It was a summer of musical chairs for music educators this year in Bellevue.
Bellevue High School band director Vince Caruso left to fill the vacancy at Shorecrest High School. In his place, Edd George, a music teacher at Newport High School, took Caruso’s spot at Bellevue.
Despite the change, the overall goal of the program remains the same – give students a fun, creative outlet and kindle a lifelong interest in music.
“I want band to be one of the students’ favorite activities,” said George.
Every music teacher makes the same commitment to instill a basic understanding of and interest for music in their students, but each approaches it in a different way. For example, the Bellevue High School pep band –- with over 100 students – has always marched at Bellevue High’s Homecoming Parade. This year, though, they performed a field show at half-time as well.
George’s commitment to band goes beyond just the classroom – he’s one of three directors of the Sounders FC Sound Wave Band.
“Bands are at events for entertainment. Regardless of winning or losing, the band can always have a good time if they put on a good performance,” George said of the role of pep bands at events.
Whereas the Sound Wave represents a group of adults playing music in their free time, George recognizes that with his students, he has a responsibility to do more than teach music.
“We want to sound good, but we also want to be good people. It’s a loss if you sound good but if the process to get there is painful or hurtful,” he said.
George takes a different musical approach to each group – the Concert, Jazz, and Pep bands – but said that the overall goal is similar regardless of the style of music.
Although high school students often are involved with the day-to-day activities that keep music programs running, George has gone one step farther and formalized the process. A new “Band Council,” composed of a group of students elected by the band, help George with the logistical drudgeries, and in turn get an opportunity to “take ownership of their band experience,” George said.
So far, the change in management has been well-received by George’s new students.
“We’ve picked up where we left off last year,” one Bellevue High band student said. “During games, we’re a lot more involved with spirit, including dancing.”
Bellevue High’s Band has had a strong start to the year. They performed well in their half-time field show at Bellevue’s Homecoming game, and are running successful fundraisers selling wreaths and soccer-style scarves.
