Bernard was the son and pupil of the great Emile A. Ouchard. After working with his father and serving in the French army, Bernard became the bow maker for the Vidoudez, Geneva in 1949 and continued to make exceptional bows there until 1971 when he moved to Mirecourt and became the first professor of bow making at the Mirecourt School of Lutherie. For the several years he was there, he was responsible for the continuing of the highest level of French bow making into the 21^st. century.  Among his students were Martin Devillers, Eric Grandchamp, Jean Grunberger, Pascal Lauxerrois, Jean Pascal Nehr, Benoit Rolland, Christophe Schaeffer, George Tepho and Stephane Thomachaut along with many other of the best contemporary French bow makers.