Who effects the future of Sammamish the most? It might be hard to prove, but I would argue that teachers help shape the future of our world.

There is a teacher at Inglewood Middle School who falls in the category of hero in my book. Her given name could not be more appropriate for a drummer, Miss Tapps. Right?

Tapps left her mark in the musical world by marching in the UW band, playing with Blue Thunder, traveling the world sharing music in Europe and all over the our country.

Tapps also played with the Sonics and decided to inspire the next generation with her career as a band teacher at Ingelwood. Miss Tapps married a biologist teacher and took on a new name, Mrs. Markov.

There are a lot of band teachers in the world. What makes her contributions hero status? Allow me to tell you.

Mrs. Markov inspires and expects greatness. She takes beginners and turns them into musicians. She inspires the best to be better, and makes sure the band has proficiency no matter how much experience the students have walking in the door.

She calls her band the MEGA band. Why? Because she has 180 students in one band! That doesn’t include the other classes for younger grades. How does one rehearse such a large group? By splitting them into two smaller classes and rehearsing them separately. She gets to put them together twice before they perform for proud parents and peers.

I speak from experience when I say, the parents are very impressed to hear this culmination of their musical training. It really sounds good, and she somehow turns many different abilities into a well-oiled machine that sounds very pleasing.

We have all had the experience of listening to our students play music publicly, but let me tell you, after you have seen what Mrs. Markov produces with her multi-talented direction, it is impossible to imagine there could be anyone more gifted as an instructor.

What is her secret? Well, after watching for several years, and being experienced in music myself, I think there are several factors to this type of success.

First is her knowledge of music and making the class fun. She doesn’t just teach from what is out there in the world. If she knows a song will inspire and be a good fit for a particular group, she arranges it and produces it for her students.

Second, Markov expects her pupils to learn, to work hard and to do their part. She encourages them to compete in events and invitationals, and they are incredibly successful. She wants them to work harder, to make each person strive to perform to the top of their ability and potential. When you go to the concert, you will hear awards she gives out that will make you cry.

It helps us as audience members to understand the progress, the inner workings of her success and personal stories that encourage all the younger students to be in the spotlight someday.

When asked, begged and pleaded to move up to Eastlake when they were hiring a new band director, she used her expertise to help find and choose a good one, but she insisted on staying with Ingelwood.

She says, “I like what I do here, I like getting students off to the right start in music.”

And she succeeds.

Amy McOmber is a 22-year resident of the Sammamish plateau.