“We are the music makers; and we are the dreamers of dreams.” –Arthur O'Shaughnessy
I thought this was a fitting quote to help present this week’s Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Though recently retired, Dan Pritchett this VHS music teacher’s musical abilities and memories will stay fresh in everyone’s mind for a long time.
Born and raised in Danville, IN, Pritchett was the youngest of five. He got into music at age two when his mom put him in front of a piano and by age four he was doing solo performances in church.
Pritchett didn’t realize that he was being called to music until a teacher of his, Judith Grimes who now is a professor or music at Elmhurst College, pushed him into pursuing music.
“I think I went through most of my schooling thinking I was going to be in engineering because of my love of math. She pushed me into auditioning at different colleges because she thought I’d be a good music major. I owe a lot to her,” Pritchett said.
So after he graduated valedictorian from his high school, Pritchett went on to pursue a major in music and a minor in math. During his time at Ball State, Pritchett student taught in the Valpo School system. And after receiving his bachelor’s degree, he want back and got his masters in education.
Pritchett came into the Valpo School system as a math teacher. He taught high school geometry and algebra 2 and after school he helped out with the marching band and taught lessons. And as his teaching career progressed, Pritchett more and more into music and less and less out of math.
“By my twelfth year teaching I was a full-time band teacher,” Pritchett said. “I was the assistant band director with the pop band and the head director for the number two band. I assisted with seventh, eighth and ninth grade band and helped with beginners at band when the left the fifth grade. I also taught the top two jazz bands –the first one for 38 years and the second for 33.”
Outside of his job at VHS Pritchett did other musical things in the community such as volunteering for his church for around 25 years and playing in a quartet with some friends.
That’s a lot for one person to take on, but that’s what happens when you’re a teacher. Your job doesn’t stop at 3pm. You wear a lot of hats and get stuff done! The whole town is lucky to have had Pritchett in their midst.
“I love Valpo. I’ve never seen or have heard of a place where the people appreciate the school system as much as the people of Valpo appreciate it. I like it so much that I won’t be moving from here for a long time,” Pritchett said. “I like the people that live here and I love downtown area with the amphitheater and restaurants. This has always been a very forward thinking town. There is logic and careful thought behind what does on here. There is an appreciation for all types of things in this town that you don’t normally have in towns of this size.”
Now that Pritchett has retired, he plans to relax. Then after he gets tired of relaxing he’s going to travel –all over the place. California, Washington, Europe. Those are only a few places because then he said that he plans to cover all 50 states.
Pritchett would also like to continue to play the piano, learn the guitar and expand his private studio. There he teaches voice, clarinet, piano and saxophone lessons.
So a man who has done so much must have some pearls of wisdom to give to us.
“I’ve had the honor of speaking at three commencement ceremonies and I always use an essay by Robert Hastings. Basically, it says to not put things off and wait and don’t expect things to fall into place before going after what you want,” Pritchett said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m going to travel. Since I’ve been living with this mindset I’ve been much happier. I’ve enjoyed the ride. So enjoy the journey and don’t wait for the destination because the fun and joy comes from the journey.”