A musician’s life is known to be unpredictable, as the universal force of music penetrates everywhere, and people are carried each by their own ever changing tune. Daniel Tumolo, music teacher, is now heading towards the finale of his tune at North Penn, and will soon be beginning his next piece.

Tumolo has taught at North Penn for 26 years. Yet his teaching career had humble beginnings.

“My wife was working, and I stayed home with our first child, and she signed me up for this program, which was mainly moms and their kids, a music and movement thing. The woman who ran it was looking for more teachers to expand. She asked me, I did the requirements, and then I was also accompanying kids at a preschool. So I was doing music like every day, kind of informal teaching. Then I decided, with a little prodding from my wife, to go back and get certified to teach full time,” Tumolo said.

Originally, Tumolo obtained a degree in Jazz and Commercial Arranging and Composition.

“I did so many things as a freelance musician. I still do weddings and other music related things, like composing music,” Tumolo said.

He typically plays keyboard, but also plays guitar and bass, and also sings.

Teaching Music Theory, Music Production, Music Technology, and Comprehensive Music Technology, Tumolo uses his real-world experience to inspire students, and to show them that music is for everyone, from those interested in technology, to theory, or to testing their own skills.

“Music, the program has grown and is really strong, but it was always strong. It continues to be strong and I guess just adapt to the times,” Tumolo said.

When he had first arrived, the audio engineering/production aspects were combined with the Music Technology courses. Music Technology centers around creating music with Midi keyboards.

“It’s more like creating music and playing piano and that type of thing in music tech, and then music production is more about the recording side, producing side,” Tumolo said.

By creating a new class that is more focused on technology, and less on piano and previous musical skills, Tumolo opened up more musical avenues for students.

Looking ahead, he realizes things will likely change.

“Whoever takes over very well might change things, because my stuff has evolved, but has been evolving a long time,” Tumolo said.

Outside of class, Tumolo has been fostering Tri-M Music Honor Society, something else which he hopes will grow and evolve.

“This is our second year. We actually did our first event this year. They’ve been wanting to do a talent show, or a Battle of the Bands rather… This year we merged with NHS and it was fun, we got kids to present their talent. Hopefully that will just continue to grow,” Tumolo said.

Besides advising Tri-M, Tumolo has been involved with Jazz Bands, and Pit for theatre at both the high school and middle school levels.

One of the things Tumolo appreciates most about his career has been the time spent with students in his major courses.

“I really enjoy seeing students every day. So between [Music Theory] and my CMT class, they’re kind of my favorites, even though I like the other classes, because I get to know the kids better by being with them day to day, and CMT is very satisfying too,” Tumolo said.

Despite saying farewell to students and fellow staff, Tumolo’s life simply has a new tune.

“I don’t have specific plans; I’ll continue to do weddings, I’ll continue to make music and record and compose and all that stuff, and hopefully travel. There’s a lot of stuff that I want to do to the house, I can’t do major stuff, but there’s a lot of maintenance stuff,” Tumolo said, looking ahead.

While he may be leaving North Penn, retirement is no decrescendo for Tumolo.