Scott Newman
Scott Newman
I am a former music teacher with 24 years of classroom experience. I worked as a high school/middle school Band Director for my first 21 years and as an Elementary Music Teacher for my final 3 years.
As a Band Director, I worked with student musicians from their first year on their instruments through their high school graduation. My duties included Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Pit Orchestra, Music Theory, Music History, and Chamber Music instruction. I was also the moderator of an extra-curricular Ukulele Club. It was a blast!
In addition to teaching in public and private institutions, I also worked as a Private Instructor at the Sweetwater Academy of Music from 2009-2022. I taught guitar, bass, saxophone, ukulele and other wind instruments to students of all ages. In addition to teaching instrumental lessons at the Sweetwater Academy, I also coached in the Rock Camp and Build-A-Band programs.
I earned my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership in 2012. Between my experience in the classroom, and my training in school administration, I completely understand the procedures, difficulties and urgency that can all take place when music teachers, directors and educational institutions need to order equipment.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love fishing and tinkering with my kayak. On a clear night, I can often be found hanging out under the stars with a telescope.
As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, please let me know anytime I can offer help or advice.
(800) 222-4700 ext 3878
E-mail Scott-
Education/Certifications:
I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. I earned my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana University (Fort Wayne, IN campus).
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Why did you first apply for a job at Sweetwater?
Over the years, I learned that the people at Sweetwater are my kind of people! I have always enjoyed being here.
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Instruments you play:
My primary instruments are saxophone and guitar. I also play bass and ukulele. I love to dabble with instruments in general. I am currently starting my journey on banjo, tin whistle and wind synths. Maybe the theremin will be next!!
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Gear you own:
I am definitely a gear collector. I love my Yanagisawa and Yamaha saxophones. I own dozens and dozens of guitars and basses. I love my Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Taylor, Martin, Cordoba, and Ibanez guitars. I own a few keyboards too. I love tinkering with my home studio equipment.
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Family info:
My wife, Casey, and I got married in the year 2000. We have two children. Our daughter, Evelyn is a college student majoring in Digital Animation. She also plays the flute. Our son, Steven is a high school student with several interests. He is really into math and chemistry. He spends a lot of time playing his French horn, double bass, electric bass and piano.
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Other stuff we should know about you (hobbies, talents, interests, etc.):
When I'm not playing music, recording music in my project studio, or helping others achieve their musical goals, I love spending time with my family, fishing and relaxing under the stars with my telescopes. I will also admit that I'm an avid collector of Lego Star Wars sets.
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Real-life hero:
Brian Wilson, Per Gessle and Brian Setzer
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What did you dream about doing for a living when you were growing up?
When I was growing up, I was very interested in recording music. I thought about working in a recording studio a lot. I started college as a Music Engineering major. However, after teaching some of my peers about music, I decided to change my major to Music Education in the first semester of my freshman year. I loved teaching that much!
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Describe the most dramatic situation in which you provided the Sweetwater Difference for a customer, or the most unusual/creative solution to a customer's problem:
As an instructor at the Sweetwater Academy of Music, it was common for students to ask me to accompany them to the Sweetwater store to help them pick out a guitar. They absolutely did not mind spending their lesson time and money on that guidance. I still think about the trust that they placed in me. I never took that for granted. It was humbling.
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What do you enjoy most about being part of the Sweetwater team?
I love being around people that share my passion for music gear. It's very exciting to be able to help other musicians achieve their musical goals and dreams.
