Dr. Dean Musson

[xmenjeffb]

For those who are new and aren't aware of his two years as corps director and five years as brass caption head, would someone in the Crossmen family please inform us all of all he did and what he was like? Thank you.

He only marched part of one season with 1984 Florida Wave .Came in mid season and played lead Soprano .But that short time was enough for me to know that I was looking at a wonderful diamond in the rough .He has a wonderful sense of humor and a hunger for knowledge.I was smart enough or lucky enough to hire him to teach Wave in 1985 .I made him do both Brass and Visual to start , telling him if he planned on staying around a while, He needed to understand both sides .He wanted to teach Brass but he learned visual enough to understand how important it was to be able to move well to play well .That knowledge served him well .There he worked with and learned from Jerry Kelsey who arranged for Wave and Randy Isoda who had moved to south florida for a while in 1984 .

He rarely watched a show in the stadium besides Wave . He would spend the entire show watching warm ups in the lot .Picking up nuggets of information he could weave into his system of teaching .He worked with Don Hill at 2 high schools in south florida picking his brain for all he could get . He loved sitting and watching Wayne, Gino ,Jack warm up BD .Robert Smith and Frank Williams with Suncoast Sound . Watching Van Matthews warm up Madison Scouts and sharing brass chat over a cold one or 2 after shows .Sharing ideas with Doug Thrower And Dave Tippet Whereever they were teaching. After years of instructing Wave he decided he was ready to go back to college .This time he was on a mission . He graduated from Stetson University , Where Bobby Adams helped him into University of Kansas.At UK he went on to get his masters and Doctor degrees in music . While at Stetson He was teaching the Colts . Building that Line With Chuck Naffier , Brett Hall and others into a DCI finalist Brass line .While at KU he also Taught The Glassmen where he was happy to get a chance to work with Frank Williams .

His sense of humor and love for Hawaiian Print shirts are fondly remembered by all that he taught and worked with .He loved playing trumpet . He played for Busch Brass in tampa , Several Salsa Bands in Miami while teaching Wave . He played in numerous Jazz, Combos , Symphonic and Wind Ensembles while attending College . While at Busch Gardens he developed a love for Crossword Puzzles said he needed something to do on the long breaks and this kept him thinking .

I am sorry if I left anyone out . So many influenced his teaching from the drum corps ranks .From the Judging world he had great respect and learned from many .Some that stand out ...Don Hill , Jeff Mitchell, Ken Turner , Dave Richards , Andy Poor , Rich Saucedo , Billy Doyle and many others.

Who was he . He was my friend and peer for 27 years .We pounded many roads in many tour moods of transportation .He loved life and people . The very best people person I ever had the pleasure to work with .A gift he always said was learned from his father ,who was Mayor Of New Symrna Beach Florida for many years .Once you met Dean you just looked forward to seeing him again . .Dean liked his shirts and his hornlines LOUD. But his greateast gift was his ability to teach and motivate young people .Kids loved being in his lines , loved being around Dean and yes most even loved all his jokes .HE would say up late at night repairing horns or doing a " mouth piece boil"so they were clean and ready for the next day .

He was incredible to work with as an instructor . Always with a joke or great insight or both .He understand scheduling and time .He respected other staff and worked close with all to insure the best production during the day .He would make sure the van was full of gas , always had the cooler well stocked . He respected every driver , cook and volunteer .He knew that His day was only as good as the people around him so, he went out of his way to make everyone's day was great !He drove the truck or the van or a bus if needed . He did what ever was needed to make life better for all he taught and worked with .

The last Corps we did together was the Crossmen . I was hired as director in 2000 by George Hopkins .I once agained turned to Dean Musson .Very simple question ...Hey Buddy ..Up for one more ride , one more journey in drum corps .Simple answer ...Yes ! He brings in Evan Rogovin , Mick Chez , Al Chez , Joe Exley to help him teach . Teams up with Chuck Naffier and his arrangements .Bam!! Crossmen have a brass line and the rest is a wonderful history .

He is survived by His 2 Sisters Nan and Jill and His Brother Neal Musson who played contra at the Colts .His life is survived by all that he worked with and taught. That legacy will last for many years to come .He is my friend forever and he will be truly missed . But , He was a giver and that is what all that he tought and touched will do in his honor .For every person we touch gets a little piece of my wonderful friend Dean Musson .

[arrangerx]

He only marched part of one season with 1984 Florida Wave .Came in mid season and played lead Soprano .But that short time was enough for me to know that I was looking at a wonderful diamond in the rough .He has a wonderful sense of humor and a hunger for knowledge.I was smart enough or lucky enough to hire him to teach Wave in 1985 .I made him do both Brass and Visual to start , telling him if he planned on staying around a while, He needed to understand both sides .He wanted to teach Brass but he learned visual enough to understand how important it was to be able to move well to play well .That knowledge served him well .There he worked with and learned from Jerry Kelsey who arranged for Wave and Randy Isoda who had moved to south florida for a while in 1984 .

He rarely watched a show in the stadium besides Wave . He would spend the entire show watching warm ups in the lot .Picking up nuggets of information he could weave into his system of teaching .He worked with Don Hill at 2 high schools in south florida picking his brain for all he could get . He loved sitting and watching Wayne, Gino ,Jack warm up BD .Robert Smith and Frank Williams with Suncoast Sound . Watching Van Matthews warm up Madison Scouts and sharing brass chat over a cold one or 2 after shows .Sharing ideas with Doug Thrower And Dave Tippet Whereever they were teaching. After years of instructing Wave he decided he was ready to go back to college .This time he was on a mission . He graduated from Stetson University , Where Bobby Adams helped him into University of Kansas.At UK he went on to get his masters and Doctor degrees in music . While at Stetson He was teaching the Colts . Building that Line With Chuck Naffier , Brett Hall and others into a DCI finalist Brass line .While at KU he also Taught The Glassmen where he was happy to get a chance to work with Frank Williams .

