Music class with Dan Johnson

The band room is always abuzz with students, everyone is talking, running around trying to get stuff done, or practicing for an upcoming event. There is never a dull moment with Dan Johnson as a teacher. He commends the students on exemplary behavior at a recent band trip to a competition. As Johnson puts it, "this is how you give back to the community, and you make me look good."

Dan Johnson is the director/instructor for the music program at Philomath High School. He teaches the choir, the symphonic band and the theater class. He also directs the plays that students put on for the school as well.

Johnson worked for the Corvallis School District for more than 20 years. When Johnson started teaching at Philomath High School seven years ago, there were only 17 band students and 13 choir students. Today there are around 85 band students and 30 choir students.

The band and choir have been involved in multiple competitions ranging around Oregon, California and Seattle. They have received multiple awards for first place, second place for excellence and performance.

He has spent thousands of dollars and numerous hours creating a multiple award winning music program. The students always enjoy being around Johnson, not just for his humor but also for his generosity.

"He is very helpful and knowledgeable about anything musical," says Brianna Brouwer, a senior band member at Philomath High School this year. "He is always funny but knows when to be serious and get down to business. He does everything to make sure we succeed."

Debbie Johnson, Dan's wife, agrees that Johnson is a generous person when it comes to his job and his students. "He'll even take instruments down to Gracewinds and get them fixed as soon as possible," she said, "he doesn't want to turn anyone away."

Johnson's teaching methods always seem to have certain uniqueness to them. He likes to take the students around the campus to different areas to test out different sounds and acoustics.

For the choir, he usually takes them to the pool area where the sound resonates like a church cathedral atmosphere. He likes to call them mini field trips just to get the students of the classroom once in a while. The students always look forward to showing off the music they have been working on too.

"Do I have to do this?" Johnson said, "No. We can live with what we have, but it sure limits what we can do. For me, it's important for the kids to be able to do what they need to be successful."

While directing the band and choir at Philomath High School, Johnson also makes large contributions to the music program. His latest contribution could have the biggest impact on the music program.

Last November in 2010, Johnson and many of his students had come together to renovate the school’s small music room, adding about 440 square feet of space, unfortunately the renovation did not last long. This year the whole school is being torn down and remodeled due to a voter-approved construction bond.

Johnson also applied for and received several grants that helped with the cost of the project. He likes to joke that he does not want his wife, Debbie Johnson, to know exactly how much money he has poured into the PHS program throughout the years, or that he has simply lost track.

Truthfully Johnson does not like to take all the credit for the renovations because a lot of the students had helped with the project.

"He's always so dedicated to everything in his life," says Kyle Thrall, a 2010 graduate of Philomath High School. "His wife, his kids, his students. This is just the latest example, he's put so much time into the program."

Q&A with Dan Johnson:

• What made you get involved with both music and the high school?

My old band teacher had actually been on my back a lot about being a musician. He saw I had a lot of potential as a tenor vocalist. I have always found music to be a joy. I got my degree at George Fox University and I knew that I wanted to be a director. And here I am now.

• I understand a new school is being built with a bigger music department, what are your feelings about this?

Yes, we finally are getting a bigger music division at school. I'm excited for it, however the process is a little slow, with students being in one place or another, it’s hard to get things done whenever thing is not in one place. However once it’s done I have a feeling things will be smoother and we will be back to being loud.

• Is there anything else you would like to pursue besides teaching that involves music?

Right now, no, I enjoy teaching and I enjoy the students. Aside from retiring I don't see myself doing anything else and I am completely fine with that. I have my hands full with these little hooligans as is.

• Who is one musician/composer/director that inspires or has inspired you?

I have a lot of musicians I enjoy to hear occasionally. I find it hard to just listen to music without critiquing it to death. That's just how I evaluate music in general, I hear the different intervals in notes, and notice different phrasing that the composer uses.

• What is the greatest thing about teaching music?

I think watching how the students grow with what they learn each year. It’s always interesting to see how the students interact with each other. Over the years I see that there are always one or two students that take charge of their own sections and lay down the law.

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At A Glance:

Come support the PHS music department:

Who: Philomath High School Symphony

What: OWC Band Showcase

Where: Cascade High School

When: November 16th, 1:00pm

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1. Dan Johnson was born Daniel Johnson but is known to his students as "Dan," "Johnson," or "Dr. J."

2. Three degrees in music: BA Music - Willamette University, M.Ed. - Western Oregon University, Ed.D - George Fox University

3. Favorite Disney character: Mickey Mouse

4. Lives in Philomath, Oregon with his three kids and wife.