutual respect, understanding and appreciation on an equal basis.