Music composition lessons in The Netherlands

Hernan is not just a good teacher but an exceptional one. I have had only one lesson with him so far, but I got so much from it, that I am looking forward to the next one. He went above and beyond from the beginning. He is very modest and professional in his teaching style, which makes it easy to absorb what he teaches. I would say I am an advanced composition and intermediate orchestration student with decades studying and composing by myself. I had been thinking about taking some advanced online courses available on the internet, but almost all such courses are really work-on-your-own courses. They might have Facebook groups available at best, where you can post questions. But they cannot compare to having a real teacher with the hands-on knowledge guiding you one on one. That one session was packed with so many great insights which I could have never gotten out of any video course or book. Only an insider of orchestration craft and the music composition industry could have such insights. I am looking forward to what I can learn in future lessons. UPDATE AFTER 15 LESSONS: I stopped after 15 lessons because honestly it will take me a long time to process and apply everything Hernan has given me. I will be applying it to my large portfolio of compositions, and I know my compositions are going to be much more mature and well-crafted after I apply what I have learnt to them. I have a completely tranformed attitude and understanding of music composition and orchestration craft. I thought it was simply a matter of learning additional material to get me to the advanced level of the masters. But I have learnt it is a whole world of nuances, subtleties and experience that the masters had a grasp of that allowed them to create at that level. Hernan has given me a good initiation into that world. I have also acquired tools and skills that will allow me to continue the journey on my own. Thank you Hernan.

We just have started to work with Yannis, but I am really happy about how we progress and feel inspired and looking forward to future lectures. Yannis teaches me to develop a vision on how to approach working with sound, while recording, processing and using it in electronic composition. I would say he is opening my mind in a way toward the analysing a character of sound as a compositional element. I like that lessons are not only just about a particular technique (and there are so many to learn from Yannis), but about developing a workflow and a mindset. Examples from historical electronic pieces to listen and analyse from legendary electroacoustic composers are really inspirational. After each lesson there is a home task and in the following lecture there is an analysis of the results and based on that Yannis gives lessons on what needs to be changed, improved, pay attention to etc, in order to develop compositional skills. I highly recommend Yannis as a teacher, if you are into modern experimental electroacoustic composition and improvisation.

Not just a singing teacher, but by the way also the best vocal coach you can get hold of at this moment and in this area of the Netherlands (so take your chance...;-)). For about 3 years I had a serious problem with my vocal chords (incomplete closure) and a dislocated larynx. I started to be in contact with Stefano by chance asking him to show me some (singing) exercises additionally to my treatment at the ENT-department of Martini Ziekenhuis Groningen as well as an ongoing therapy at a professional trained speech therapist. To cut a long story short: Within a couple of lessons and dedicated exercises he succeeded in re-positioning my larynx and got rid of my incomplete vocal cords closure, meanwhile the medical specialists had decided that the only cure could possibly be an operation... As a ‘side-effect’ I am now able to sing and control my voice like I have never been able before and could never have imagined that this was possible to achieve by just some simple but individually chosen exercises and practice. Grazie!