Born February 3rd, 1960, Matt Snyder was part of a musical family with a father and uncle who were both musical performers and educators. Matt gravitated to the piano at an early age in order to figure out how to play Beatles songs and was soon writing simple songs of his own. By age 12, he formed his first group, a trio that played covers of Beatles songs and some instrumental pieces. He continued to play on his own, teaching himself how to play by playing chords with the left hand and melodies with the right. It wasn't until age 15 that he had an opportunity to join the rhythm section of the Bonita High School Jazz Ensemble and began composing music for small groups. He also honed his skills as an improviser for which he received numerous awards including top piano soloist at the Monterey Jazz Festival high school competition and recognition in The Who's Who Among American High School Students for his musical accomplishments.  At one point, the pursuit of a music scholarship seemed to be the way to go but fate would have other plans. 

Thin Ice was formed in 1977 for the purpose of competing at the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands.  The band won second place in the combo division performing one of Matt's compositions. Thin Ice would continue for four more years with Matt writing and arranging the bulk of the music for the group. After Thin Ice disbanded Matt continued to work as a professional musician playing in several groups over the next few years.  He married his high school sweetheart Annemarie Hobo in 1982. With an interest in teaching history, Matt pursued a bachelor's degree and graduated with honors from Cal Poly Pomona. After receiving his teaching credential, he began teaching social studies for the Azusa Unified School District. He has been teaching with that district for the last 15 years. 

Matt continues to work as a professional musician playing in as many as four different groups. For over twenty years, Matt and Frank Hanson have continued to enjoy playing together in The Dogs, a unique cover band that plays a wide range of rock and pop songs that are rarely if ever attempted by most other cover bands. This unique approach would not have been possible without the knowledge and skills that each of them gained in Thin Ice. It was Matt who kept and maintained the original reel to reel and various other tapes of Thin Ice. Beginning in 2016 he began the process of restoring and digitizing these recordings to create what would become the Thin Ice Anthology.

In 2018, Matt retired from his teaching career and resumed his music career full time.