About
I’m Lachlan Hamilton.
I’m a saxophonist, teacher, conductor and software maker based in Sydney.
Music is where most of this started, but the thread has widened over time: teaching, school bands, Apple, podcasts, apps, and now a few pieces of software built around real music work.
01
Music came first.
I studied jazz performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and I still perform as a saxophonist in Sydney. Jazz is the musical language I feel closest to: listening closely, responding quickly, and trying to make practical decisions feel musical.
02
Teaching changed the work.
I’ve taught saxophone privately for more than 15 years, helping students prepare for exams, school ensembles, HSC Music, and their own playing goals.
Conducting school bands sharpened that practical side even further. A good rehearsal needs structure, pace, flexibility and a clear sense of what the room needs next.
03
Technology was always nearby.
I used to co-host three podcasts: Lachlan & The Colonel, MacMen, and Eating Onions: An Australian Political Podcast. Apple, apps, media and technology culture have been in the background for a long time.
04
Software became practical.
Pocket Tutor came from years of seeing the same private teaching problems repeat: lesson preparation, student context, follow-up notes, studio admin, and the gap between what happens in a lesson and what needs to happen next.
More recently, AI-assisted development made it possible to build smaller music tools myself. Passing Notes came from wanting a manuscript-first iPad app. Head Hunter came from the way jazz musicians actually study standards: recordings, versions, metadata and listening.
View softwareWhat I’m paying attention to now.
Apple, AI, apps, music tools, and the writing that might sit around all of it. This page will probably keep changing as those threads become clearer.