Mark J. Connor, Composer
  • About
    • Biography
    • Testimonials
    • EPK
  • Music
  • Collaborate
    • Commissions
    • CSIC Orchestra Commission
  • Blog
  • EB Podcast
  • Contact

Everything Band: Episode 147 - Larry Neeck

2/3/2020

Comments

 
Larry Neeck has written or arranged over 150 works for C.L. Barnhouse and is now retired after a 32 year career as a middle school band director in Rochester, New York.
Topics:
  • Larry’s musical background growing up in Pennsylvania and how he passed on a chance to be a varsity quarterback to instead play bells in the band.
  • Larry’s journey from cocktail hour pianist to middle school band director in Rochester, New York.
  • The story of how Larry got his start as a composer writing jazz charts for his own students and some advice for composers about getting their music played.
  • Advice and perspectives on teaching middle school including some excellent advice about being yourself in your classroom.
  • The challenges of changing from a 7-9 junior high school to a 6-8 middle school.

Links:
  • Silvestri: Back to the Future Theme
  • Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
  • Neeck: Glacier Express (performed by the Rochester New Horizons Band)

Biography:

Larry Neeck is an internationally recognized composer, with more than one-hundred fifty works for concert band, jazz ensemble, and orchestra published by C.L. Barnhouse Company and Arco String Publications. He is frequently commissioned to write for schools, bands, and festivals, and often works as a guest conductor and clinician. His CDs, “Swing Machine,” recorded by the Studio A Big Band, and “Midnight Escape,” recorded by the Washington Winds are available from Walking Frog Records. His music has been heard on PBS television, and he has received numerous ASCAP awards for his compositions.


In addition to his work as a composer, Mr. Neeck had a successful career as a middle school band director, retiring after thirty-two years from the Webster (NY) Central School District. He directed concert bands, jazz ensembles, taught wind and percussion classes, and co-founded the Willink Middle School Student/Parent Band, now in its twenty-fifth season. The years he spent as a school band director have informed his composing style, resulting in works that engage students and audiences alike.

​
Mr. Neeck holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Pittsburgh, and an M.M. in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), and the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA).
Comments
    Picture

    About

    A podcast featuring conversations with teachers, composers, and performers of music for winds and percussion.

    Everything Band is a member of the Music Teacher Development Podcast Network. The MuTed network provides support in the form of audio on demand programming designed by and for music educators. You can find more information about our network at mutedpodcasts.com

    Picture
    The Everything Band Podcast is proud to partner with Kaleidoscope Adventures.

    Categories

    All
    2017 Midwest Clinic
    2018 Midwest Clinic
    2018 TMEA Convention
    2019 Midwest Clinic
    Advocacy
    Authors
    Beginners
    Composers
    Conductors
    Historians
    Jazz Education
    Marching Arts
    Middle School
    Military Bands
    Performers
    Publishers
    Retailers

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    Listen on Google Play Music
    Picture

    RSS Feed

Site and contents copyright © 2020 Mark J. Connor. All rights reserved.
  • About
    • Biography
    • Testimonials
    • EPK
  • Music
  • Collaborate
    • Commissions
    • CSIC Orchestra Commission
  • Blog
  • EB Podcast
  • Contact