Middle and High school band director David Hock has been teaching at Tyrone since 2013, making this his 11th year at Tyrone, and 15th year teaching overall.

The band’s holiday concert is scheduled for November 21, and Hock has been working with his seventh through twelfth graders to perform as a group, allowing the junior high students to grow in their music knowledge and play with the high schoolers. 

“My favorite thing about Mr. Hock is the positivity he brings into the band, along with his passion and dedication,” senior Lily Whited said. 

In addition to teaching, Hock has many hobbies and pastimes. After spending the school day teaching classes from fifth-grade beginning band to high school concert band, Hock enjoys winding down with various video games and spending time with his dog Ellie. 

Outside of school, Hock also participates in a community band and a drum group, strengthening his skills as a band director and teacher. 

“My favorite thing about band and Mr. Hock in general is that I got to be myself. The creative freedom and ability I had to be myself is something I’ll never forget from high school.” Tyrone class of 2024 graduate KK Brodzina said.

EE: What inspired you to go into teaching and/or choose the subject you teach? 

DH: “When I first went to college I just wanted a music degree and didn’t think I wanted to be a teacher, but I had experience working as a counselor at a summer camp and soon realized that I really enjoyed helping others learn music, so I switched my major to music education. In my second year of college I started teaching percussion with a local marching band in Camp Hill, PA. I enjoyed teaching percussion so much and that really helped grow my passion for teaching music.”

EE: What is your favorite thing about teaching? 

DH: “My favorite thing is watching students get excited to play music and succeed at the music they are performing. When a student finishes playing a piece of music successfully it has a very special feeling of accomplishment and it’s my favorite thing to be a part of helping students achieve that same feeling.”

EE: What are some of your hobbies and interests? 

DH: “I play music outside of teaching, specifically in a community wind band during the summers, and in a drum group. I like listening to various types of music, watching movies when I have time, playing Minecraft and Star Wars video games, woodworking occasionally, playing board and card games, spending time with family and my dog Ellie.”

EE: What good advice have you been given as a teacher? 

DH: “You can’t serve from an empty cup; if you aren’t “filling your own cup” on a regular basis you will just burn-out, your performance as a teacher and a musician will suffer, and you will be unable to help others. It’s important to focus on your own mental health, find a balance and foster your core passions and reasons for teaching. Also, it’s impossible to love/forgive/help others if you don’t first learn to love/forgive/help yourself. “

EE: What is the hardest part of teaching and why? 

DH: “Student drama, negative attitudes, and poor behavior.”

EE: What are some of the jobs you held before getting into teaching? 

DH: “I had all the following jobs prior to teaching at Tyrone. Junior camp counselor (high school), summer custodian at various schools, percussion instructor at Camp Hill High School 2006-2013, day-to-day substitute teacher, various long-term substitute music teaching positions between 2009-2013.”

EE: What is your best advice to students? 

DH: “See the above teacher advice. Learn to love and forgive yourself; if you don’t you will always be getting in your own way and holding yourself back. Take care of your mental health and intentionally schedule time doing things that “fill your cup” and foster your passions. 

Failures are not final unless you let them be final. The only way to be successful is to keep trying and often that means failing, trying again, failing, trying again and repeat. If you persist you will fail less and less often until you are consider a success. Even those who have succeeded still have failures from time to time. Sometimes we need to fail to learn. But only if you don’t give up, don’t let failure be final. 

People like to joke “fake it until you make it”, but there’s a bit of truth in this. Employers are looking for people with good work ethic, dedication, passion and willingness to learn. You don’t always have to know what you’re doing right from the start. Don’t shy away from doing something just because you don’t know how. You just have to go for it, work hard, and learn as you go. This is normal and how people become successful. That said, this isn’t an excuse to not study and work hard in school. Be the best person you can be, but don’t spend too much time comparing yourself to others. Spend time around people that build you up, encourage you, and help you be the best version of yourself.”