Returning to where the journey started
BVH alumni Michael Atwood Returns As the New VMD Director
On Sep. 12, Bonita Vista High School’s Vocal Music Department’s teacher, Michael Atwood, is teaching his students how to control their vocals through a song.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the creative thinker behind every Bonita Vista High (BVH) Vocal Music Department (VMD) performance is the new VMD director, Michael Atwood. Atwood is a BVH alumni and retired member of Music Machine. He has returned to the BVH community to share his passion for music through the various VMD programs offered at the school including Music Machine, Sound Unlimited and choir.
Atwood graduated in 2015, while ultimately being a member of Music Machine throughout his four years there. With this previous experience, he speaks on the valuable lessons he learned from Music Machine and the entire VMD. His personal experiences allowed him to adapt and shape his teaching philosophy.
“Throughout my years here, I’ve seen so many different things. My goal this year is to take the best of everything—all the best of my experience, all my mentors and training in college—and try to take all the knowledge I’ve got from all these experiences and try to fuse it into my own style,” Atwood said.
He emphasizes the importance of community at Bonita and how it is especially crucial to have in VMD. Atwood explains what he wishes to pass on to his students this year, having been in their position before.
“A lot of these students who join, join for the music, but they end up staying for the community and family of this program. We spend so much time together, but we also do some really cool stuff and perform in the community,” Atwood said. “I want every student to have a strong sense of community to support them,” Atwood said.
A significant part of Atwood’s teaching philosophy is pushing students to work hard and contribute their best efforts in class. He believes that his position as VMD director comes with the responsibility to support his students, while also creating an environment that motivates students to reach their full potential.
“Bonita has a lot of high expectations for their students, but it’s because we know they can do amazing things. There has to be a lot of support, but also equal level pushing. I think that when that energy is placed on the students they can do amazing things,” Atwood said.
Many students in BVH’s VMD express the qualities they appreciate about Atwood. BVH Music Machine member and junior Trevor Braaten believes that Atwood’s extensive experience in VMD allows his teaching methods to be more effective as he is able to understand his students’ needs better.
“This year so far has been amazing because we have an Alumni of the group who is now teaching us. I think it adds to him being able to teach Machine, Sound and choir, because it gives him a better understanding, where he knows what’s expected of him. So that is very refreshing,” Braaten said.
Braaten emphasizes Atwood’s high energy while teaching and adds that his positive attitude reflects onto each of his students. He describes that students especially appreciate the consideration Atwood has for their feelings.
“He’s a really peppy guy who’s always excited and happy,” Braaten said. “He always asks our opinion on if we need help with something and if we need to go over a piece of music over again.”
Choir member and freshman Aranza Alcaraz expresses a similar feeling towards Atwood. She takes note of the extra steps Atwood takes in making sure that everyone in the VMD is included and that all student voices are heard with each decision he makes.
“He makes sure we all feel included and that we agree with the decisions he makes, like what songs we all sing,” Alcaraz said.
Atwood’s goal for the year is to get BVH’s VMD department more exposure in the community. He wants to showcase the department’s tight-knit family and its values of inclusivity that he hopes will encourage others to get involved with the program.
“One of my goals for the year is to take this program and make it more inclusive of people. I want to show the community that we’re here and we welcome you. You may get invested in us, but we also get invested in you.” Atwood said.
As Atwood returns to BVH as a teacher, he keeps the vivid experiences that VMD gave him and the value it added to his high school experience. This fuels his passion to teach and to reflect those same values onto his students.
“With vocal music, I think about the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had and how my life’s been enriched so much by music. I always said if I had a chance to give back and enrich other people’s lives too, I would do it, so that’s why I’m here.” Atwood said.
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