Andy Scott has earned a reputation as a gifted educator, inspiring musicians young and old, musically experienced & less experienced, to open their ears and minds and absorb different styles of, and approaches to music. From learning about and discovering music itself, Andy then offers ideas regarding approaches to practise, practise structure and management and performance. With a lifelong passion for music and equally committed to composition, performance and education, Andy’s work as a teacher is influenced and enhanced by his wide-ranging music activities.
As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging musical skills and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles. He is a skilled educator, whether tutoring the musicians of the future, leading jazz workshops based on his own compositions or working with young people on a summer school.
As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging musical skills and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles. He is a skilled educator, whether tutoring the musicians of the future, leading jazz workshops based on his own compositions or working with young people on a summer school.
“Andy Scott is a consummate musician. He knows about a wide variety of music, can write and play in these styles with great expertise, and is a dynamic teacher in these areas as well.” – Bob Mintzer
Educator biography
Andy Scott has earned a reputation as a gifted educator, inspiring musicians young and old, musically experienced & less experienced, to open their ears and minds and absorb different styles of, and approaches to music. From learning about and discovering music itself, Andy then offers ideas regarding approaches to practise, practise structure and management and performance. With a lifelong passion for music and equally committed to composition, performance and education, Andy’s work as a teacher is influenced and enhanced by his wide-ranging music activities.
As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging musical skills and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles. He is a skilled educator, whether tutoring the musicians of the future, leading jazz workshops based on his own compositions or working with young people on a summer school.
As Tutor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music for sixteen years, Andy has worked with Rob Buckland to develop one of the finest centres for saxophone study in Europe, producing world class graduates and ensembles. His work at the RNCM encompasses individual tuition in Tenor Saxophone, coaching quartets and presenting saxophone classes. Under the umbrella of the RNCM, Andy and Rob also initiated and are co-artistic directors of the highly successful annual Saxophone Day, established in 2000 and now the leading annual event of its kind in the UK.
Andy has also taught saxophone at a number of top UK universities including Manchester, Salford and Huddersfield, as well as giving masterclasses and workshops worldwide, at leading conservatoires such as Berlin Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, in Singapore and Thailand, and throughout Japan.
Andy Scott is a popular course leader, constantly in demand to deliver workshops and teach on summer schools across the UK and internationally. His own Saxophone Course at Creative Vacances in France offers the perfect opportunity to combine small group saxophone ensemble playing with a relaxing holiday. Andy has used his experience as a composer and performer with his large ensemble Sax Assault to develop a unique workshop, enabling participants to play the group’s charts and providing the chance to work with rhythm section and gain improvisation skills. Andy also offers saxophone and flute days and saxophone and percussion workshops through the ensemble Caliente and duo with Dave Hassell.
Andy has contributed to the instrumental grade examination system through compositions on the syllabi for both ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall. Published by Astute Music, Andy is an endorsee of Henri Selmer Saxophones & Vandoren, who regularly support his Saxophone Days. He was also the recipient of a teaching award from the RNCM to develop the Tenor Saxophone Index, the online tenor saxophone repertoire and resource database.
As versatile an educator as he is a performer and composer, Andy’s wide ranging musical skills and experience enable him to teach across classical, jazz and contemporary styles. He is a skilled educator, whether tutoring the musicians of the future, leading jazz workshops based on his own compositions or working with young people on a summer school.
As Tutor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music for sixteen years, Andy has worked with Rob Buckland to develop one of the finest centres for saxophone study in Europe, producing world class graduates and ensembles. His work at the RNCM encompasses individual tuition in Tenor Saxophone, coaching quartets and presenting saxophone classes. Under the umbrella of the RNCM, Andy and Rob also initiated and are co-artistic directors of the highly successful annual Saxophone Day, established in 2000 and now the leading annual event of its kind in the UK.
Andy has also taught saxophone at a number of top UK universities including Manchester, Salford and Huddersfield, as well as giving masterclasses and workshops worldwide, at leading conservatoires such as Berlin Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, in Singapore and Thailand, and throughout Japan.
