Dan McCoy

As the tattoo on Dan McCoy’s right arm states: “Life without music would be a mistake.” He can’t imagine a world where he’s not playing or teaching music. While his parents didn’t really play any musical instruments, music was always present in their Northwest Indiana home, with big band tunes, Mozart, Brahms, Elvis, and the Beatles playing at any given time. He began his teaching career as a senior in high school, taking charge of the high school drum line. Every year since then, Dan has found some way to be involved in a school percussion group, including schools like Homestead High School, Indiana State University, and Maple Creek Middle School. It was this dedication to teaching that kept him from completing his bachelor’s degree. He had already accepted a job as the drumline instructor at the University of Notre Dame and at multiple high schools. He simply had no time to earn the final credit hour from completing his senior recital!

Most weekends, you can find Dan performing with his band Good Night Gracie. They’ve become a staple at various local venues like the Embassy Theatre, The Club Room at the Clyde, and Headwaters Park. Dan and his wife Sara have been married for more than 21 years. Together, they are helping their four kids develop a deep love for music and performance. To relax, Dan will sometimes trade his drumsticks for a joystick and dive into his favorite Legend of Zelda video games. He’s also an avid motorcyclist who finds a thrill in taking his sons out for rides on his Harley.