Dan Halpern has been teaching music in New Jersey since 2001. He is a graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, having studied percussion under She-E Wu and drums under Akira Tana and Dennis DeLucia. He earned his master's degree in Music History at Rutgers. His experience as a performer has been diverse, ranging from classical percussion to drumset, and he is comfortable in a variety of musical genres. As an educator he has worked with award winning ensembles throughout New Jersey, including concert bands, jazz ensembles and marching bands. He has been a regular clinician at music education conferences throughout the East Coast, and has contributed to multiple music education journals. He was the recipient of numerous educational grants, including three commissions for new works by renowned composer, Joseph Turrin. When he's not involved in music he enjoys reading and spending time with family.