Alan Black is the Associate Director of Bands at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and directs the jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, athletic bands, and steel drum bands at MSU. He has been on the MSU faculty for 26 years. Along with his directing responsibilities, he also teaches music education courses and a very popular music appreciation class about the history of jazz and rock music in America.

He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and a master’s degree in music education from Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.

He is presently the principal percussionist/timpanist of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra and plays drums with the Ken Nelson Big Band and Ken Nelson Quartet, as well as playing keyboards in a soul/funk band called The Black & White Band.

He has performed professionally with Marvin Hamlisch, The Gatlin Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, The Kingston Trio, The Association, and Marvin Stamm.