Simon Charles

I am a composer and saxophonist based in Melbourne’s inner north. I have a background in classical music, and perform new and experimental music. I also compose experimental music for various ensembles.

I have experience teaching young beginner saxophone students to tertiary students. As well as teaching privately, I teach saxophone and direct ensembles at Ivanhoe Grammar School. In my position at Ivanhoe Grammar I have also undertaken recording projects with students, and run professional development sessions for staff in various music technologies.

I hold a Masters’ degree from the VCA in composition and performance, and I am able to teach composition, saxophone, music theory, aural skills, analysis, music notation software (Finale), audio editing software (Reaper, Logic and Pro tools). I am also able to work collaboratively with advanced students, looking to clarify direction in their own practice.

My Masters’ degree research explored Ideokinesis as a way to develop practice strategies in performance, which is a method to enhance movement efficiency (similar to Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais). I am also interested in exploring ways that composition can represent structures for the perception of sound, which I explore through electro-acoustic and notated works.