Despite becoming the new band teacher here at Pascack Valley, Craig Yaremko is far from new to teaching music.

Yaremko has been involved with band since the age of 16 and has been teaching music for 15 years. As Yaremko formerly taught at Holdrum Middle School, he believes that connection helped make the transition to PV very easy.

“Obviously, I would say the band [at PV] right now is 80% of former HMS [Holdrum Middle School] students, so I know them really well,” Yaremko said. “I know the talent level that’s here and, they offered me the position, and I think I’m ready for it. I was ready to graduate middle school.”

Yaremko grew up playing saxophone, which sparked his passion for music. He never specifically wanted to be a high school band director, but he said that he is more than excited to take on the role.

“I am so excited to be a high school band director here [at PV] with the crew of people that we have with the band students that we have,” Yaremko said. “Everybody is very supportive [of] me to kind of just put my own stamp on things and not necessarily do band like it’s been done or how we’ve done it here at PV in the past.”

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Yaremko rarely goes a day without making music; he enjoys practicing every day. He is involved in a jazz band that plays at both weddings and parties. Additionally, Yaremko had the opportunity to play with the legendary singer Johnny Mathis over the summer.

“There’s rarely a day that I’m not making music in some fashion, but I’m really very lucky that I have a job that I really love,” Yaremko said. “It doesn’t feel like work to me.”

Along with the obvious difference of age, the change of maturity levels between middle and high schoolers is very prominent according to Yaremko.

Yaremko believes the ability to listen is very valuable as a band member and that the high schoolers’ improvement of listening skills, in comparison to those of middle schoolers, has been very important to him.

“I think our ability to listen is a huge part where I could say, ‘hey, let’s listen to these three people play for a moment and everybody else is still involved as opposed to just drifting off,’” Yaremko said.

Yaremko has many exciting ideas for the future of the band here at PV. He is interested in starting a Symphonic Band, which is a concert ensemble that will allow students to participate in more festivals and competitions.

Yaremko is looking forward to similar goals for the Jazz Band, as he hopes that there are opportunities for competitions and for recording the band’s pieces.

“Our ability to record really high quality [music] has stepped up quite a lot,” Yaremko stated. “To have students involved with more national-type competitions is a big thing.”

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Yaremko realized the importance of creating a “new identity” for the band. He is trying to put together an entertaining theme that will be highlighted at football games and other school events.

“[We will play] a lot of music that [people will] find familiar, and that’s going to get people really excited to see us, to hear us, and help whatever game or team that we might be involved with,” Yaremko said.

Yaremko strives to share his passion for music while highlighting the talents of PV students now and for many years to come.