I told a few people prior to publishing this episode that the next guest would be Dan Moore. The response was unanimous, but the inflection varied: "oh man, I gotta hear that guy."
Dan Moore took a break from his recent retirement to come talk to me about his small-town beginnings, teaching techniques, advice on jazz band, and his thoughts on marching band. Dan's recent endeavors include a larger focus on publishing his method book, original compositions, and arrangements, clinician services, and writing music and drill for marching band (and no, he doesn't just write "Dan Moore" type shows!).
You can find Dan's work by searching "Daniel Moore Music" on facebook, JW Pepper, and Sheet Music Plus.
I hope you enjoy this episode!
Dan's full bio, written by Dan:
Born and raised in Metamora, Illinois, I received a B.A. in Music Education from Western Illinois University, where I studied under Dale Hopper, Jon Dugle, Dennis Johnson, Roland Vamos, and William DeJong. While there, I was Principal Trumpet in pretty much everything, Drum Major for the Marching Band, and Drill Designer for several shows (a passion I developed in high school). At that time, I was also teaching private trumpet lessons for Galesburg High School, a member of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and Soprano Bugle Soloist for the Geneseo Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Upon "aging out", I was immediately named Brass Caption Head, a position I remained in for a several seasons, writing drill and arranging much of the music along the way.
After student teaching under Greg Bimm at Marian Catholic High School, my public school teaching career began in Milledgeville, Illinois, teaching 5-12 band in a K-12 building, and even directing some of the musical drama productions. That was followed by four years at Watseka High School, ending in a Class 2A State Marching Band Championship. During this time, I got married (to Kay, an outstanding elementary band director. We now have two grown daughters, also in education). I performed regularly with the Bensenville Wind Ensemble, the R.A. Brass Quintet, the Kankakee Municipal Band, the Kankakee Valley Theatre Pit Orchestra, and the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra (Principal Trumpet and featured soloist). Moving back to the Peoria area, I was Director of Bands at Limestone Community High School, garnering another State Marching Band Championship along the way. While in the area, I performed regularly with the Peoria Symphony, the Millennium Big Band, the Peoria Municipal Band (featured soloist), and the Prairie Wind Ensemble (featured soloist), doing a good deal of church and wedding gigs as well.
It was during those early teaching years that I established myself as a freelance drill-writer, designing perennial State Championship shows for Monticello High School, Herscher High School, United Township High School, and Normal Community Community High School. Other high school programs I've designed for include Lockport Community High School, Pontiac High School, Prairie Central High School, and Champlin Park High School. Currently, I am designing complete programs (drill and music) for Geneseo High School and Oak Park/River Forest High School.
After eleven highly successful years teaching downstate, I took some time off to earn a Masters Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University, studying under Don Owens, Antonio Garcia, Michael Kocour, Rodney Dorsey, and Mallory Thompson. There, I was Drill Designer for the Northwestern University Marching Band (They're still using the pregame drill I wrote for them in 1998), and was Director of the University Jazz Band performing several of my arrangements. I performed as Lead Trumpet in the University Jazz Ensemble, the Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the legendary Waa Mu Show (in which I also arranged for the pit orchestra). I also established great relationships with mentors and colleagues Ruben Alvarez, Joel Spencer, Marlene Rosenberg, Greg Fishman, Mitch Paliga, and Mike Staron (conducting one of Mike's pieces with John Adams in the audience!)
Following Northwestern, I came to Naperville North High School, where I've been for nearly two decades. Under my direction, the NNHS Marching Band earned twelve Finalist appearances at the State of Illinois Marching Championships and six Finalist spots at various Bands of America Regionals and Super-Regionals. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has twice performed as a feature group at the Illinois Music Educators Conference, three times at the Music for All National Festival, and three times at the Illinois Superstate Band Festival (AAAA Honor Band in 2016). The Jazz Ensemble has also been featured twice at the IMEC, and has earned appearances at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival, The Monterey Generation Next Festival, and the Midwest Clinic. Guest artists/clinicians have included Wycliffe Gordon, Wayne Bergeron, Rich Moore, Bob Lark, Mike Vax, and Ron Carter.
During my time in Naperville, I have performed with the Wheaton Municipal Band, the Naperville Municipal Band (Principal Trumpet and often featured soloist and conductor), and am currently a member of and arranger for the Pete Ellman Big Band, along with a steady diet of church, weddings, and other freelance gigs. I've been invited to clinic dozens of bands around the state, as well as at district and state conferences. I've also penned several articles for music education journals, and am putting a new full-band method book through trials with my own band and others. I've adjudicated many marching contests, jazz festivals, and concert festivals, and am taking on more and more custom arranging work for many mediums. My catalog of published works is ever-growing, and I have a huge backlog of pieces I'm gradually getting "cleaned-up" for eventual publication. I'm am now devoting myself full-time to all my avocational endeavors.