Faculty Profiles

Dr. Brady McNeil is the Coordinator of Music Education and Symphonic Band Conductor at Wheaton College for which his primary responsibilities include programming for and rehearsing the Wheaton College Symphonic Band; teaching music education courses; and advising, coordinating, and supervising music education students through courses and practicum placements. Dr. McNeil also directs the Wheaton Pep Band

Dr. McNeil has taught choir, band, and musical theatre at the secondary and collegiate levels. Originally from Alabama, Dr. McNeil co-founded Alabama Voices in 2019, a statewide non-profit choral ensemble which offers practicing music educators a performance outlet and aims to cultivate an appreciation for the choral arts in Alabama.

Dr. McNeil is often sought-after as a clinician and presenter with peer-reviewed scholarship featured with the National Association for Music Education, Collegiate Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, the International Conference on Music Theory, and the Journal of Band Research.

PhD, Music Education
Auburn University, 2021

MM, Music Theory
University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, 2016 

BME, Instrumental and Vocal Music Education
Auburn University, 2014

Licenses and Certificates

Graduate Program Evaluation Certificate
State of Alabama Class B K-12 Teaching Licensure (lnstrumentalNocal)

McNeil, B. G. (2023). Aural skills pedagogy in the wind band: A survey of secondary and collegiate wind band conductors' perceptions and strategies. Journal of Band Research [future issue].

McNeil, B.G. (2021). Aural skills pedagogy in the wind band: A survey of secondary and collegiate wind band conductors' perceptions and strategies. [Doctoral dissertation, Auburn University]. https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/7610

McNeil, B.G. (2019). Finding Alabama's voice: The process of developing a statewide choral ensemble.
Ala Breve, May/June, 2019.

McNeil, B.G. (2016). The efficacy of discerning musical parts within the context ofan instrumental ensemble. (No. 3789). [Master's thesis, University of Tennessee].

Oral Presentations

McNeil, B.G. (2022, March). The Age of Influence: Tips for Using the Power of Social Media to Effectively Recruit and Advocate For Your Program. Clinic session presented at Collegiate Band Directors National Association Southwest Region Conference, Waco, TX

McNeil, B.G. (2020, May). Four Steps to Reducing Energy Consumption: Stimulating Change through Competition. Proposal presented to Auburn University Stakeholders, Auburn, AL

McNeil, B.G., Haynes, E.P., & Shive, A. (2020, January 16-18). Harmony through Collaboration: Cultivating Co-Curricular Culture in an Extracurricular Environment. Clinic session presented at Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, Montgomery, AL

Poster Presentations

McNeil, B.G. (2021, May 24-25). Aural Skills Pedagogy in the Wind Band: A Survey of Secondary and Collegiate Wind Band Conductors' Perceptions and Strategies. World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Poster session accepted for International Conference on Music Theory, Montreal, Canada.

McNeil, B.G. (2021, January 21-23). Aural Skills Pedagogy in the Wind Band. Alabama Music Educators Association Conference. Poster session presented at Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, Virtual.

McNeil, B.G. (2020, January 16-18). Raising Collegiate Instrumental Ensemble Performance Standards through the Individual Performer: A Literature Review. Alabama Music Educators Association Conference. Poster session presented at Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, Birmingham, AL.

McNeil, B.G. (2019, January 17-19) Giving Alabama a Voice: The Development Process of a Statewide Community Choir. Alabama Music Educators Association Conference. Poster session presented at Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, Birmingham, AL

Lectures

McNeil, B.G. (2021, April). Finishing the PhD: Setting deadlines and sticking to them. Lecture conducted from Auburn University, United States.

McNeil, B.G. (2021, March). Developing Alabama Voices. Lecture conducted from Auburn University, United States.

McNeil, B.G. (2021, March). Ethnographic approach to qualitative inquiry. Lecture conducted from Auburn University, United States.

McNeil, B.G. (2020, September). So you want to go to grad school? Lecture conducted from University of Lynchburg, United States.

McNeil, B.G. (2019, September). Utilization-focused evaluation. Lecture conducted from Auburn University, United States.

McNeil, B.G. (2014, November) Olivier Messiaen: The technique of my musical language. Lecture conducted from the University of Tennessee, United States.

Panel Discussions

First Generation Panel. (2021, November). McMurry University.

• Aural skills pedagogy
  - Music theory/aural skills pedagogy for special needs
• Equity of access to advanced music education for all
  - Emphasis on collegiate non-majors
• Gatekeeper courses in music
• Personality theory in music
• Social identity salience/musical self-concept in music/theory
• Error detection pedagogy
• Cognition and audiation
• Theoretical analysis of underrepresented composers and cultures

• National Association for Music Educators
• College Band Directors National Association
• College Music Society
• Texas Music Educators Association
• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
• Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Fraternity
• Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

• McMurry University Student Organization Advisor of the Year Nominee, Spring 2022
• Phi Mu Alpha Honorary Membership, Spring 2021
• Auburn University Outstanding Graduate Student Nominee, Spring 2021