Weedsport is a school full of teachers who have mostly been here for years but now and then we get a few new teachers to come and teach. Peri. Bernstein is Weedsport’s new music and chorus teacher, taking over for Mrs. Kerr who is out on maternity leave.
Bernstein got into music at six to nine years old when she started playing piano and then trumpet. Bernstein says she knew she wanted to be a music teacher when she was 13 years old. “I went to Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for my undergraduate degree and I went to Syracuse University Setnor School of Music for my masters.”
In June last summer Bernstein applied for the position online and heard back a few days later. Bernstein then went in to share more about why she applied for the position. “I had been wanting to teach choir because I had done band before and it looked like a good opportunity for me to work with grade levels that I’ve worked with before but in this new capacity of teacher choir.”
Bernstein says this is the reason she likes teaching choir so much. She describes choir as, “A better way of connecting to the music.” She then followed up explaining that it’s because it’s in your body – meaning it’s something anybody can do.
Every teacher at Weedsport has brought with them something special, whether it was literal or metaphorical they all brought something. Bernstein’s take on what she hopes to bring to Weedsport was energy and happiness back to the department. “I know that things have been a little stagnant since Covid and there’s been a lot of turnover in the choir department so I hope to bring a little bit of energy back into the choir departments and just get kids excited about singing and music in general.”
With Bernstein being so passionate about the choir there are some things that needed to change in order for her to reach her goals while teaching here. “I would love to see the choirs grow and those who have been excited about choir in the past and maybe lost some of that passion get it back and come join us again. Just growth I think is really what we need.”
The musical has been a big part of Weedsport for years. Both middle school and high school musicals are always put up to the standards to be great. This year Bernstein has been taking control over the high school musical. Bernstein describes the musical process as “tough but fun.” Bernstein says she is preparing to organize the high school musical.
The hardest part about organizing the musical can be assigning students to their characters. Luckily Bernstein has a process for this. “Pretty much you look at what the character requires in terms of acting, personality, vocal range and after the audition we figure out which students fit the part best.”
So far Bernstien has only been teaching for four months but she explains it as going really well but being tough. “It’s tough because you have to get to know the students and work with them in terms of what they already know and what they want to learn as well as what interests them. So it’s definitely a tough process just being the teacher.” Bernstein says students in music and choir are engaged and having fun which is exactly what she was wanting when she was teaching.
Overall Bernstein is having a good time while teaching Weedsport’s students and being able to organize the musical and is grateful for the opportunity. Bernstein wants to continue to make connections with her students and explore the talents these students have.
