ScottysMusicSchool.com
About
Scotty's been teaching music in the mid cape area for 35 years ... first as head of music education at Charlie’s Music Store in Hyannis from 1986 until 2005 and then in our fantastic school space here in Sandwich. His unique “music as LANGUAGE” approach to music education has helped literally THOUSANDS of students achieve their musical goals. So many of the areas respected artists have studied with Scotty at one time or another and many have gone on to become regional, national and even internationally recognized musicians and educators.
Learn to play the smart, fun, modern way with The Cape’s longest running and most respected private music lesson program celebrating 35 years and THOUSANDS of happy students. Get “The BIG Picture” quick, fun and easy. Find out how music REALLY works so you can actually THINK on your instrument. Become the player you always wanted to be and do truly fun and creative things with your music. Improve reading and performance skills, play by ear, write songs, jam like the pros.
Scotty holds a BFA from The University of Hartford (CT) where he studied at the famous Hartt School of Music. He has also studied privately with Dan May, Richard Brookens, Dave Tegellar and the late, great Dick Wetmore ... renowned jazz violinist, composer and arranger.
Scotty's lively and engaging teaching style makes learning fun and his knowledge of music theory and history helps students put their personal aspirations and careers into perspective.
Music has been so good to me. So many of the good times I've had and the friends I've made has come through music. I love to see my students progress so that they may also share in the joy of music.
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Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We tailor individual lesson plans addressing the students specific needs.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
BFA University of Hartford (CT) Hartt School of Music. Private lessons with Dick Wetmore, Dan May, Richard Brookens, Dave Tegellar and others.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Half hour=$25
45 minutes=$35
Full hour=$45
How did you get started teaching?
"I never really set out to be a music teacher. My mother, a symphony violinist, started me with piano lessons when I was 6 years old. I began to learn guitar in 1964 when I was 10. The Beatles had just arrived in America and I just had to play the guitar. From the beginning, I was the kid who had to KNOW. My piano lessons had shown me that there was a SYSTEM to the way music worked and I could see that I would need to understand that system. I wanted to be able to write my own songs ... play by ear ... jam and improvise like the Beatles ... but neither my private teachers or the public school music programs taught that stuff.
In 1977 I began taking lessons with pianist/violinist Dan May. Dan was one of those true musical prodigies you hear about ... played the piano before he could walk ... masters degree in music composition at age 22 ... totally knowledgeable about music and good at explaining it clearly and logically. Dan understood music inside out. He knew the answers to all the questions that I had been asking. I would slap myself on the forehead and ask "Why didn't my other music teachers show me this stuff when I was a kid?" Dan showed me that understanding and playing music is easy if you can find someone to explain it to you the right way.
I also began to see that there are problems with the way music is traditionally taught. You're given the information in the WRONG ORDER so you're left with a fragmented vision of music. You can never see how all the pieces fit together. Now, with Dan's help, all of music began to make sense. I could finally see how the whole thing works! My own writing and playing exploded. I could finally write and solo the way I had always wanted. I went on to earn a BFA from the University of Hartford, Connecticut where I studied at the famous Hartt School of Music.
One day, a friend's son asked me to give him some lessons. I found that I enjoyed teaching and was actually good at it. I know I wasn't the world's best music teacher at first, but from the beginning, I tried to figure out the CORRECT ORDER in which to express the concepts. I must have been doing something right. First I had 1 student ... then 5 ... then 10. Word was getting around. Finally I was totally swamped. I began teaching classes and workshops. That was 32 years ago and I think I have it down to a science.
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages ... all levels ... all styles.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
We have a 7 piece modern jazz band here at the school playing all-original compositions. We have recently begun working on some exciting new material.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
My whole way of thinking about music is to suggest that it is very much like a LANGUAGE. I believe it is the absolute best model in which to view the subject. You will be able to answer questions FOR YOURSELF where other folks won't even know how to ASK the question in the first place. I would suggest asking a prospective teacher what they thing about that concept and whether they teach from that perspective.