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This teacher has a fast response time and rate, demonstrating a high quality of service to their students.
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Since September 2025
Instructor since September 2025
Guitar Lessons with a Working Musician – Learn Real-World Playing & Tone
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From 68.32 C$ /h
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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.
Location
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At teacher's location :
  • 1054 HA Amsterdam, Netherlands
About Me
Hi, I’m Mike McWilliams, 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.
Education
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.
Experience / Qualifications
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.
Age
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration
45 minutes
60 minutes
The class is taught in
English
Japanese
Availability of a typical week
(GMT -05:00)
New York
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At teacher's location
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
00-04
04-08
08-12
12-16
16-20
20-24
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!
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Jim
My name is Jim, I am a singer and musician. I won "The Voice of Holland"(RTL) in 2019, in 2021 I graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory and in 2022 I won "Better than Ever"(RTL)

I completed my conservatory training in Jazz Singing at the CvA, but I have worked in many other genres in recent years. I also studied guitar at the Conservatory and obtained my propaedeutic diploma there, after which I switched to singing at the Conservatory. .

In class we focus on what you want. I can teach you everything about singing, guitar, but also about music theory, song-writing, and playing other instruments such as bass guitar, piano and drums.
I teach everyone, from beginners to people who want to prepare for the entrance exam to the Conservatory.
You choose the genre! I have experience in almost all genres so we can focus on the music you like.


I have 12 years of experience in performing and have performed with the Metropool Orchestra, played at festivals such as Concert at Sea and performed in hundreds of theaters and stages across the country. I also have experience with recording albums and songwriting.

I teach in my studio where all the instruments are present and where we can also record things as practice.
Depending on your location, I also teach at home.

From 2024 I will start teaching, something I have always enjoyed but have never been able to do full-time. The process of learning has always intrigued me and I have a lot of desire and energy to embark on this adventure.

Maybe see you soon,

Jim


My name is Jim, I am a singer and musician. I won "The Voice of Holland"(RTL) in 2019, in 2021 I graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory and in 2022 I won "Better than Ever"(RTL)

I completed my conservatory training in Jazz Singing at the CvA, but I have worked in many other genres in recent years. I also studied guitar at the Conservatory and obtained my propaedeutic diploma there, after which I switched to singing at the Conservatory.

In class we focus on what you want. I can teach you everything about singing, guitar, but also about music theory, song-writing, and playing other instruments such as bass guitar, piano and drums.
I teach everyone, from beginners to people who want to prepare for the entrance exam to the Conservatory.
You choose the genre! I have experience in almost all genres so we can focus on the music you like.


I have 12 years of experience in performing and have performed with the Metropool Orchestra, played at festivals such as Concert at Sea and performed in hundreds of theaters and stages across the country. I also have experience with recording albums and songwriting.

I teach in my studio where all the instruments are present and where we can also make recordings as practice.
Depending on your location, I also teach at home.

From 2024 I will start teaching, something I have always enjoyed but have never been able to do full-time. The process of learning has always intrigued me and It gives me a lot of joy and energy to embark on this adventure.

maybe see you in class!

Jim
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Contact Mike
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Similar classes
arrow icon previousarrow icon next
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Jim
My name is Jim, I am a singer and musician. I won "The Voice of Holland"(RTL) in 2019, in 2021 I graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory and in 2022 I won "Better than Ever"(RTL)

I completed my conservatory training in Jazz Singing at the CvA, but I have worked in many other genres in recent years. I also studied guitar at the Conservatory and obtained my propaedeutic diploma there, after which I switched to singing at the Conservatory. .

In class we focus on what you want. I can teach you everything about singing, guitar, but also about music theory, song-writing, and playing other instruments such as bass guitar, piano and drums.
I teach everyone, from beginners to people who want to prepare for the entrance exam to the Conservatory.
You choose the genre! I have experience in almost all genres so we can focus on the music you like.


I have 12 years of experience in performing and have performed with the Metropool Orchestra, played at festivals such as Concert at Sea and performed in hundreds of theaters and stages across the country. I also have experience with recording albums and songwriting.

I teach in my studio where all the instruments are present and where we can also record things as practice.
Depending on your location, I also teach at home.

From 2024 I will start teaching, something I have always enjoyed but have never been able to do full-time. The process of learning has always intrigued me and I have a lot of desire and energy to embark on this adventure.

Maybe see you soon,

Jim


My name is Jim, I am a singer and musician. I won "The Voice of Holland"(RTL) in 2019, in 2021 I graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory and in 2022 I won "Better than Ever"(RTL)

I completed my conservatory training in Jazz Singing at the CvA, but I have worked in many other genres in recent years. I also studied guitar at the Conservatory and obtained my propaedeutic diploma there, after which I switched to singing at the Conservatory.

In class we focus on what you want. I can teach you everything about singing, guitar, but also about music theory, song-writing, and playing other instruments such as bass guitar, piano and drums.
I teach everyone, from beginners to people who want to prepare for the entrance exam to the Conservatory.
You choose the genre! I have experience in almost all genres so we can focus on the music you like.


I have 12 years of experience in performing and have performed with the Metropool Orchestra, played at festivals such as Concert at Sea and performed in hundreds of theaters and stages across the country. I also have experience with recording albums and songwriting.

I teach in my studio where all the instruments are present and where we can also make recordings as practice.
Depending on your location, I also teach at home.

From 2024 I will start teaching, something I have always enjoyed but have never been able to do full-time. The process of learning has always intrigued me and It gives me a lot of joy and energy to embark on this adventure.

maybe see you in class!

Jim
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