Scott Adams: Birds May Bite Songwriter and Seattle Music Teacher
Seattle based Scott Adams, a songwriter and music teacher, is our guest for this episode.
Scott grew up in Spokane, earned a psychology degree at Washington State, and moved to Seattle in 1991. After teaching English in Korea, he started at Cornish College of the Arts in 1997 as a composition student, even though he could barely read music. There he met accordion player Toby Hanson, who brought him into the Smiling Scandinavians as a banjo player for seven or eight years. His own songwriting project is Birds May Bite, named for a sign at Woodland Park Zoo, and he had made four albums by the time of this recording.
The conversation covers a bad opening gig in Moscow, Idaho, writing orchestra pieces for a 15 minute reading, and how recording went from razor blades and tape to a laptop. At the time, Scott taught piano, guitar and ukulele to kids, partly over Zoom. He also names favorite Seattle venues, including Cafe Racer and the Royal Room, and a coffee pick: C&P Coffee on California Avenue in West Seattle.
Before you go
That is the whole idea behind the Explore Washington State Card. Free to carry, with a little something waiting at participating places when you visit. Your zip code is a vote for which towns we sign up next, and our weekly Washington travel newsletter starts landing right away.
Get your free card- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Founder and editor of Explore Washington State, which he started on Anderson Island in 2010. A lifelong Washington resident who has lived in Tacoma, Ellensburg, Olympia and Seattle and now calls Wenatchee home, Scott curates every place we recommend and answers reader questions himself. He also hosts the Exploring Washington State podcast.
