Simon started playing guitar in 1981 at Brisbane Grammar School and is still just as compelled and passionate about guitar 35 years later. Having been very fortunate to begin guitar with legendary guitar teacher and guitar role model,Rick Purdie, Simon has adopted the same demonstrative and holistic approach to his teaching of guitar.
In 1989, Simon attended the famous Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California and has since released five instrumental solo albums, played support for Joe Satriani and remains active on the live scene with his own electric and acoustic gigs as well as freelancing his guitar talents to various artist projects. He has also produced two “612 ABC: Album of Week” artists as well as his latest offering “And So It Goes” being featured. Since 2016, Simon has also become an Ibanez endorsee and is first call guitarist for The Queensland Pops Orchestra.
Simon has been a private studio guitar teacher for almost as long as he has been a player. He has taught at St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, Nudgee College and St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School .
More recently, he has lectured at the JMC Academy in South Brisbane and St Paul’s College Bald Hills and is currently an examiner for Rockschool Australia and the AMEB guitar syllabus CPM.
In 2006, Simon Gardner Music was born with the intention to create a studio that would be a collective of vibrant and talented industry professionals with varying areas of expertise that could reinforce Simon’s philosophy of a holistic approach to contemporary guitar tuition in a professional, positive and inspiring environment.
There is a strong emphasis on core technique and skills as well as wide variety of repertoire. Students are constantly encouraged to seek their own personal tastes and follow their own musical path while remaining open minded to new challenges on the instrument that will be presented in the lesson.