AboutSNED
Hello there! I studied Jazz performance at university and graduated with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in electric/double bass. I also play and teach guitar & electronic finger drumming. I make my lessons as relaxed and enjoyable as possible, and I’ll guide you step by step in a supportive and FUN environment.
Multi-genremulti-instrumentalist
I am a multi-genre multi-instrumentalist specialising in Ableton Live electronic production, live electronic fingerdrumming, electric bass, upright bass, guitar.
Once upon a time I graduated from a Bachelor of Music (Jazz, performance) at the University of Canterbury as a bass guitar major. In years since, I have performed as a live musician and electronic producer in a multitude of projects across a great diversity of genres, in both my original home of Aotearoa New Zealand, and my new home of Melbourne.
Liveelectronic music
Through recent years, I have embarked on a great adventure of exploring a profound lifelong fascination for electronic music. In particular, this exploration has been geared around limit-pushing forms of live electronic music performance - new forms of electronic controllerism that allow music to be created and performed in ways that were not possible just a few short years ago.
The vehicle forthis exploration
The vehicle for this exploration has been Ableton Live - which is, in my experience, one of the most fundamentally groundbreaking pieces of musical technology yet invented.
This software is truly an instrument - a tool which allows you to fluently create music with ease in ways that were previously impossible, whilst inventing and developing your own unique, personalised instrument systems and methods of performance. It is a vehicle through which to harness your innate, natural creativity.
We live in a golden age of music right now, and as always, our technology helps us push our creative horizons.
Sharingthis tool
I am passionate about sharing knowledge of this incredible tool.
Through tutoring music production with Ableton Live, I have witnessed hundreds of students unlock their musical creativity.
Following nearly 20 years of teaching jazz bass and guitar, music production tuition then became a focus.
Many years of in-person 1:1 Ableton Live tuition led towards my work designing and hosting Australia’s first Ableton Live centric CertIV in Music Industry qualification, from 2017-2019 at Oxygen College in Geelong
I host in-person group music production courses, and take 1:1 students for private tuition from my Coburg North classroom & studio.
I am also available for tuition in more specialised realms of music production, including mixing / mastering techniques, live performance rigs and stage setups, individual musical development and general creative coaching.
Tutoring Ableton Live @ Oxygen College
Presentationsand research
In my early years, prior to studying music, I engaged the study of counselling & psychotherapy. This left me with a life-long fascination with the mind & human psychology.
Adjacent to a lifetime of musical study, I have maintained a deep interest in the human psyche, behavioural psychology, and interpersonal dynamics.
‘Music as a Biological Function in Humans’ is an ongoing body of research I have been working on since the end of my Bachelor of Music in 2009. This work began as a year-long research paper & presentation, and the curiosity towards this intriguing collection of topics has continued since.
I have hosted this presentation at various events such as Rainbow Spirit Festival, Rainbow Serpent Festival, Tanglewood Festival and Twisted Frequency Festival. You can also hear me talk about it on the Audio Forage podcast below.
Music as a Biological Function in Humans
Exploring the Innate Nature of Music
Why does music feel so powerful, so natural, and so universal? The presentation explores the ties that music has to language, emotion, infancy, bonding, sexuality, identity, and survival-level brain systems, and that music may be far more innate than we’re usually taught to believe.
Below you will find podcasts I’ve featured on, exploring creativity, musicianship and music as a biological function in humans:
Coursesand lessons
See below for information about upcoming courses and training opportunities.
Beginners Course
An 8-week short course designed to give you an immediate understanding of music production.
See the courseAbleton Live courseIntermediate Course
For students who know the basics but feel stuck turning loops, sketches and short ideas into fuller tracks.
See the courseAbleton Live courseAdvanced Course
Designed as a deeper follow-on for students who are ready to push their production skills further.
See the courseProduction1:1 production lessons
One-to-one music production lessons in Ableton Live, in Melbourne (the Snedlab, Coburg North) or online.
See the lessonsProductionOpen Sessions
A free open studio day for producers where you can watch music being made in real time, ask questions, and learn from the decisions behind a working production session.
See Open SessionsInstrumentBass & double bass
Electric bass and upright. For complete beginners, and for players who want to fill the gaps.
See bass lessonsInstrumentGuitar
Electric and acoustic guitar, at every level.
See guitar lessonsInstrumentFinger drumming
One-to-one lessons in finger drumming technique, practice and sampling.
See finger drumming lessons