Hi, I’m Benno.
I’m an educator, musician, and writer based in Squamish, British Columbia. My work sits at the intersection of creativity, technology, and learning—whether that means designing engaging classroom experiences, composing and producing music, or writing about art, perception, and the systems that shape how we experience them.
I hold a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Guitar from Capilano University. My background in both education and the arts has shaped how I approach projects: with curiosity, careful design, and a focus on how people actually experience the final result.
Outside the classroom, I produce ambient and jazz-influenced music, build and write for my website and newsletter The Quarry, and explore questions about aesthetics, taste, and the philosophy of art and experience.
Writing
The Long Argument with My Back: Beyond Cause and Effect
Beyond Cause and Effect
The Simple Yet Deep Gameplay of Dragon Quest III
How Remakes Alter The Stakes
Funk In a Fighting Game? Hell Yeah (Or Maybe Not)
The Soundtrack Isn’t Wrong, But Your Expectations Might Be
The Art of Not Thinking
On Practice, Intuition, and Creative Flow
Why Steely Dan ≠ Yacht Rock
I listened to Steely Dan and Spotify thinks I want yacht rock.
The Creative Paradox
How Rules and Risk Shape Music
Ambience, Atmosphere, and the Art of Listening
Genre Confusion.
Narrative in Music: Crafting Emotional Journeys Through Sound
Discovering the Hidden Connections Between Narrative and Sound.
Simpleton Tales: Absurdity, Friendship, and the Pursuit of Contentment.
TPB, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Snow White.
J.K. Rowling and the Numinous
The Mythical Depth of the Unknown.
Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” : Ways of Listening
How to Escape Perfectionism.