Andy Scott is a popular course leader, constantly in demand to deliver workshops and teach on summer schools across the UK and internationally. His own Saxophone Course at Creative Vacances in France offers the perfect opportunity to combine small group saxophone ensemble playing with a relaxing holiday. Andy has used his experience as a composer and performer with his large ensemble Sax Assault to develop a unique workshop, enabling participants to play the group’s charts and providing the chance to work with rhythm section and gain improvisation skills. Andy also offers saxophone and flute days and saxophone and percussion workshops through the ensemble Caliente and duo with Dave Hassell.
Andy has contributed to the instrumental grade examination system through compositions on the syllabi for both ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall. Published by Astute Music, Andy is an endorsee of Henri Selmer Saxophones & Vandoren, who regularly support his Saxophone Days. He was also the recipient of a teaching award from the RNCM to develop the Tenor Saxophone Index, the online tenor saxophone repertoire and resource database.
As part of his broader Education work, Andy Scott is often commissioned to compose new works for big band, wind orchestra, small ensembles and solo instruments. These pieces are published by Astute Music, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and Trinity Guildhall. Andy has also contributed to the Apollo Saxophone Quartet Series of educational pieces for saxophone solos, saxophone duets, saxophone and piano, and saxophone quartets, all published by Astute Music.
Click to visit the Astute Music website.
Click to visit the ABRSM website or Trinity Guildhall website.
Click for information about how to commission a piece.
Click to visit the Astute Music website.
Click to visit the ABRSM website or Trinity Guildhall website.
Click for information about how to commission a piece.
Andy has a very special connection with the Royal Northern College of Music; studying there from 1985-1989, being commissioned to write for RNCM Ensembles & give visiting masterclasses and tuition with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet in the 1990's, to being appointed Tutor of Saxophone in 1999, creating the annual RNCM Saxophone Day (with co-Artistic Director Rob Buckland) in 2000, and more recently being invited to be Tutor of Composition, in addition to instigating and directing a Freelance Musician postgraduate student module from 2014.
However, during his time teaching at the RNCM Andy has only ever worked a maximum of one day a week, thus allowing time to undertake commissions, practice and performances. In 2008 Andy reduced his one-to-one saxophone teaching further, nowadays giving two lessons a year to all saxophone students, in addition to coaching sax quartets, and sometimes directing the RNCM Saxophone Orchestra.
Andy writes; "I am extremely proud and privileged to be a part of the team at the RNCM, a team that is bursting with creativity, with a hugely talented student group that give the building a great energy! It means a lot to me as I am a graduate of the college, had some great years as a student, and am now in a position to be able to offer musical ideas and thoughts to the next generation of musicians.
As we evolve as people and musicians, we have to make changes, and I found myself teaching soprano and alto saxophone repertoire to RNCM students when I was rarely performing this repertoire myself. With the support of my friend and colleague Rob Buckland (in 1985 we were two eager 1st year RNCM sax students, and Rob now heads the saxophone department at the RNCM) I reach a position where I feel that the roles that I undertake at the college both reflect my professional musical life, and are highly relevant to RNCM students.
It's great fun directing the Freelance Musician module with 30 postgraduate students. Four workshops each Autumn Term with special guests give the students an opportunity to work with highly creative and open-minded musicians, whilst having time to carefully consider what their 'creative project' might comprise. Each May the students sumbit a three-minute promotional video that sells their particular project, on which they are assessed with an accompanying interview. This is real world stuff, and last year graduating students received commissions and concert bookings as a result of emailing their promo video to a promoter!
RNCM Head of Composition Adam Gorb has invited me to give presentations to the college composition students. In recent years the RNCM has launched a Popular Music Course and we find ourselves in a world where musical boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, which I believe is great, especially as it is evolving naturally with young musicians today, as opposed to a 1980's 'classical composer tries to write something jazzy'.... wrong for many reasons. A versatile 21st century musician in my eyes should have an appreciation, understanding and respect for many musical styles, performers and composers alike.
Regarding the RNCM Saxophone Department, I truly believe that Rob has developed this into something special over the last 18 years or so. From 1999 to 2008 we undertook all the saxophone teaching between us, started the RNCM Saxophone Day, and just made projects happen! The RNCM Saxophone Orchestra has given world premieres of new works, the benefits both quantifiable and hidden that the Saxophone Day brings the college and the students is great to witness, as is the evolution of the department with Carl Raven joining the team, working alongside visiting Tutors of Saxophone Julian Arguelles & Vincent David, and with Rob and Coordinator of Jazz Studies (and Tutor of Jazz Saxophone) Mike Hall.
