Composition for Beginners & More Experienced Composers, Harmony, Counterpoint, Orchestration

From 99.66 C$ /h

Barney's Teaching Manifesto:

Dear Composer,

The only true teacher is hearing your works rehearsed and performed. This is the most important element to realizing your destiny, but if you have come here, you probably do not yet believe it. Teachers will keep you trapped in the belief that you do not have what you already need. But everything you need you can get on your own.

I cannot teach you anything, or rather, I can teach you everything but composition itself: You are the final expert on your own works. A teacher is a shortcut. And when we take shortcuts, we must always go back. But this is not a bad thing. Going back is a way to go forwards. If you have tried to advance through the no-teacher method and you feel that you cannot wait any longer, then perhaps it is time to try the teacher method.

You are the king, queen, or ruler, shall we say. I am just your advisor, should you so choose. I can tell you what I think, I can warn you of pitfalls, and I can even stop you for a moment in time. But it is you, dear composer, that must choose. I cannot teach you to be what you already are: The Composer. Sometimes my advice may be of help. And other times it won’t be. And then one day you must rule your kingdom on your own. Let’s hope that that day arrives very soon.

I seek students who are hardworkers, strong-willed, or a combination of the both. Composition requires an obscene amount of work and determination. We live in a world that seeks our silence and complaisance. The act of completing a piece is itself a declaration of war, because the amount of effort and energy required to bring this child into existence is unfathomable to the general public.

With Eternal Love from my Compositional Pen,

Classes for Beginners
1)Composition (60 mins)
2)Introduction to Composition (60 mins)
3) Introduction to Composition & Harmony (90 mins)
Prerequisites:
0-3 years of composition experince
3 years of instrumental study

Classes for Composers with Experience
1) Composition (60 mins)
2) Composition & Harmony (90 mins)
3) Composition & Counterpoint (90 mins)
4) Composition & Orhcestration (90 mins)
Prerequisites:
3+ years of composition study with a teacher
OR
5+ years of self study in composition

If you feel that I can be of assistance for a short time on your compositional journey, then you may contact me to arrange a trial lesson. If we deem that it is a mutual fit, then we can work together for a period of time.

Have a great day,

Extra information

Please contact me for more information about my teaching

Location

Use Ctrl + wheel to zoom!

At student's location :

Around Amsterdam, Netherlands

About Me

My strategy is as follows: the first lesson you tell me what your goals are, and then I will craft our lessons arond your goals. Once your goals are met you are free to leave. If your goals change over time, make sure to communicate them to me, so that I can do my job well. Very important: your music scores must be handwritten. You can type them up as well for legibilty, but they still must be handwritten. Copies of your handwritten score are acceptible. We will look at your music either at the piano or discussing between us.

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara: Masters in Music Composition (2014)
State University of New York, Purchase College: Bachelors in Music Composition (2011)

Experience / Qualifications

teaching positions at SUNY New Paltz, Union County College, Chamber Music Center of New york, JCC Thurnauer School of Music

Age

Children (7-12 years old)

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

60 minutes

The class is taught in

English

Skills

Music composition

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00)

New York

At student's home

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

Ludovic

5.0

(6)

Hey peeps!
I love to give guitar lessons in a relaxed mood that will not put pressure on you, only giving you feedbacks that will improve your practice. The first lessons will generally consist of covering the basics by learning simple songs. Depending on how it goes, we will go straight into learning songs that you want to play, where you will learn even more!
I can teach you how to play across several appointments during the week so you'll learn faster and enjoy playing straight from the beginning :)

Keep growing ♥️

Fani

5.0

(6)

Music Production, Music Technology, Electronic music composition. Audio Recording and mixing.
Learn how to use Logic Pro X, Ableton, Reaper etc. Depending on your level the lessons start from basic music technology principles to advanced music production techniques.

Beginners: I can teach you about the types of microphones and how to use them (Audio Recording), introduce you to the basic audio equipment, and teach you how to use a Digital Audio Workstation (Audio mixing & Audio editing).
Intermediate/Advanced: For advanced levels, we can focus on production and mixing techniques, special effects, composition, aesthetics, and adjust the lesson to your knowledge.

Get in touch to discuss your needs, every lesson is personalized.

Stefano

5.0

(6)

Are you ready to discover the magic of one of the most beautiful instruments ever created? Look no further! The piano has transformed my life and I'm confident it will do the same for you.

With my guidance, I'll equip you with all the tools you need to approach this majestic and stunning instrument. I'll take you on a personal journey, step by step, showing you how to master the Piano in a way that suits your individual style. Whether it's Jazz, Classical, or Pop, you'll fall in love with playing the Piano!

