Guitar Lessons with a Working Musician – Learn Real-World Playing & Tone

Van 41 € /h

I’m a professional guitarist, composer, and producer with over 30 years of experience in recording, performing, and restoring vintage instruments. My lessons are built around real-world playing — not endless scales, but practical music that builds confidence, creativity, and great tone.

Whether you’re a beginner just picking up the guitar or an experienced player looking to refine your sound, I’ll help you understand not only what to play but why it sounds good.

We’ll cover:

Building solid rhythm and expressive phrasing

Understanding tone, pedals, and gear setup

Classic rock, blues, and modern techniques

Playing with feel and intention

Optional lessons on recording and home setup

Lessons are relaxed, friendly, and tailored to your pace. I teach both in person (Amsterdam) and online, and every student gets a personalized plan that fits their goals — whether that’s playing your favorite songs, improving tone, or developing your own sound.

If you’ve ever wanted lessons from someone who’s been there, both on stage and in the studio, this is for you.

Locatie

Gebruik Ctrl + muiswiel om in te zoomen

Bij de leraar :

1054 HA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Over

Hi, I’m Mike, a guitar teacher and English tutor based in Amsterdam with over 30 years of experience as a musician, composer, and educator.

I’ve worked professionally in recording studios, live performance, and music production — and I bring that real-world experience to my lessons. My guitar classes focus on practical playing skills for real musicians: rhythm, tone, timing, improvisation, and performance. Whether you’re a beginner learning your first chords or an experienced player looking to refine your style, I’ll help you build confidence and develop your own sound.

As an English teacher, I specialize in conversational English, pronunciation, and writing skills for adults and professionals. My lessons are designed to improve fluency and natural communication, whether for daily life, business, or creative work.

I believe that learning works best when it’s personal, practical, and enjoyable. Every student learns differently, so my approach is flexible and focused on real progress — not just theory.

If you’re looking for a guitar teacher or English tutor in Amsterdam who understands how to connect real-world experience with modern learning, I’d love to work with you.

Opleiding

hold a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from California State University, Northridge (1989), which gave me a strong foundation in communication, writing, and analysis.
I also studied Japanese language at Temple University, Tokyo (2012), which deepened my understanding of second-language learning from a student’s perspective.

Leservaring

English Teaching: Years of experience teaching students of all levels at Nova, Gaba, and private sessions in Tokyo. Special focus on TOEIC preparation, conversation skills, and confidence building.

Music Instruction: Over 30 years as a guitarist, composer, and producer. Lessons include practical playing, tone development, and real-world musicianship for all levels.

Content Creator: Host of a YouTube channel centered on vintage instruments and smart, budget-conscious music gear choices.

Leeftijd

Tieners (13-17 jaar oud)

Volwassenen (18-64 jaar oud)

Senioren (65+ jaar oud)

Niveau van de leerling

Beginner

Gemiddeld

Gevorderden

Duur

45 minuten

60 minuten

De les wordt gegeven in

Engels

Japans

Vaardigheden

Gitaar

Noten lezen

Muziekcompositie

Beschikbaarheid typische week

(GMT -05:00)

New York

Bij de leraar thuis

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

English Conversation and Writing with a Native Speaker near Vondelpark.

35 € /h

Are you ready to improve your English in a practical, enjoyable way? My lessons focus on real communication skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—that you can use in everyday life, at school, or at work.

Each lesson is tailored to your level and goals. Whether you want to:

Speak English more confidently in daily conversations

Improve your grammar and vocabulary

Prepare for school or university assignments

Practice English for work or business situations

Or simply feel more comfortable living in an English-speaking environment

...I will create a lesson plan just for you.

I’m a native English speaker with years of experience in music, business, and communication, so I bring a friendly, practical style to teaching. My goal is to help you learn English naturally, at your own pace, and enjoy the process.

Come join me, and let’s make English a skill you can truly use!

Lees meer

Aida

5.0

(17)

Hello, I have extensive experience with students of all ages as a teacher of music theory, violin and viola. Custom classes, focused on student interests.
I studied violin degree at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Vigo in Spain and viola in Spain and at the Utrechts Conservatorium. The research of my final exam was about well-being and phisical education to improve and accelerate the learning process.
I want my students to be aware of the importance of good posture and technique in order to enjoy the learning process without problems.