The Royal Northern College of Music gives music students four years of wonderful opportunities, not only a music conservatoire with fantastic facilities and a great staff team, but a leading UK arts venue, with students rubbing shoulders with professional musicians on a daily basis. On a personal level, thirty one years after stepping through the front door of the RNCM, I am delighted to be a part of such a vibrant and exciting creative hub, and I love following the varied and colourful careers of RNCM saxophone graduates!"
For further information about courses available please visit the Royal Northern College of Music website.
However, during his time teaching at the RNCM Andy has only ever worked a maximum of one day a week, thus allowing time to undertake commissions, practice and performances. In 2008 Andy reduced his one-to-one saxophone teaching further, nowadays giving two lessons a year to all saxophone students, in addition to coaching sax quartets, and sometimes directing the RNCM Saxophone Orchestra.
Andy writes; "I am extremely proud and privileged to be a part of the team at the RNCM, a team that is bursting with creativity, with a hugely talented student group that give the building a great energy! It means a lot to me as I am a graduate of the college, had some great years as a student, and am now in a position to be able to offer musical ideas and thoughts to the next generation of musicians.
As we evolve as people and musicians, we have to make changes, and I found myself teaching soprano and alto saxophone repertoire to RNCM students when I was rarely performing this repertoire myself. With the support of my friend and colleague Rob Buckland (in 1985 we were two eager 1st year RNCM sax students, and Rob now heads the saxophone department at the RNCM) I reach a position where I feel that the roles that I undertake at the college both reflect my professional musical life, and are highly relevant to RNCM students.
It's great fun directing the Freelance Musician module with 30 postgraduate students. Four workshops each Autumn Term with special guests give the students an opportunity to work with highly creative and open-minded musicians, whilst having time to carefully consider what their 'creative project' might comprise. Each May the students sumbit a three-minute promotional video that sells their particular project, on which they are assessed with an accompanying interview. This is real world stuff, and last year graduating students received commissions and concert bookings as a result of emailing their promo video to a promoter!
RNCM Head of Composition Adam Gorb has invited me to give presentations to the college composition students. In recent years the RNCM has launched a Popular Music Course and we find ourselves in a world where musical boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, which I believe is great, especially as it is evolving naturally with young musicians today, as opposed to a 1980's 'classical composer tries to write something jazzy'.... wrong for many reasons. A versatile 21st century musician in my eyes should have an appreciation, understanding and respect for many musical styles, performers and composers alike.
Regarding the RNCM Saxophone Department, I truly believe that Rob has developed this into something special over the last 18 years or so. From 1999 to 2008 we undertook all the saxophone teaching between us, started the RNCM Saxophone Day, and just made projects happen! The RNCM Saxophone Orchestra has given world premieres of new works, the benefits both quantifiable and hidden that the Saxophone Day brings the college and the students is great to witness, as is the evolution of the department with Carl Raven joining the team, working alongside visiting Tutors of Saxophone Julian Arguelles & Vincent David, and with Rob and Coordinator of Jazz Studies (and Tutor of Jazz Saxophone) Mike Hall.
The Royal Northern College of Music gives music students four years of wonderful opportunities, not only a music conservatoire with fantastic facilities and a great staff team, but a leading UK arts venue, with students rubbing shoulders with professional musicians on a daily basis. On a personal level, thirty one years after stepping through the front door of the RNCM, I am delighted to be a part of such a vibrant and exciting creative hub, and I love following the varied and colourful careers of RNCM saxophone graduates!"
For further information about courses available please visit the Royal Northern College of Music website.
Under the umbrella of RNCM, Andy and Rob Buckland initiated and are co-artistic directors of the highly successful annual Sax Day, established in 2000 and now the leading annual event of its kind in the UK.
The annual RNCM Saxophone Day takes place in November, featuring a wide range of concerts, workshops, masterclasses, talks and the now traditional massed saxophones session.
Guest artists have included; Claude Delangle, Vincent David, Arno Bornkamp, Johan van der Linden, Chris Potter, Iain Ballamy, John Helliwell, Bob Mintzer & many more!
Please see the Events section of this website for details of this year's RNCM Saxophone Day.
For further information and booking please visit the Royal Northern College of Music website.
