Composition and music theory - all levels, all styles - Amsterdam

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Composition and music theory - all levels, all styles

From 68 C$ /h

Want to learn more about what's behind classical music? Do you want to learn to write music yourself? Or are you already writing music, and would you like guidance or feedback? Then I can help you with this!

I graduated as a composer at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Bachelor) and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Master). I have a lot of experience writing for solo instruments, ensembles, choirs and orchestras, and electronics.

For music theory, I can take a general, broad approach, or we can focus on certain types of music and explore it, depending on your needs.

For composition, we can discuss the basics if you are just starting or planning to compose. If you've been doing it for a while, we'll focus more on the music you make and discuss it with each other.

Extra information

For composition: If you've already composed something, show it so we can talk about it. And especially pieces that are not yet finished / are still in the idea phase, because that is often very interesting!

Location

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At student's location :

Around Amsterdam, Netherlands

About Me

My name is Pepijn, and I am a composer. I completed my bachelor's degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and my master's degree at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Several of my works have been performed throughout the Netherlands, from Amsterdam and Utrecht to Eindhoven, and also outside the Netherlands in New York and in Portugal. I've been involved with music almost my entire life, but it remains an endlessly fascinating subject with an incredible amount to discover.

In my music I try not to commit too much to a certain style, because I think that capturing can come at the expense of your creativity. In addition, there is so much good music in all styles that you miss out on a lot of good if you focus on one style.
I do think it is good to have a basic understanding of harmony, rhythm, and instruments, acoustic or electronic, because it simply helps enormously in your creative process if you have something you can trust.

Education

Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Bachelor of Music, main subject Composition
The following subjects include General Music Theory, Harmony / Analysis (2 years), Solfege (2 years), Analysis and Solfege New Music (1 year), Music History (2 years), History of New Music, Orchestration (3 years), Piano Specialist (3 years) year) and Management (2 year)

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Master of Music Composition.

Experience / Qualifications

Full conservatory education (Bachelor + Master), strong theoretical background, long experience in composing, collaborating with musicians and the creative process.

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

45 minutes

60 minutes

The class is taught in

Dutch

English

Skills

Music composition

Music theory

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -04:00)

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

Valeria

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I am a classical and baroque bassist. Graduated from Amsterdam Conservatory (Bachelor and Master )
With more than 15 years playing my instrument and 3 years of teaching young kids and people from all ages and levels!

If you always wanted to learn the double bass is never to late to start!

Stefano

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Discover your inner musician and take your talent to the next level with my classes in songwriting, music theory, and arrangement! Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned musician, I'll provide you with the tools and guidance you need to unlock your full potential and unleash your creativity.

As a musician, singer, piano player, composer, and songwriter myself I am experienced in a variety of genres, including pop, jazz, soul, and classical music, so you can choose the style that speaks to you. With my personalized approach, I'll help you develop the skills and techniques you need to create your own unique sound.

In my songwriting classes, you'll learn how to craft compelling lyrics and melodies that truly resonate with your audience. In my music theory classes, you'll delve into the fundamentals of music and gain a deeper understanding of the building blocks of your favorite songs. And in my arrangement classes, you'll discover how to take your songs to the next level with intricate, thoughtful instrumentation.

Join me today and take the first step towards realizing your musical dreams! My classes are designed to be fun, engaging, and inspiring, so you'll never want to put down your instrument. Let's make some beautiful music together!

Antek

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Hello there!

My name is Antek and i'm a cellist, pianist 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

Ali

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My goal is to help you become a confident guitarist by combining technique, musical understanding, and the music that inspires you. Whether you want to learn your favorite songs, improve your technique, develop improvisation skills, explore different musical styles, or build a strong foundation in music theory, I would be happy to help you reach your goals step by step.

Lessons combine structure and flexibility, allowing you to progress at your own pace. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Maria

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I'm a classical pianist with more than 10 years of experience, who studies piano Bachelor at Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Teaching at students' homes: classical, pop, music theory/harmony.
My lessons are based on your music preferences, development of technique, and understanding of the context of music in each case individually.
I provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere while enjoying practicing!
I teach in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Stijn

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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

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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

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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.

Sofiia

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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.

Deniz

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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.

Efstratia

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I teach cello to students of all ages and levels: from complete beginners to those preparing for conservatory auditions. My goal is to build your technique and musicality together, step by step, so that you're always challenged but never overwhelmed.

A typical lesson works on a mix of technique (posture, bow control, tone production), repertoire suited to your level and taste, and — if you want it — music theory and sight-reading. I'll set clear short-term goals with you each lesson and check in regularly on your progress, so you always know what you're working toward and why.

I have experience teaching students with dyslexia and ADHD, and I adjust my pacing and explanations so lessons stay clear and comfortable rather than stressful. If you're an absolute beginner, don't worry — I've taught people who've never held a cello before, and we start exactly where you are.

A bit about my background: I hold a Master of Music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where I studied under Ella van Poucke, and I graduated cum laude from the Conservatory and University of Thessaloniki. With my quartet, I won First Prize and the Young Jury Prize at the Storioni Festival Competition 2026, and I've performed at venues including Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, and Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.

Lessons can be in English, Dutch, German, or Greek, in Amsterdam or online. Get in touch and tell me a bit about your goals — I'll tailor our first lesson around them.

If you’re interested, feel free to contact me with any questions.

Simon

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Have you always wanted to impress your friends and family by playing the guitar for them? You've come to the right place!

I propose that we learn your favorite pieces together over a few weeks and help you feel confident with the instrument. Whatever your level, I will be there to support you with kindness in your personal development.

Being both a self-taught guitarist and a conservatory graduate, I will be able to adapt to you so that you feel most comfortable in your learning process.

Having extensive experience with students, particularly in conservatories, they are all very happy with my teaching methods!

Duarte

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My lessons are highly flexible and tailored to help each student reach their musical goals as efficiently as possible. Whichever genre of music you want to learn (pop, classical music, rock, metal, jazz, salsa, middle eastern, balkan and other folk music, etc.), I have experience in lots of musical fields and can help in learning how to play bass, the role you play in the band and the theory behind it all.

Elias

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Guitar lessons with Elias (In person, Virtual or Hybrid) are tailored to your goals, experiences and musical interests. Whether you are a complete beginner, returning to the guitar, or are looking to develop your skills further, lessons are designed to be practical, enjoyable, and encouraging.

We can develop your technique, sight reading, chords/harmony, scales, repertoire, improvisation, ear training, music theory and performance skills.

I welcome students who want to develop serious ability and freedom on the instrument as well as students interested primarily in learning their favorite songs. Each lesson is adapted to your level and pace, with clear guidance and achievable goals to help you build confidence and make steady progress. My aim is to help you become a more confident, creative, and independent guitarist while, most importantly, enjoying the process of learning.

Laurine

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Hi there ! If you are looking for a versatile teacher, that can help you learn or improve on the oboe, or on its baroque cousin, you are at the right place.

The lessons will focus on your own need, according to your level. Beginners to very advanced players are welcome! From your basic technique to learning your favorite piece, with the guidance of musical theory along the way, you will find a friendly space to develop your knowledge, and most important, connect and have fun on the oboe :)

I can also help you with the reeds ; by showing you the general technique as well as all my little secrets... ;)

I am also specialised in the historically informed practice field, and I would be more than happy to share this part of my education with you.