Katie

5.0

(17)

Hi! I have over 7 years of teaching experience from young kids to adults of all levels and I love it! My goal is for my students to find joy in playing an instrument and have fun during the lessons. I also aim to make every student come out of the lesson feeling motivated to carry on learning, and tailor the lessons to what they want to learn and how to achieve their goal.
I can also help students prepare for their piano exams and theory exams.

Teis

5.0

(17)

My name is Teis. I am a Danish guitarist trained in Jazz music at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and USC Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles). I have played since age 7, studied since age 13, and played professionally since age 18.

I work professionally as a band leader, composer, and side person.

After around 25 years of experience on the guitar, I can confidently say that I am equipped to share the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years.

In all honesty: I have never found myself to be particularly "talented". But I am a hard worker. I truly believe that talent is not something you are born with, but something you can develop and grow.

Together we will explore secrets and tips for a healthy guitar routine. We will improve your technique and ear training abilities with direct and fun exercises.

Whether you are just a beginner or an intermediate/advanced guitarist, we can explore the instrument and all its possibilities.

Practicing and playing with a teacher in a one-on-one situation is the most effective way to get better faster, and I advise it to all the guitar and music lovers out there.

In my guitar course, we start from where you are at and set a goal fitting to what you want to achieve. For example, our focus could be a.o.:

Fingerpicking
Soloing
Accompanying yourself
Songwriting

Two ways to go about it;

Single lesson: We go from where you are at the moment, and I help you move forward.

5 or 10 lesson bundle: I will make a detailed plan for you and we will conclude the lessons with a performance of some sort. I will help you elevate and broaden your skill set, in your preferred style, but also ear training and theory. We will build a sustainable practice routine together, and you will get access to a library of practice play-alongs and manuals, that you can use to build a solid platform as a musician!

Looking forward to hearing from you :)

Duleen

5.0

(17)

I am a student studying classical viola in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
I like to teach and share my passion of music amongst others. I can teach classical, pop and jazz music-whatever you find most suitable. For me the most important, is for you to come out of the lessons feeling inspired and enriched by music. If you are an absolute beginner, do not worry, we can find the best starting point for you.

Kerttu

5.0

(17)

Currently I am studying Classical Clarinet in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
I like to teach and share my passion of music amongst others. I can teach classical, pop and jazz music-whatever you find most suitable. For me the most important, is for you to come out of the lessons feeling inspired and enriched by music. If you are an absolute beginner, do not worry, we can find the best starting point for you.

Santiago

5.0

(17)

Learning to play the guitar can be an amazing experience at every stage of the process! My ultimate goal is to help my students to develop their skills and musical understanding by learning and playing music that they like.

Therefore I adapt my teaching methodologies to the tastes and needs of every student. Throughout every lesson, we will work on three main courses of development: technical aspects, theoretical knowledge, and performative practice.

My classes are open for anyone who would like to enjoy exploring the universe of music: beginners and advanced, children and adults, you are all welcome to book the first lesson.

Tamara

5.0

(17)

I'm Georgian violinist, currently studying at the concervatory van Amsterdam. I have a lot of experience to play on stage as a soloist as well as in ensembles. I am winner of many national and international competitions. I have had many opportunities to get lessons from many well known teachers, musicians from all over the world. Currently, I get lessons from Prof. Ilya Grubert.
It's my pleasure to share my knowledge to others and have a nice music atmosphere!

Diana

5.0

(17)

Hallo! If you love cello, it is the right time to start learning!

As a teacher with 12 years of experience I offer private lessons for all ages and all levels.
I have learned my teaching skills from famous cello pedagogues from all over the world. I have experience in teaching to children as well as adults and I consider essential that we both have fun while learning such a wonderful thing as playing music! Lessons will be adapted to your needs and we will develop together your musicality and technical skills.
Also possible to ask for academic support with the instrument, music theory or history.

Lessons can be in English, Spanish, French and Dutch. If you still don't have an instrument yourself, I can give some suggestions about where and how to find it - please don't hesitate to contact me if interested!

Hope to hear from you soon!
Diana

Jim

5.0

(17)

Hi, my name is Jim. I'm an electronic music producer with a Master’s degree in Music from the Fontys Academy of Arts (Rockacademie) in Tilburg, Netherlands. Music has always been my way of exploring the world — through raw field recordings, synthesis, and emotional storytelling. Over the past 12 years, I’ve developed a complete, self-sufficient creative process: from concept to composition, sound design to vocal production, mixing, mastering, and live performance. I’m passionate about helping others gain those same end-to-end technical skills — so they can bring their own musical vision fully to life.