But that's not all - I'm also thrilled to offer you the opportunity to explore:
- Music theory
- Songwriting and Composition skills

With my expert guidance, you'll develop a well-rounded musical education that will take your talent to new heights.

So why wait? Get in touch with me today and let's embark on this wonderful journey together!

Xico

5.0

(6)

Music is Play! and everyone is its own game.
Understand and make only the music you like. If it isn't fun, it can't be music!

I studied a classical piano bachelor, and later a jazz master and a live electronics master. In the meantime, I have been teaching music and playing synths, drum machines, and computers. It's longer than 5 years now!
Electronic music is a very vast world. The possibilities are endless. But do you need to learn everything, or only what interests you to make the music you want to do? From listening and analyzing a song you like, we will go through the necessary knowledge for you to achieve it:
- What do you need to build your home studio in order to create something similar?
- Which instruments (or plugins) are being used.
- Whether or not a knowledge of music theory is necessary.
- And in which different ways / through which paths could you achieve something like what you desire?

At the same time that we analyze and learn, you are also going to be encouraged to create! Practice makes the master, and the more you create, the more familiar you'll be with the tools and the environments that we learn in class. A part of the class is also going to be dedicated to listening to what you created and going through different ways we may improve it.

For people interested in live electronics (live-processing an acoustic instrument or programming live sets), I also have knowledge of Max MSP and I can teach the basics or help you program any kind of device you propose.

PD: I have also experienced imparting piano lessons, which is also a very important part of my professional practice. In case you are interested, it is also possible to mix the two worlds and create any kind of path between piano, synths, beats, and home studio techniques.

Ask me anything, I'll tell you how I could help!

Antek

5.0

(6)

Hello there!

My name is Antek and i'm a cellist and composer who graduated from Conservatorium van Amsterdam. As a cellist I've had the pleasure and honour of collaborating with renowned artists such as Hans Zimmer, being part of his 2022 European Tour Orchestra, touring over 15 countries and playing in locations such as London's O2 Arena or Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. I am now mainly active as a performer of contemporary/experimental music, as well as classical music, freelancing in various orchestras in the Netherlands, having played in venues such as Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Concertgebouw or TivoliVredenburg. I offer cello lessons, regardless of the level - whether you are a curious beginner or more advanced player, i'm happy to collaborate and share my knowledge and experience with you, as well as inspire your creativity regarding both playing the right notes, and making artistic choices.

I can also help you prepare for conservatory entrance exams by providing Solfege, Ear-training and General Music Theory lessons.

As a composer, I'm currently pursuing a degree at Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. I can help you work on your ideas, and how to write them down, to sound exactly how you want them to sound. That includes tutorials on engraving rules, orchestration, working in DAWs (Ableton) and using sheet music software (Sibelius, MuseScore), as well as building your craft and workflow. I'm experienced in writing both instrumental and electronic music, as well as performance art, live electronics and multidisciplinary projects. I have also collaborated with institutions like National Polish Radio or CelloWercken Festival Zutphen.

I hope to hear back from you soon and I'm looking forward to start working on your musical journey!
Peace and Love
Antek

Stijn

5.0

(6)

Guitar lessons in Amsterdam Center from a certified guitar teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience!

Pop, Rock, Blues, Funk, Jazz: I am familiar with many styles and can help you discover the guitar and your musical development!

Accompany yourself on guitar while you sing? Do you want to write songs yourself? With my tips, lessons and coaching you will go further and get even more pleasure and satisfaction from music and your guitar

Samuel

5.0

(6)

Hello

I'm a professional bass player living in Amsterdam. I have a passion for teaching and passing on some of the knowledge that I have acquired during my studies at several schools and heard from the musicians I look up to. I've done my bachelor degree at The Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, and I finished my Masters at Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2024.

I teach double bass, electric bass and composition.

Musically I try to be as open as I can. For me it doesn't matter if it's free jazz, traditional jazz, pop or metal as long as it feels good.

I'm a leader of my own group where we combine jazz and indie rock. we will release our debut album this fall.

I'm also a sideman in several groups.

As for composition I have experience with composing for regular jazz groups, big band, string quartet and irregular constellations such as my band with three guitars and three horns.

Some thoughts about teaching:

I believe that the most important thing when teaching is having a good relation to one another and generally just having a good time. If we don't enjoy the process we don't learn.
You should feel comfortable saying how you feel and what you want to learn/don't want to learn. With that transparency I will be able to customize the teaching and balance the curriculum so that I meet your needs while pushing you into unknown territory.

