Dan Haerle


Dan Haerle is a jazz pianist, composer, author and teacher, based in Denton, Texas. He is a retired professor emeritus of Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas.

Early life and education

Dan Haerle attended Quincy High School. In 1953 he moved with his family to New York where he attended Flushing High School and graduated from Hicksville High School in 1955. In 1957 he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he attended Coe College and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1961. Haerle earned a Master of Music in Composition from North Texas State University in 1966.

Career

Haerle began teaching in 1961 at Tri-County Community Schools in What Cheer, Iowa, where he was the Instrumental music director for elementary, junior high and high school.
In 1963 to 1966, as a graduate student at North Texas State University, Dan was one of three teaching assistants to Leon Breeden, director of the jazz studies program.
In 1966, he became an Assistant Professor of Music at Kansas State University, where he taught freshman and sophomore theory.
In 1968, Haerle moved to Monterey Peninsula College, where he was an Instructor of Music, teaching class piano, music theory, jazz history, jazz improvisation, and directing jazz ensembles
In 1971, he taught at the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida as an Assistant Professor of Music, teaching classical theory, jazz piano, jazz improvisation, jazz history, jazz arranging and also directed jazz ensembles
In 1973, Haerle returned to New York City to be a freelance professional.
In 1975, Haerle became an Associate Professor of Music and co-director of the Jazz Studies degree program. at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He taught jazz piano, jazz improvisation, jazz history, jazz styles and directed jazz ensembles
In 1977, he moved to the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas as a Professor of Music. He was appointed Regents Professor in 1992. While there he organized the Dan Haerle Quartet, including recent graduates of the University music program.
Haerle wrote a number of instructional books about jazz performance, as well as a series of jazz/rock charts.
In 2002 Haerle retired from full-time teaching, but continued to teach private jazz piano lessons and the online jazz theory course
In 2007- he was named UNT Professor Emeritus and became a member of the adjunct teaching faculty.
As of 2015, Haerle continues to perform with his trio and quartet and offers online instruction to students around the world.

Honors