As Malvae, I’ve written, sung, recorded, produced, mixed, mastered, and performed all of my work. My music reached #17 in the Spotify Viral 50 charts in the USA, gathered millions of streams, and featured in international film productions including King of the Streets and Netflix’s Terrace House Japan. One of the most formative moments in my career was my Amazonas album project, where I traveled into the Amazon rainforest to record and manipulate natural sounds. 90% of that album was created entirely from these field recordings, reshaped through granular synthesis and advanced sound design into a cohesive sonic journey. That experience deeply shaped how I approach my music and how I teach sound design and composition.

I’ve headlined shows at iconic venues like Melkweg Amsterdam with immersive, self-built audiovisual live sets using Ableton Live, modular gear, sequencers, and Resolume for live integrated visuals. I curated my own events and performed at venues like A’dam Tower, OT301. I also teach at studios such as Wisseloord in Hilversum, guiding students through the technical and creative intersections of sound and performance.

Selected Works & Collaborations:

My EP Like Bees to a Hive began as a soundscape for fashion brand Lobomar’s collection Final Orders, Please, presented at the Amsterdam World Museum. I collaborated with South African poet Julia-Beth Harris, integrating her spoken word into a seamless, atmospheric release. From sequential Prophet 6 textures to ADX1 drum machine layers and detailed field recordings, I handled every layer, from concept through multitrack production to the final live performance in London.

My Chrysalis EP, released as a limited-edition heavyweight red vinyl, pushed that even further, combining ethereal vocals, analog grit, and unique textures to craft an emotionally rich release. I personally led every part of the project’s technical and creative execution, from arrangement and vocal production to final mixing, mastering and vinyl press preparation.

In addition to my own projects, I’ve worked as a vocal producer and mixing engineer, including on Esther Veen’s EP Before I Go, where I handled recording, complex vocal layering, creative processing, production, multivocal arrangement and final mixing to deliver a polished, high-impact sound.

About the lessons:

My sessions are fully customised to your experience level, goals and grounded in real-world music production. Whether you’re just getting started or want to deepen your technical ability, you’ll learn how to develop professional workflows and the creative independence to finish what you start.

We can explore:

- Building advanced music production workflows and creative strategies
- Recording, Composition, arrangement, and storytelling through sound
- Full-stack mixing and mastering — from bedroom setups to pro-level delivery
- Synthesis and sampling — from sound shaping basics to high-level manipulation
- Multi vocal production, vocal recording, editing, layering, FX, and creative processing techniques
- Translating your music into a compelling live set with Ableton Live
- Applying music theory practically in electronic, cinematic, and contemporary music

Lessons are available online or in-person at my studio in Amsterdam. For online students, I use high-quality real-time tools that allow us to collaborate with full-resolution audio directly from your DAW — no screen sharing limitations, just real work in real time.

My own musical path often started by blending the sounds I encountered in the world, whether from distant rainforests or my own voice , into something personal and expressive.
I found my sound that way, and I’d love to help you find yours.

(And don’t worry — we won’t have to go to the ends of the earth to do it. I’ll show you how to turn the sounds you already have into something truly your own.)

Whether you're just starting out or ready to go deeper, I look forward to helping you grow through structured, creative, and technically grounded electronic music education.

Eyal

5.0

(17)

Eyal has taught hundreds of students over the past 15 years, both guitar and piano next to music theory and composition. Besides his formal music education (a bachelor's in composition, a teaching degree from the music academy in Jerusalem, and a master's in composition from Codarts, Rotterdam), Eyal has acquired experience in a wide range of various musical styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical music, electronic music and contemporary music, on which he bases his rich approach, which can be adjusted to every student separately.

Solos, chords, improvisations, heavy distortion or acoustic guitar, playing in a party or jumping on stages, reading notes or playing by ear. Maybe you know exactly what you want, and maybe you are not sure. In Eyal's view, the job of the teacher is helping you finding that out, and guiding you through your personal process.

Johann Sebastian Bach or John Lennon? Sergei Rachmaninoff or Freddie Mercury? Regina Spektor? Nina Simone? Maybe Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Complex harmonies or simple melodies? Classical pieces or modern tunes? The only right answer is what you find interesting.

Kinan

5.0

(17)

Arabic music, Turkish music and world music, also Makam, improvisation.
I can teach Saz, Baglama or any instrument in this family.
You will learn everything about orientel music.
If you want to be professional this is the right place to start.

