Scooter Pirtle earned his minor degree in Music Education from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. He participated with the Belleville Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (Illinois), the Star of Indiana, Bluegrass Brass Senior Corps (Kentucky), and most recently the Star Alumni Corps (Indiana) and the Star United Mini Corps (Indiana).

Pirtle created a magazine devoted to mellophone enthusiasts in 1992 that continues today as www.middlehornleader.com. He is also a contributor to www.mellocast.com, a podcast devoted to midvoice brass performance.