William Scott
William has spent a lifetime with classical music, from early years of lessons to decades of concert-going, and now writes from his study in Aberdeen with a view of the granite city's spires. He believes the great repertoire deserves to be explained, not gatekept. He covers classical, orchestral and the instruments of the concert hall.
Baritone Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The baritone horn is one of brass music's quiet workhorses. Here is what it actually is, where it sits in the brass family, and how it earns its keep in the band.
String Instruments Viola Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The viola is the alto voice of the violin family: larger than the violin, darker in tone, and defined by a centuries-old tension between acoustic ideals and physical playability.
Violin Mute for Beginners: A Complete Guide
New to the violin? Here is a clear introduction to what a mute is, why you might need one, and which type to buy first.
Vincent Bach Stradivarius Trumpet: A Complete Guide
Bach trumpets are the gold standard of brass manufacturing. Learn why professional orchestral and jazz musicians trust Bach Stradivarius instruments.
Common English Horn Mistakes to Avoid
None of these reflect a lack of talent — they're simply things nobody tells you until you've already made them once.
Sousaphone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a sousaphone means weighing up more than a spec sheet. Here's what genuinely matters, from material to fit.
Pocket Trumpets: A Complete Guide
The pocket trumpet packs the same tube length as a standard Bb horn into a compact coil — this guide explains what that means in practice, who benefits and what quality differences to expect.
Classical Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Learning the classical guitar is more achievable than its reputation suggests — provided you start with the right instrument and the right technique from the first session. Here's what you need to kno...
Grease Brake Caliper Slide Pins: A Complete Guide
Slide grease is essential for keeping your brass instrument slides moving smoothly and effortlessly. Discover what to look for, how to apply it correctly, and maintenance tips from experienced players...
Common Violin Tuner Mistakes to Avoid
Careful players still make tuning mistakes—but they are all avoidable. Learn the pitfalls that trip up violinists, and discover how to master reliable, confident tuning.
The Ultimate Guide to Baritone Horns
The baritone horn sits at a fascinating intersection in the brass family — brighter than the euphonium, central to British brass-band tradition, and often misunderstood. Here's the full picture.
The Best Concerto Songs Right Now
This repertoire doesn't have songs in the pop sense — but it has movements so beloved they've effectively become the equivalent.
Brass Instrument Mutes: A Complete Guide
Brass instrument mutes provide essential tonal modification and dynamic control, with varieties suited to orchestral, jazz, and contemporary performance contexts enabling creative sonic exploration.
Flugelhorn Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The flugelhorn shares its fingering with the trumpet but almost nothing else. Here is what makes its sound, its valves and its history genuinely different.
Common Brass Mistakes to Avoid
The small handful of recurring errors that trip up brass instrument players, grouped by playing, maintenance and long-term practice.
Pocket Trumpet: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a compact brass instrument requires more care than buying a standard horn — this buyer's guide covers budget, brand reputation, what to check and whether a pocket trumpet is the right choice fo...
Double Bass Pedal Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A double bass pedal extends the bass drum to two beaters operated by both feet. Here is how the mechanism works, what the key features mean and how to choose the right design.
Brass: A Complete Buyer's Guide
What to check, what to spend and where buyers most often come unstuck when choosing a brass instrument, new or second-hand.
Bass Trombone: A Complete Guide
Larger bore, bigger bell, one or two trigger valves — here's everything that distinguishes the bass trombone and where it sits in orchestral and jazz ensembles.
Trombone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The trombone rewards patience with quick progress. This beginner's guide covers what to expect in the first year: embouchure, slide positions, posture, practice structure, and how to find a teacher.
Common Stradivarius Violin Mistakes to Avoid
From trusting a label to chasing a single 'secret', here are the most common Stradivarius mistakes, and the straightforward thinking that avoids each one.
The Best String Instruments Violas for the Money
A good viola setup matters more than an impressive instrument at the student level. This guide explains where value genuinely lies across the three main price tiers.
Piccolo Trumpet: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The Schilke B6L, Bach 238, Yamaha YTR-9835 and beyond: how to choose between professional piccolo trumpet models and what to look for before you buy.
What William Scott covers
Baritone
Browse baritone instruments with a warm brass-band sound, ideal for concert, ensemble and solo playing.
Cello
Core orchestral string instrument with a rich tone, broad range and strong ensemble role.
2 topics
Classical Guitar
Traditional nylon-string guitars for study, recital work and expressive fingerstyle with a warm, balanced tone.
3 topics
Double Bass Pedal
Double bass pedals let drummers play fast, controlled kick patterns with both feet for rock, metal and fusion styles.
Rosin
Rosin for bowed strings, helping the bow grip and produce a clear, controlled sound.
Viola
The rich, lower-voiced orchestral string instrument used in ensembles, quartets and solo playing.
2 topics
Violin
Browse violins for beginners, advancing players and professionals, with sizes and specifications to suit every level.
14 topics
Violin Tuner
Use a violin tuner for quick, accurate tuning at home, in lessons, rehearsal or on stage.