The annual RNCM Saxophone Day takes place in November, featuring a wide range of concerts, workshops, masterclasses, talks and the now traditional massed saxophones session.
Guest artists have included; Claude Delangle, Vincent David, Arno Bornkamp, Johan van der Linden, Chris Potter, Iain Ballamy, John Helliwell, Bob Mintzer & many more!
Please see the Events section of this website for details of this year's RNCM Saxophone Day.
For further information and booking please visit the Royal Northern College of Music website.
Andy Scott leads the Creative Vacence saxophone ensemble course at La Moreau in South West France each May. This annual one week course offers the opportunity to combine top quality saxophone coaching in small groups with some of the best of French food and drink – the perfect holiday experience for the saxophone enthusiast.
The course is designed for beginners to more advanced players who wish to improve their ensemble playing in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. During the week Andy runs sessions on improvising and transcribing, composing and arranging music for the saxophone. Participants play in duos, quartets and a larger saxophone ensemble, and have the opportunity to join in an evening jam session, whilst each player benefits from an individual lesson with Andy.
For further details and booking, please visit the Creative Vacances website.
The course is designed for beginners to more advanced players who wish to improve their ensemble playing in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. During the week Andy runs sessions on improvising and transcribing, composing and arranging music for the saxophone. Participants play in duos, quartets and a larger saxophone ensemble, and have the opportunity to join in an evening jam session, whilst each player benefits from an individual lesson with Andy.
For further details and booking, please visit the Creative Vacances website.
“Thank you Andy for such an instructive week, I have really enjoyed spending the week at La Moreau.” – Course participant
“Andy was fantastic, I learnt such a lot and I really enjoyed being and playing with other saxophonists.” – Course participant
|
|
Andy Scott offers a unique flexible residency package for university music departments and conservatoires, offering institutions the opportunity to create a tailor made programme for their students by selecting from a menu of creative music activities. This residency package features masterclasses and workshops with a focus on ensembles and Andy’s compositions, often using resources from Astute Music, Andy's publisher.
With an unusual breadth of creative activities and influences across different genres of music, Andy Scott is able to provide a valuable insight into life as a contemporary musician. These residencies offer the opportunity for students to engage with different styles of music and activities to assist them in their future career in music. Andy Scott has recently undertaken residencies in Australia, Hong Kong and the USA.
If you are interested in a flexible residency for your university music department or conservatoire, please send a message to discuss your requirements using the Contact form on this website, and we will send you an information pack with further details of the creative music activities available.
With an unusual breadth of creative activities and influences across different genres of music, Andy Scott is able to provide a valuable insight into life as a contemporary musician. These residencies offer the opportunity for students to engage with different styles of music and activities to assist them in their future career in music. Andy Scott has recently undertaken residencies in Australia, Hong Kong and the USA.
If you are interested in a flexible residency for your university music department or conservatoire, please send a message to discuss your requirements using the Contact form on this website, and we will send you an information pack with further details of the creative music activities available.
Andy Scott can provide tailor made practical workshops and saxophone days for a wide range of participant groups, ranging from sessions for young people and amateur players to intensive workshops for music students and professional musicians.
Andy’s SaxAssault workshops based on his original compositions for saxophone ensemble and rhythm section provide experience in ensemble playing with optional opportunities for improvisation. These are equally suited to beginners and advanced improvisers, and have proved very popular with people of all ages and a wide range of playing ability.
Workshops for other instruments and combinations of instruments are available, including the Caliente workshop for flute, saxophone and harp (or any two of the three), the Hassell-Scott workshop for saxophone and percussion, the Access All Areas jazz workshop for any mix of instruments in C, Bb and Eb, and the Apollo workshop, a specialist saxophone quartet session.
Please click for details of how to book a workshop.
Andy’s SaxAssault workshops based on his original compositions for saxophone ensemble and rhythm section provide experience in ensemble playing with optional opportunities for improvisation. These are equally suited to beginners and advanced improvisers, and have proved very popular with people of all ages and a wide range of playing ability.
Workshops for other instruments and combinations of instruments are available, including the Caliente workshop for flute, saxophone and harp (or any two of the three), the Hassell-Scott workshop for saxophone and percussion, the Access All Areas jazz workshop for any mix of instruments in C, Bb and Eb, and the Apollo workshop, a specialist saxophone quartet session.
Please click for details of how to book a workshop.