Melbourne Polytechnic graduate gives personable songwriting and music production lessons to beginner and intermediate producers.

Learn more about James

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  My passion for music ignited when I watched a VHS of 'The Snowman' in my grandma's piano room. I was 5 or so and the memory is imprinted in me forever. The experience was so visceral and intense. This event triggered my imagination and my compulsion to create. I've never had a favourite instrument because I believe instruments reflect the person who is playing them. Any instrument is capable of producing beautiful music as long as the person holding the reigns has imagination.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  I go through cycles like most people. In regards to loopable music, Enya is a winner. Her music is grand, magical and layered. This leaves plenty of room for me to explore when listening to her compositions. Popified ambient music seems to land in the Goldilocks zone. It doesn't drag on like most experimental ambient music and it retains an interesting form. This type of music can be found in movie and game soundtracks.

• Explain to us the most difficult or 'riveting' lesson you could personally give to one of your students.

  Ableton Live performance is a deep and complex concept that is both rewarding and difficult. It requires a strong knowledge of songwriting, rhythm, technique and programming. There are no shortcuts when it comes to performance. The student needs to have a genuine knowledge-base as well as passion to pull it off. Once you can do this, it's a feat to be proud of.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  The piano is an accessible answer. As easy as it is to make a beautiful sound with it, its skill ceiling and compositional potential is virtually limitless. Therefore it can eventually be quite daunting to develop ideas with. I pose that no one truly masters the piano. It's an expansive world to be explored.

• What are your keys to success?

  Love for music. It's important to be learning and creating music for the right reasons. Genuine inspiration comes from the use of imagination. It's easy to fall into traps of derivation and external reward instead of internal realization. Stay focused on being a student of the musical world even after years of dedication.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  I don't dream of meeting famous or established musicians because they are just people like the rest of us! I love meeting people who are truly passionate about their life regardless of whether they write music, build tables or count numbers.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your musical journey, or your days at 'music school'.

  Music does not exist in a vacuum.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  Fun! I love developing real relationships with my students. We look forward to every session because we create a positive, safe and expressive environment. On a musically related note, I want to empower my students to make their own creative decisions. I collaborate with them so they can become independent creators.