From Edward Maxwell Bernstein
Going into 9th grade I wanted to take Spanish instead of band to be with the "cool kids". Marching band at Alki middle school did not make me excited to spend the last part of my summer doing band camp. My mom persuaded me to give band another try.
At band camp my freshman year the first year of Skyview's existence I was nervous and excited. I fell in love with the activity immediately! I had never had so much fun and enjoyed everything about the Skyview band program and the direction from you.
In my sophomore year you brought an opportunity of marching with a summer marching band called "northern lights" My brother and Jocelyn decided we should do this and with the extra encouragement from you we were off for our first summer in 1999. From then on you encouraged us when we went to Seattle Cascades the next year. The group of Skyview Kids that marched cascades over the next few years was a direct impact on the success of both Skyview and the Cascades in the early 2000's I believe that myself, my brother, and Aaron Mattison's leadership sparked the interest of Skyview kids to march drum corps for years to come. Every member that marched drum corps came back to Skyview with a passion to help build and develop the band program. Your guidance and encouragement helped reignite the passion of marching band and drum corps in the northwest for the last 14 years.
From there my brother Alex went on to march 6 years with the Santa Clara Vanguard and myself two years with The Cadets. Had it not been for that first summer in 1999 I know Alex and I would not be the Men we are today.
You also guided us through Concert band and Jazz band. Your help in those areas helped me acquire a music scholarship to Central Washington University.
Whether it was steel drums or winter percussion I enjoyed being a part of whatever ensemble you put together. Some of my fondest memories are the jazz band gigs we would go on school days.
Giving us the opportunity to travel and compete in Hawaii and Florida were the icing on the cake for our years in band. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that you were the best band director in the area and we all enjoyed our years in band.
On a more personal note having the opportunity to teach the band after I graduated was an honor. As I grew in my teaching experience you gave me the opportunity to grow as a teacher and learn from you. After teaching with you for 7 years you gave me the chance at running the visual program. One of the highlights of my life so far was being a trusted staff member on your team running the marching band rehearsal. To be able to give back to the activity that has done so much for me was truly an honor. my time at Skyview both as a member and a teacher has helped form my brother and I into the men we are today.
Your guidance to me as an instructor has led to me making a career on the side out of teaching marching and visual. I have been teaching for 12 years. This summer I'm teaching with the Oregon Crusaders drum corps. This fall I'm the visual caption supervisor for Westview High School. I owe these recent successes to your guidance and development.
You guided us to the path of drum corps and I will be eternally grateful for that. You believed in me and helped guide me through the teenage years and my early 20's. I wish you the best in this next chapter of your life. You'll always be a part of the Skyview band and known as the greatest band director in the northwest.
Thanks for everything!
Edward Maxwell Bernstein
PS with the pictures enclosed you can see the progression of Alex and I over the years :)
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