His sense of humor and love for Hawaiian Print shirts are fondly remembered by all that he taught and worked with .He loved playing trumpet . He played for Busch Brass in tampa , Several Salsa Bands in Miami while teaching Wave . He played in numerous Jazz, Combos , Symphonic and Wind Ensembles while attending College . While at Busch Gardens he developed a love for Crossword Puzzles said he needed something to do on the long breaks and this kept him thinking .

I am sorry if I left anyone out . So many influenced his teaching from the drum corps ranks .From the Judging world he had great respect and learned from many .Some that stand out ...Don Hill , Jeff Mitchell, Ken Turner , Dave Richards , Andy Poor , Rich Saucedo , Billy Doyle and many others.

Who was he . He was my friend and peer for 27 years .We pounded many roads in many tour moods of transportation .He loved life and people . The very best people person I ever had the pleasure to work with .A gift he always said was learned from his father ,who was Mayor Of New Symrna Beach Florida for many years .Once you met Dean you just looked forward to seeing him again . .Dean liked his shirts and his hornlines LOUD. But his greateast gift was his ability to teach and motivate young people .Kids loved being in his lines , loved being around Dean and yes most even loved all his jokes .HE would say up late at night repairing horns or doing a " mouth piece boil"so they were clean and ready for the next day .

He was incredible to work with as an instructor . Always with a joke or great insight or both .He understand scheduling and time .He respected other staff and worked close with all to insure the best production during the day .He would make sure the van was full of gas , always had the cooler well stocked . He respected every driver , cook and volunteer .He knew that His day was only as good as the people around him so, he went out of his way to make everyone's day was great !He drove the truck or the van or a bus if needed . He did what ever was needed to make life better for all he taught and worked with .

The last Corps we did together was the Crossmen . I was hired as director in 2000 by George Hopkins .I once agained turned to Dean Musson .Very simple question ...Hey Buddy ..Up for one more ride , one more journey in drum corps .Simple answer ...Yes ! He brings in Evan Rogovin , Mick Chez , Al Chez , Joe Exley to help him teach . Teams up with Chuck Naffier and his arrangements .Bam!! Crossmen have a brass line and the rest is a wonderful history .

He is survived by His 2 Sisters Nan and Jill and His Brother Neal Musson who played contra at the Colts .His life is survived by all that he worked with and taught. That legacy will last for many years to come .He is my friend forever and he will be truly missed . But , He was a giver and that is what all that he tought and touched will do in his honor .For every person we touch gets a little piece of my wonderful friend Dean Musson .

Perfect!

[notelvis]

What Jeff has said is perfect and many outstanding memories have been shared here and elsewhere already. That said, I would like to add this note from the perspective of a volunteer bus driver who had the pleasure of doing 10-12 tours with Dean between 1986 and 1999.

Dean Musson was an absolute delight to be around. Dean personified 'grace under pressure'. He was a calming influence when things were going badly and a comedian when things were going well. He was willing to do anything neccessary to keep the operation moving in a pinch. That includes driving buses and equipment trucks, shopping for groceries at 3:00am, cooking, changing a tire on the side of the road, putting out fires literally and figuratively. I mean ANYTHING.

More important though, as Jeff alludes, was Dean's unique gift of working with people. Dean could make EVERYONE from the gifted show designers and arrangers to the 15-year old rookie playing 3rd soprano with all of the veteran members, cooks, souvie folks, truck, and bus drivers in between feel like their contribution was valued and vital to the ultimate success of the organization. Dean loved drum corps. Dean loved drum corps people and it was genuinely important to him that everyone involved in any facet of the corps operation take something positive from the experience.

I'm better for having played drum corps with Dean and I'm going to miss seeing him at all of those great reunions yet to come.

[Joe Salvatore]

... Dean Musson was an absolute delight to be around. Dean personified 'grace under pressure'. He was a calming influence when things were going badly and a comedian when things were going well. He was willing to do anything neccessary to keep the operation moving in a pinch. That includes driving buses and equipment trucks, shopping for groceries at 3:00am, cooking, changing a tire on the side of the road, putting out fires literally and figuratively. I mean ANYTHING.

More important though, as Jeff alludes, was Dean's unique gift of working with people. Dean could make EVERYONE from the gifted show designers and arrangers to the 15-year old rookie playing 3rd soprano with all of the veteran members, cooks, souvie folks, truck, and bus drivers in between feel like their contribution was valued and vital to the ultimate success of the organization. Dean loved drum corps. Dean loved drum corps people and it was genuinely important to him that everyone involved in any facet of the corps operation take something positive from the experience.

Yes, Dean will be missed. He and I really enjoyed helping the corps, staff, and all involved get through each day and each event with a smile.

I first met Dean in 1986 when I joined Florida Wave after spending my first two summers with the Velvet Knights.

He and I hit it off immediately and always enjoyed playfully getting under Jeff's skin (like the post DCI North Toga party on Zoo Bus). :rolleyes:

I really enjoyed how Dean worked with the corps and cannot believe he is no longer with us... peace be with you and your friends and family, Dean!!!!