Melbourne Music Teachers

Scott McConnachie

Northern Suburbs

Saxophone Lessons | Artist development, Ensemble Coaching, Theory Lessons, Jazz Improvisation Lessons


  • Qualifications: Honours in Music Performance
  • Pricing: 150 per hour
  • Suitability: All

Bio

Scott McConnachie

Scott McConnachie is regarded as one of Australia’s most exciting improvising saxophonists. Drawing from traditions including jazz, freely improvised music and western art music, his sound is remarkably personal and is coupled with an extremely high level of performance intensity. Since relocating from Brisbane to Melbourne in 2011, Scott has performed with leading Australian improvisers such as David Tolley, Alan Browne, Scott Tinkler, Ken Edie, Simon Barker, Erkki Veltheim and Phil Treloar. He performs regularly with The Australian Art Orchestra, the Paul Grabowsky and has performed with Barney McCall’s ASIO (Australian Symbiotic Improvisers Orbit).

In 2012 PRIME, McConnachie’s duo with legendary improviser Ren Walters, released the album “Motive”, an exploratory work for saxophone and guitar. McConnachie also recently released a live recording of solo saxophone music titled “Getting out of the Way”.

As a classical saxophonist, Scott has given concerts performing the works of Xenakis, Berio, Bach, Wuorinen and others. In 2015 McConnachie toured remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory with the highly acclaimed Black Arm Band. In 2009 Scott toured extensively in Japan with legendary free jazz drummer Shoji Hano, and he has toured Australia numerous times since 2005 with collaborative projects Water Logic, Taste of Teeth, and singer songwriter Jackie Marshall.

From 2005 – 2011, McConnachie was a key figure in Brisbane’s improvised music scene, and a founding member of community performance series and yearly festival, Audiopollen. During this period Audiopollen hosted many international artists including Tony Buck, Shoji Hano, Jeff Henderson and John Butcher.

McConnachie has performed at numerous festivals including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and The Now Now Improvised Music Festival in Sydney.

“….his is a monstrous sound allied with a questing spirit.”

– John Shand – review of SIMA performance in Sydney Morning Herald.


Teaching Info

Lessons are tailored to the needs of the student and can span everything from maximising enjoyment of the instrument and music making to delivering assistance with specific techinical pursuits and practice regime guidance. I specialize in imparting technical knowledge of the saxophone as well as encouraging improvisational and highly energetic approaches to the saxophone within many different types of music making. Equally comfortable teaching beginners and advanced players, young and old. Flexible with times. I am happy to travel to student’s homes although for access to all my resources it is encouraged to attend my studio in Reservoir if possible.

Contact Scott McConnachie