Bernd Scheumaier: A life for music

Bernd Scheumaier spent almost 50 years at the Erding District Music School, the last seven years as the boss.

Now he is retiring.

An interview.

Erding -

Bernd Scheumaier will retire on December 31st.

The committed music teacher spent almost 50 years at the Kreismusikschule (KMS) Erding.

The 66-year-old came to the KMS in 1972 and got to know it from different perspectives - as a pupil, as a teacher, from 1986 as deputy headmaster and since 2013 as head.

Scheumaier, together with the new future management duo Peter Hackel and Sarah Lilian Kober, planned the orderly handover of the large music school, which employs around 70 teachers and over 3000 students are taught.

A farewell talk.

Mr. Scheumaier, did you work in your dream job?

Yes absolutely!

Even though I emulated one of my teachers as an orchestral musician during my music studies - he was the solo bassist at the Bavarian State Opera, and I was allowed to play several times in the stage music in various performances - I quickly realized that I was interested in musical work with children means a lot to young people and that is my real calling.

How did you come to study music?

The foundation stone was laid in my youth.

There were many factors, for example the fact that music was the only subject in elementary school where I consistently got an A.

At that time I noticed that I was more enthusiastic about music than math. The path to studying music crystallized more and more when my friends from Schrödinger accepted me in their band and I was able to get to know professional musicians who showed me the way to study music.

And then there was already a music school in Erding in 1972, whose teachers did an excellent job of preparing me for the entrance exam at the conservatory.

What instruments do you play and what kind of music do you feel most at home in?

In the course of a musician's life, a good dozen instruments come together.

I still come from a generation of music teachers who were very broad-based and less specialized in just one instrument.

I feel just as comfortable in brass band or dance music on tuba and baritone as in the jazz band with the electric bass or in the various folk music ensembles with guitar, accordion or diatonic harmonica.

It is still a special experience for me today to be part of a large orchestral community with my double bass, for example to be able to attend masses and concerts with a large choir at the big festivals of the church year.

What was particularly important to you in your work as a music teacher?

Every young person has different strengths and character traits.

Always getting involved in new challenges, not just seeing the music, but the whole person, has always been important to me.

Which tasks did you find challenging and which gave you great pleasure?

The diversity of children and adolescents with all their problem areas has always been a challenge.

But to set out on a path together, to build up a network of relationships and then often be able to accompany young people over the years with numerous shared experiences, to build trust and thus establish long-term friendships, that has always given me great pleasure and made me satisfied.

What goals have you set yourself as a music school director?

One of my main goals was to open up our music school with our beautiful building as a platform for musicians in the district and to orient it even more internationally.

The existing partnership with Corsica has been rather difficult, especially in recent years.

New contacts have been made to St. Petersburg, Ecuador, Brazil, China and Japan and partnerships with the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein have been deepened.

But above all I tried to keep the door open for local musicians.

Above all, our students benefit from all these encounters, but also teachers, parents, concert-goers, the musicians in the district and many more.

How important is the working atmosphere for you?

When you get along well with each other, a lot can only really develop.

A collegial, friendly working atmosphere characterized by mutual trust has always been important to me.

As the headmaster, I saw one of my main tasks as creating optimal conditions for our children, young people and adults in the district, but also ensuring optimal working conditions in the staff and being there for all of them.

Which experiences and encounters do you particularly remember?

There would be a lot to talk about (laughs).

But one experience shaped me in particular: In my young music teacher years I had a student who had to struggle hard and, according to my inner conviction, might have had more success with sport or dance.

But she stayed with me for years in class and only said goodbye when she started an apprenticeship.

Several years later I ran into her again on the street and we had a brief conversation.

She thanked me for the most beautiful years of her life so far.

That was a key experience for me.

I, who from my studies were absolutely geared towards top musical performance as my primary goal, felt that not only top performance necessarily has its right to exist at a music school.

Over the years I have learned as much from my students as they have from me.

Do you find it difficult to say goodbye or do you leave with a light heart?

The parting came as no surprise, I was able to adjust to it.

When I look back, I am grateful and satisfied.

I don't really have a feeling of farewell yet.

When I feel like it, I go to music school and attend a concert or a student audition, or I sometimes play music in a project in an orchestra or ensemble of my former colleagues.

What are you going to do in your (un) retirement?

I just want to have more time for my family, for my wife, my grandchildren and all the things that I had to put off.

I will continue to make music - I will not lose anything - and then I will be involved as a market councilor and 3rd mayor in my home town of Wartenberg and as an honorary administrative judge at the Bavarian Administrative Court.

I think I won't get bored.

Maybe I'll just do nothing.

If I can do it!

The interview was conducted by Vroni Vogel.

Childhood memories that shaped

In a little anecdote, Bernd Scheumaier tells of formative musical childhood experiences: “When I was at primary school in Erdinger Holzland, I rarely experienced live music, not to mention concerts.

I still remember the impressive harmonium played by our elementary school teacher and the organ playing by our church organist, to which I always listened devoutly during mass.

The May devotions, in which the church choir sang, were particularly beautiful.

I didn't miss any. "

One of the biggest events of his primary school days were the theater performances in Hohenpolding during Lent before Easter in the Gasthaus Rauschhuber.

Scheumaier: “I used every opportunity to come to the theater in Hohenpolding on Sunday, but not because of the theater performance itself, but because of the break from the theater.

There were two musicians playing the accordion and guitar.

These were my first great role models and at the same time pure inspiration.

I wanted to be able to do that too.

I still know what they played:

Have a snack

… ” 

vev