If you're reading this I'm happy that you took your time to read through it all, and hopefully we'll get to meet and talk about music!

Davide

5.0

(6)

Join Davide, a professional jazz vocalist and master's student at the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam, for an engaging and enriching vocal jazz/pop class. With years of performing experience across Europe and a deep understanding of voice techniques, Davide offers personalized coaching to help you unlock your vocal potential.

What You’ll Learn:

Fundamentals of Jazz/Pop Singing: Explore jazz and pop phrasing, rhythm, and improvisation to bring your performance to life.

Voice Technique: Strengthen breath control, tone, and pitch with targeted exercises.

Repertoire Building: Learn to interpret and perform classic jazz standards and pop songs while developing your own unique style.

Stage Presence: Tips on engaging audiences and developing confidence through live performance techniques.

Multilingual Singing: Benefit from Davide's expertise in Italian, English, and Spanish to master songs in multiple languages.

This class is perfect for singers of all levels looking to refine their vocal technique, enhance their jazz/pop repertoire, and explore improvisation.

Minja

5.0

(6)

This class can be anything you choose from the specified lessons. I teach piano, any genre is welcome since I have been playing and studying all of them, anything you choose is possible. We could start with absolute beginner lessons, or if you are already have been playing and you want to upgrade your skills, we will continue to make you a better player, or composer. I can also provide help and guidance with preparations for exams or auditions.

Niccolò

5.0

(6)

Learn to play the piano, train your ear, and develop a solid harmonic foundation to play your favorite songs. I’m a saxophonist and clarinetist, graduated from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, with two years of classical piano studies and two years of jazz piano (harmony on the piano). My lessons focus on a practical approach, helping you understand chords, progressions, and musical structures in a simple and accessible way. Whether you're starting from scratch or want to use the piano to better understand music, my lessons will guide you step by step in a relaxed and engaging way.

Markas

5.0

(6)

In these classes we can dive into harmony, melody, composing and recording into Logic Pro X or Ableton Live. We can create compositions using either traditional techniques or tools such as musescore or any DAW (digital audio workstation) to create our pieces.

Sofiia

5.0

(6)

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.

Alex

5.0

(6)

Wanna learn to write songs like the pros? That's where I come in! From song structure to hooks and catchy choruses, to lyric writing and instrumentation, I can teach you all the skills you need to write songs like a Hollywood music producer!

ABOUT ME:
I'm Alex an award-winning songwriter, composer, performer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and audio engineer from Hollywood. I combine a BFA in Musical Arts and an MFA in Performance & Composition from California Institute of the Arts with 28+ years of professional experience in the music industry and 15+ years of teaching experience.

I've been signed to multiple record labels, including Sony Music, and write, produce, engineers, mix and master a wide variety of styles, including Rock, Alternative, Indie, Pop, EDM, Country, Film & Trailer Scoring, Sound Design and much more.

I've also taught master level classes in Popular Music, Contemporary Songwriting, Composition, Recording Arts, Music Business, and Music Theory.

Deniz

5.0

(6)

In this class, we use Ableton Live as a creative tool to explore music production, composition, and sound design. Whether you're a beginner or already producing, the lessons are tailored to your goals. whether that’s making beats, writing songs, or designing experimental soundscapes. You'll learn how to turn your musical ideas into finished tracks, while gaining practical knowledge of arrangement, audio effects, MIDI, sampling, and more. Theory is introduced in a simple, intuitive way to support your creativity, and improvisation is encouraged to help you find your own sound. My goal is to give you the tools—and the confidence—to create music that feels truly yours.

Philip

5.0

(6)

I am an award-winning composer with a Master’s degree in Composition from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and experience as a concert pianist, orchestral player, and accompanist. I currently have a few openings for new students.

Piano Lessons (Beginner to Advanced)
Personalized lessons adapted to each student’s goals and musical background.
Classical and contemporary repertoire (including pop), technique, interpretation and sight-reading.
Integrated music theory and ear training to strengthen musical understanding.
Lessons usually take place at the student’s home.
Lesson durations: 30, 45, or 60 minutes — with longer sessions available for advanced students.

Composition & Creative Coaching
For developing composers and advanced musicians:
Guidance in contemporary instrumental and electronic composition, creative process, and artistic mentorship.
Support with notation, score presentation, and project preparation.
Coaching in production, electronic creation, and mixing.
Composition lessons are also available online via webcam.

If you're looking for structured, inspiring, and flexible musical training, feel free to get in touch and I’ll be happy to help you grow as a musician and creator.