Kottick gives the outline facts of his life on his website: "I was born in Jersey City, NJ, in 1930, and was brought up in Brooklyn, NY, where I studied the trombone.
I continued to play the trombone, which helped me support my wife and two daughters, but by this time I had become a dedicated musicologist.
After a series of teaching posts around the midwest I ended up at the University of Iowa, where I have happily remained ever since.
I ran the collegium musicum at Iowa for many years, and also played recorder in a baroque trio ensemble.
In 2006 received the Curt Sachs Award from the American Musical Instrument Society, noting his "distinguished work as a scholar, author, lecturer, builder, and designer.