Scotty TAKES INQUIRIES FOR NEW STUDENTS ON an ongoing basis. PLease use the “contact scotty” function to inquire.

Dr. Horey's primary area of professional activity is his dynamic and diverse teaching. He teaches drums and percussion lessons for all ages and levels (children, adult, teen and college level). He also gives clinics and guest presentations in percussion pedagogy, his “holistic awareness” method, health/wellness and mindfulness for musicians, creativity/song-writing/ensemble skills, music philosophy, and marimba and drumset demonstrations from his unique collection of repertoire and original compositions.

During his doctoral study, Scotty collaborated with many professors from a variety of music and non-music disciplines to develop his current in depth teaching approaches and pedagogical practices. His doctoral project was entitled, “Advanced Percussion Performance through Body, Mind, and Heart” and was a holistic practice for percussionists that combined percussion study with kinesiology, cognitive sciences, mind-body approaches. This has culminated in his “Holistic Awareness” teaching philosophy he currently uses in many of his teaching practices, his international presence as a guest lecturer/clinician, and his ongoing research.  In recent years, he has adapted this method to work comprehensively with his children students at the Music School of Delaware. In 2025, Scotty was awarded the University of Minnesota Class of Liberal Arts and Sciences Emerging Alumni Award for “his work in Music Mindfulness”, and in 2026 he completed his trainer certificate for GEM (“Get Experience in Mindfulness”) at the University of Delaware. Learn more about his “Holistic Awareness” teaching approach HERE.

Scotty remarks, “Going deeper beyond my education and experience, I abide to a teaching philosophy. Teaching is not just a job, it is mentorship. It is a relationship. A teacher should be a noble figure in a healthy, civilized society. It is important for me to learn about the traits of each students’ learning modalities, communication skills, strengths, weaknesses, as well as family and cultural background. Then, and only then, am I able to put my teaching knowledge and expertise to use to help meet both the students goals, and my expectations as a teacher. I place a high priority in keeping up to date with trends in music research and music education, and make lesson plans for each student prior to meeting with them each week. Private lesson time is a mix between experiential activities for the student, watching students demonstrate their materials, descriptions and demonstrations from myself, and doing activities TOGETHER to build motivation. For teens and college students, we engage in in-depth conversations with mutual listening and critical thinking. My goal is to foster skills (mental and physical), responsibility, confidence, and creativity through an integrated two way interaction, and by exemplifying a role model. My goal is to guide each student through music, with the additional possibility of illuminating their potential in body, mind, heart, spirit, and culture. I also respect that different students will request different boundaries in the teacher-student relationship.

Working with children presents a special challenge, and a special joy. As a private lesson instructor to children ages 6-12, I have several goals: first, is to establish clear instructions and clear behavioral structure for lesson time, to promote learning and to avoid too much “silliness”. Next, I employ simple and fun musical activities for both of us to do together that foster the child’s learning of basic musical concepts on a cognitive, sensory, motor skill, and creative level before moving onto technique and music reading instruction. Most importantly, I regularly affirm to the child that I, as a teacher and role model, share the experience of music with them as a close mentor whom they can trust, including practicing, performing, having fun, and even making mistakes, too! At the end of each lesson, I provide clear expectations of assignments and help a student establish strong home practice habits.

Working one on one can be a very intense and challenging experience for some students (at any age level). I believe it is important to stay in close touch with student’s caregivers and parents/family, and provide guidance and referrals if the student is in need of other types of instruction, education, or care.”

Video documentation of teaching: (lectures and master-classes) 

Did you just finish your first lesson? Here is a great way to review! Basic hand technique, taken from my 2016 program “Snapshots of a Journey” season 1:

- Discussion on professional and Interpersonal skills for percussionists:

 Try four different ways to get started learning a groove on the drumset! (This video was taken from my 2016 release, “Snapshots of a Journey”)

- Discussion on how you can use theory analysis and improvisation as a tool to learn a new piece: (This video was filmed LIVE at one my clinic presentations.)