March Teacher Spotlight Interview with Mr. Bernard

Which classes/activities do you teach at the Lycée, and which is your favorite one to teach?

At le Lycée, I teach music appreciation to the whole middle school (French and international sections) and to 9th graders. I also lead the choir with students from elementary and middle school, the high school band and I supervise the podcast workshop at the middle school.

I like this diversity of activities. I would say that my favorite is the choir because I can really focus on more technical and demanding musical work. But I also love to talk about music history in my classes and make connections between subjects.

How long have you been at the Lycée? 

This is my fourth year at le Lycée. I arrived in 2021 after the pandemic. I remember how complicated it could be to develop a hybrid teaching with some students at school and some others at home in front of their screens.

What drew you to music?

My family! One of my grandpas was a professional musician. He played clarinet and saxophone in many jazz orchestras in France for decades. He appears as a studio musician on many albums. He accompanied some of the best artists on stage (Django Reinhardt, Clifford Brown, Lionel Hampton, Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf etc…). I grew up listening to jazz music with my father who wasn't a musician but listened to music every day! I think I started my piano lessons when I was 5 years old. I spent almost 20 years in music schools to learn my instrument, music theory, arrangement, etc… I studied classical music for 15 years, then turned to jazz. 

Did you always know that you wanted to be a teacher?

I would say no. When I obtained my scientific high school diploma, I wasn’t sure what to do next. I was really interested in science, especially biology, but music had always been such an important part of my life. So, I decided to go down this career path. And teaching came to me very quickly. I started by helping younger students at my music school, explaining theory concepts, and leading instrumental groups. I loved that. It wasn't long before I started giving private piano lessons, and I was delighted to see how much progress my pupils made.

Who is your favorite musician, and why?

It's absolutely impossible to answer that question! There are so many! If we are talking about classical composers, Claude Debussy is probably my favorite one. His compositions are like paintings. Rock music? Led Zeppelin of course! In jazz, the choice becomes complicated: the trumpet player Miles Davis for the way he chose his notes when improvising; Herbie Hancock, a great pianist who explores an immense range of genres; Ella Fitzgerald, an incredible singer with inexhaustible energy and impeccable swing. And then there are those who can do it all: jazz, pop, rock, rap… Quincy Jones who died this year was one of them. He was a trumpet player, a composer, an arranger, a producer (including Mickael Jackson), in one word an amazing musician.

You see? I could talk hours about musicians that I admire, and the list would be long!

Where did you go to college and what did you major in? 

I went to two different universities in Paris and graduated in musicology and education. One of these universities is one of the oldest in France! It was founded in 1253! It’s called La Sorbonne. At the same time, I pursued professional studies at a Parisian music conservatory to obtain a diploma in jazz piano studies.

What is your least favorite genre of music, and why?

Here's another tough question for me! I think there's great music in every genre. In other words, genre isn't the problem! Personally, I tend to tire very quickly of music that lacks a minimum of complexity. I mean in terms of composition. For me, a song should include at least one of these elements: a nice melody, a surprising bridge, a harmonic richness, interesting orchestration, an innovative structure, rhythmic variations… 

Do you have any advice for students who want to go into music?

Listen to a lot of music would be my first advice. The more different music you listen to, the more creative you become. 

Get ready to work! I know it’s a bit killjoy, especially coming from a teacher! But there is no magic! You may have some talent, but a musician only learns throughout his or her life by playing, rehearsing and practicing.

A third one! Be confident! You'll always find musicians you think are better than you. But what counts is what you have to say as an artist.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself that you'd like to share. 

At my previous school in France, we organized an important concert every year in honor of the President of the French Republic who was therefore invited to attend. As a choir conductor, I was myself invited to a special lounge to meet the President and officials. One year, on our way to this lounge, one of my colleagues and I were brutally stopped by two security officers! It was impressive because they were very suspicious about our intentions!  We had to wait 10 minutes before being allowed in.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love photography and traveling. This is my fourth year in the United States, and I have already had the chance to explore 20 national parks. I will let you imagine how many pictures I’ve taken! Thousands, for sure!

What do you enjoy most about teaching music? 

I enjoy many things! Seeing my students progress and encouraging them to come up with their own-musical ideas for example. I like to share my passion for masterpieces I adore, by telling stories about the context of creation or the various technical aspects of these works. I also like to make connections with other subjects, such as history, art, literature etc…