Band Directors
Mrs. Jessica Palmer Hood
Director of Bands
High School
Jessica Palmer Hood is the Director of Bands at Muscle Shoals HIgh School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama for her undergraduate degree and the University of North Alabama for her master’s degree. Jessica has been a performing member with the Alabama Winds since 2017 in the clarinet section. She is an active judge, clinician, and conductor; other professional affiliations include ASBDA, NAfME, AMEA, ABA, and WBDI. Jessica resides in the Shoals with her husband Griffin Hood and daughter Cora.
Mr. Daniel Seay
Director of Bands
Middle School
Mr. Daniel Seay has been the band director at Muscle Shoals Middle School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama since 2018. Prior to his current position Mr. Seay served as the band director at L.F Addington Middle School and J.J. Kelly High School in Wise, VA from 2004-2006. He was also the band director at Brooks High School in Killen, AL from 2006-2018. Mr. Seay graduated from Brooks High School in 1999. He received the Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree in 2004 from The University of Alabama. While in Tuscaloosa, he was a 5 year member and trumpet section leader of the “Million Dollar Band” as well as a 4 year member of the “Alabama Wind Ensemble”. He completed his Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from The University of North Alabama in 2017. While at UNA, he was a member of the “Studio Jazz Band.” He served as the Alabama Bandmasters Association District 3 Vice - Chairman from 2017-2019 and as Chairman from 2019-2021. He also served as the Chairman of the Shoals Area Band Directors Association from 2011-2012. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Phi Kappa Phi, American School Band Directors Association and Pi Kappa Lamda (Theta Theta Chapter). Mr. Seay has twice received the National Band Association “Citation of Excellence”; First in December of 2018 and also in January of 2023. He was also recognized by the University of North Alabama as a “2020 Distinguished Teacher Mentor'' in Secondary Education. He is the Muscle Shoals Middle School “Teacher of the Year” for 2023-2024. The Muscle Shoals Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Band had the honor and privilege of being selected to perform at the 2023 Alabama Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Seay’s bands have consistently received Superior Ratings at the Alabama State Music Assessment for the past 18 years, as well as having numerous All State and All District Honor Band participants. Mr. Seay is married to Dr. Amy Muse Seay, PhD, of Wilsonville, AL. The couple have four daughters: Caroline, Annalise, Elizabeth, and Emalia.
Dr. John Frederick
Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Director
Middle School and High School
Dr. John Frederick is the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director. Dr. Frederick has been an active teacher and performer since 2010 and was most recently a graduate teaching assistant at Texas Tech University, where he taught the drumline, percussion ensemble and helped coach both the symphonic band and wind ensembles.
Dr. Frederick holds a bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the University of North Alabama. While at UNA, Dr. Frederick was a member of the Marching Pride, a section leader and principal percussionist in the Wind Ensemble and Shoals Symphony, and received the “Performance Award” in 2016. He received a master's in Music Performance from Lee University, where he performed with artists such as Andy Harnsberger, Josh Knight, and Scott Herring. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree with an emphasis in Percussion Performance from Texas Tech University. While at Tech, Dr. Frederick performed and studied alongside many world-renowned musicians, such as Liam Teague, Michael Spiro, Michael Mixtacki, Andy Harnsberger, Lisa Rogers, the late Alan Shinn, Fabio Augustinis. He was the principal percussionist for the Wind Ensemble and an active musician with Lubbock Symphony. His affiliations include NAfME, AMEA, and PAS.
He currently resides in Florence, Alabama with his wife Natalie Frederick and son, John David.