Sofiia

5.0

(17)

Lessons are specifically tailored to the needs of each student, with a focus on their personal requests. I offer various approaches — teaching, coaching, mentoring. My lesson style ranges from diving into music theory and analysing great music works of the past, to developing a musical concept for your compositions and working on your personal style.

I am proficient in jazz arranging and composing, classical orchestration and composition, jazz and classical theory, solfege, rhythmics, as well as working within interdisciplinary fields — combining different art forms with music.

I offer a wide range of possibilities — writing your own compositions/songs; arranging for a big band (or any other ensemble); songwriting; working with strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion.
Your motivation is the limit:)

I am also working with Sibelius as a software, so I can teach you to use it.

Lucy

5.0

(17)

🎛️ Music Production Lessons & Creative Coaching 🎶

Want to learn how to create, record, and refine your own music in Logic Pro X? Whether you’re a complete beginner or already producing your own tracks, I offer online lessons and personalized production coaching to help you grow and elevate your sound.

If you’re just starting out, we’ll build a solid foundation:

- MIDI & audio basics
- Arrangement & structure
- Sound design & effects
- Vocal editing
- Mixing fundamentals
- Workflow tips & creative approaches

Already producing? Great — then I offer tailored production advice and feedback. You can bring in your tracks, questions, or challenges, and I’ll help you with:

- Song structure & dynamics
- Sound choices & layers
- Mix clarity & depth
- Artistic direction
- Developing your unique sonic identity

The sessions can be fully online or live, flexible, and built around your needs.

I combine my experience as a pop producer and artist with my background in classical music theory and a degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Pop).

Whether you're starting from scratch or fine-tuning a nearly finished track — I’m here to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and creativity.

Marlou

5.0

(17)

Hello, my name is Marlou. I was nine years old when I first held a guitar. It was love at first sight. I always have my guitar with me. I've been teaching for ten years, and after a year of lessons, one of my students uttered the unforgettable line: "My guitar is my soulmate." With a guitar, you have a friend for life. I want everyone to experience that.
Everyone learns differently. Some people want to learn notes and visualize sheet music, while others play by ear. Some want to hear a song first and sing it without a guitar, while others want to play along right away. It's all possible. In your first lesson, you can tell me what you want to learn, and I tailor my lessons accordingly.
After each lesson, I'll give you exercises to practice at home. The more you practice at home, the faster we'll progress. If you'd like, you can record the lesson so you can listen to it again at home and practice along with it.
I'll teach you all the basic chords. I'll pay close attention to your guitar posture and the way you place your hands and fingers on the guitar. The better you master the basic chords, the easier it will be to learn new and more complex things later. I can also teach you how to strum the guitar. And if you're interested, I can teach you how to read music.

If you'd like to learn to sing while you perform, I can teach you simple tricks to make singing easier. I'm not a singing teacher, but thanks to my initial training in speech therapy, CVT (Complete Vocal Training) singing lessons, and my stage experience as a singer, I have extensive knowledge of learning proper breathing and training your breath support. I can also teach you how to overcome your shyness, if that's your problem. Playing and singing at the same time will then become a lot of fun.

Jessy

5.0

(17)

Hi there,

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12 and was immediately hooked. Within a year I started playing in youth bands and projects, and during high school I moved to a music school where I began performing with bands and teaching guitar to kids as my first job. I later completed two bachelor’s degrees, the second in jazz guitar, at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Since then I’ve been working full time as a session guitarist, songwriter, and musical director with artists like Karsu, Alain Clark, Ruth Jacott, Jennie Lena, and many others, as well as releasing my own music as an independent artist under my stage name Jessy Hay. I’m extremely passionate about music theory, ear training, and music history, and I try to combine all of these with practical approaches to create a complete package for guitar enthusiasts.

Over the years I’ve developed many methods and seen hundreds of students grow from being stuck on the instrument to becoming full-on improvisers and composers across many genres. I love to combine the theory and improvisation I’ve learned from jazz, together with the groove and rhythm from funk and soul, the attitude from rock, and the production and songwriting skills from pop music. I’m also very interested in Middle Eastern music, for students who want to explore other scales, Maqams, and musical languages. Lessons usually start by discussing the student’s goals and current level, followed by exercises and pieces tailored to their needs. I also provide guidance on instrument setup, tone, and technique, to ensure a solid foundation. My aim is to give students a full 360° view of music: understanding the language, knowing what you’re doing, and developing your own ways of improving by becoming more familiar with both the instrument and the musical language itself.
If this sounds like something for you, I would love to hear from you.