Ian McDaniel

Ian McDaniel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas State University (2011–2015). Following graduation, he began his teaching career as Assistant Band Director at Gonzales ISD, serving from 2015 to 2018 before being promoted to Head Band Director, a position he held through 2022.

During his time in Gonzales, Ian developed a passion for visual design in the marching arts. He began writing drill for his own program as well as for fellow directors in competitive circuits, steadily refining a design approach rooted in musicality, clarity, and student-centered performance. While teaching full-time, he simultaneously pursued and completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration in 2022.

From 2022 to 2024, Ian served as Head Band Director at Cedar Creek Middle School in Bastrop ISD. There, he continued designing marching drill for both indoor percussion ensembles and full marching bands, further expanding his creative voice and technical expertise.

Through these experiences, Ian recognized that visual design was not simply a professional skill, but a true calling. That realization led to the founding of Swift Marching Productions — a venture dedicated to crafting engaging, effective, and musically driven drill design for programs of all levels.