(Dennis) Ian Patterson started his music career at an early age in the brass band movement in Australia but by his teens had moved from trumpet/flugel horn to guitar. Ian's first teen band was the Broken Chains, a gospel rock band that played everything from gospel and blues, The Doors, Black Sabbath, the Beatles, The Shadows to his own compositions. They opened one of Australia's first major 3 day rock festivals, "Vision Valley", in 1970.

By the mid 1970's Ian was the resident guitarist in the house band at the Central Coast League's Club, north of Sydney (at the time, the largest entertainment club in the Southern Hemisphere). It was in those days that he renewed his school days friendship with Steve Housden (guitarist with Marcia Hines and Little River Band). The 1970's were definitive years and he had opportunity to regularly play alongside some of the greatest musicians of the era. The Club was a major national rock music venue that hosted large shows. As a member of the house band, The Wally Johnson Sextet, he opened for hundreds of bands and artists including the Angels, AC/DC, INXS, Midnight Oil, Andy Gibb, and many more.

In 1980 Ian was also teaching music at The Entrance High School where he brought in his own 16 piece band, Patterson's Project, and many named jazz/rock players from Australia including the outstanding James Morrison and Don Burrows; and from the US, David Baker, Jamie Abersole and many others. These musicians took part in special jazz workshops and performances that Ian organised and presided over.

In 1980 Ian wrote most of the music and lyrics for the rock opera " Scool" starring the celebrated Craig McLachlan, who went on to play the lead role in London's West End "Grease" production.

In the mid 80's Ian collaborated with pop/jazz saxophonist/arranger, Col Loughnan (Sydney Conservatorium Staff member) on commissioned compositions celebrating International Year of Youth, Australia's Bicentennial Theme for Education as well as several commercial projects including Qantas television commercials and the award winning 1988 Slim Dusty “You’ve Done Us Proud”.

Besides, Craig McLachlan, other young students/musicians that came through Ian's classes included Dave Leslie, guitarist with Baby Animals (US tour with Bon Jovi, UK tour with Queen) and Jimmy Barnes; New Orleans gospel blues singer, Lee Gunness; John Lee, bassist with Jimmy Barnes; Mick Hart (singer/song writer who has opened for Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Sting, and many others); Karen Shearan (noted Australian country rock vocalist); James Layden (engineer for Kiss, Russell Crowe Band and many others); Ian Judge (drummer and engineer with credits such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers); Heath Nicholson (Guitarist with Celine Dion, Sydney session guitarist); Mark Beckhouse (bass guitar with Check 1,2) Rod and Jeff McCormack(Kasey Chambers Band) and many others.
Former student and friend, composer/conducter George Ellis, who spent two years under Ian's teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium in the 1980's went on to conduct the mass orchestra and choir at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics Opening and Closing ceremonies.

In 1983/4 Ian moved to the US on a government scholarship to study music composition, jazz and music technology. Upon his return he took a teaching post at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music until the early 1990's.

During this time he travelled extensively presenting his research work in music technology and education representing the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He presented 3 papers at the Music Educators' World Conference in Canberra in 1988. His "SoundScope" software was the world's first interactive CD-ROM music program.

Since the late 90's Ian has co-directed Michael Hutchence's Official Memorial site and recently completed a collaboration of a Hutchence song with New York vocalist, Katia Floreska. http://www.michaelhutchence.org/index.php?page=205

Ian is currently working and teaching in London, UK, where his students have won 1st place in the MTV Boom Music Video awards (2005), reached No 1 on the US, Nashville based independent music site Songramp.com, and won runner up in the Sibelius UK National Film Score Competition (under 18)in 2007. This was judged by Sir David Putnam and a panel of the six most celebrated film composers in Hollywood.

Ian has recently developed innovative composition and performance techniques employing music technology in a London school where his students are gaining the highest music exam averages in the country. Majoring in both experimental jazz, 20th orchestral techniques, as well as African and Indian fusions, his students work has been chosen for publication as exemplary works of study for UK music teachers and their students.

Most recently his music students at Canons High and Technology College have dominated a major international music competition, winning four major prizes including 1st and 2nd in the 2008 International centenary celebrations for Nobel Peace Prize winner, Sir Joseph Rotblat, "Peace of Art" awards, assuring his student band a place at Glastonbury in 2009. This was judged by the celebrated Niten Sawhney (Paul McCartney).
Details here:
http://www.peace-of-art.co.uk/awardsceremony.html

Ian's student group, "Broken Chains", headlined with "Futureheads" at the 2009 Glastonbury Music Festival. More details can be seen here:
http://www.wmdawareness.org.uk/events/view/futureheads-storm-get-up-stan...

Peter Huntington (drummer for The Who's last acclaimed album) is one of Ian's current teaching staff. Pete regularly appears with Ian's students R'n'B and rock groups.