Biography
Dr. Daniel S. Isbell has been an Associate Professor and Head of Music Education at Louisiana State University and an Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education at Ithaca College. He has taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in music education and research. Prior to teaching in higher education, he was the Director of Jazz Studies at the Boulder Arts Academy, Director of Instrumental Music in the Steamboat Springs (CO) School District, and Director of Instrumental Music for the Otselic (NY) School District. He has also been a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Education, University of London (UK), and a Visiting Researcher at the Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research, University of Rochester (NY). Dr. Isbell was selected as a Louisiana State University Learning and Teaching Collaborative Fellow and received the Ithaca College London Center teaching sabbatical award.
Dr. Isbell’s scholarship has focused on occupational identity, the socialization of music teachers, and popular music pedagogy. He has published in a range of journals, authored multiple book chapters, and shared his research with audiences throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Isbell is the recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Council for Research in Music Education (CRME), the Society for Education, Music, and Psychology (SEMPRE) Conference Research Award, and the Emerging Researcher Award from Music Education Research International (MERI). His contributions to popular music pedagogy have been recognized with a Modern Band Higher Education Fellowship from MusicWill.
Dr. Isbell has an established career as a trumpet player, performing in a variety of settings and styles. He has played trumpet with the Henry Mancini Orchestra, La Candela Salsa Band, and the DK Harrell Blues Band. He is a former member of the Swamp College Brass Quintet, Steamboat Springs Jazz Quartet, Kanni!Ko! African drum and dance ensemble, Flashback, Steamboat Springs Chamber Orchestra, and the Pikes Peak Philharmonic. Dr. Isbell enjoys camping and hiking, mountain bike riding, traveling, and spending time with his wife Ann Marie, and sons Scott and Charlie.