Lesson Details
Guitar
- Levels Taught:
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
I can also provide helpful advice on guitar related aspects like sound/equipment, instrument setup /maintenance and recording.
Nils teaches
About
- Teaches students:
- Ages 5+ and special needs
- Teaching since:
- July 2002
Whether you're a beginner or more advanced, age 5 or 500, in my experience, with just a little bit of practice each day anyone can learn to play guitar.
Maybe your goal is to simply learn to play your favorite songs or maybe you want to learn to write your own music, improvise, or perform live.
Like all good things in life, there are no shortcuts, and learning the guitar takes time and effort, but in return you get the ability to express yourself through music, which is one of the most rewarding skills anyone could ever learn, at any age and in any situation.
My main focus is on helping you reach the point where you are actually playing music, instead of endlessly going over exercises or theory.
I want you to be able to play music you would enjoy listening to, because this is when you will start to truly appreciate your accomplishment, and progress will start to come much easier.
Together we will discuss your personalized course, based on your goals and situation, and along the way I will provide materials/tools and a summary or a recording of each lesson as needed, for you to take home to work on.
Different aspects we'll discuss are technique, chart/sight reading, music theory, ear training, soloing/improvisation, and developing a strong sense of rhythm, most of which will be done through simply learning to play the songs you like.
Besides the basics, it's very important to learn how to independently keep challenging yourself, learn from your mistakes and continue growing musically, simply using your ears and whatever information you can find online or anywhere else, even without my help.
Besides teaching you how to play I can also help with finding the right instrument and equipment, provide advice on guitar/amplifier maintenance and setups, as well as recording techniques, or any other practical matters related to playing music/guitar.
Lessons can be either at your residence or at my fully equipped home studio in the Hollywood Hills/Studio City area. In a beautiful and private environment, with plenty of (free/safe) street parking available.
Lessons via Skype are obviously available as well.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Experience
Live/Studio Guitarist
Jan 2002 - PresentI have many years of live/studio playing experience, in a variety of genres, on various instruments, both here in Los Angeles as well as in Europe.
Guitar Teacher
Jan 2002 - PresentAs a guitar teacher I have 14+ years of experience, having taught at various music schools (both here and in Europe), as well as teaching privately.
My expertise is Blues, Rock, Pop and Funk/Soul, but I can teach you the basics of styles like Metal, Jazz, Classical and Latin as well.
Education
Guitar Institute of Technology
Mar 2008 - Dec 2009Guitar Lessons
Jan 2000 - Jan 2008Guitar Jazz & Pop
Aug 2006 - Jun 2007Drum Lessons
Jan 2003 - Jan 2005Piano Lessons
Jan 1994 - Jan 1998Languages
Dutch
English
Certifications
Associate of Arts Degree
Dec 2009Photos & Videos
16 Reviews
Write a ReviewNils is a very professional and great teacher, after only one lesson I felt a huge improvement and had a template to grow as an artist.
I would highly recommend his teaching to anyone looking to become a better guitar player!
Nils is an excellent teacher. After many years of trying to master certain songs he was able to hone in on the instruction that I needed. He helped me make progress and enjoy myself along the way.
I had several great lessons with Nils. He helped me break through a plateau I was on in terms of modal soloing and also with recognizing chord shapes and how the lie underneath scale structures. He was responsive, knowledgeable and quick to grasp what I, as an already experienced player, needed to improve. Highly recommended!
+ Read MoreMy son absolutely loves Nils. Nils has been his guitar teacher for a few years now and has been very patient and accommodating especially since my son has Autism which can sometimes make traditional instruction a challenge. However, Nils is able to recognize his strengths and treats him just like a regular "cool dude" and I have since seen my son be more confident with his guitar playing. Nils has helped my son become a better " Rock Star" every week.
+ Read MoreGreat teacher!
Great lessons! Providing lots of avenues to take my playing to the next level. Nils gives very clear explanations and has a great understanding of music theory and how to apply it
Amazing teacher!
Expertly gages your experience and tailors the lesson to meet you where you're at. Tons of knowledge, excellent first lesson!
Great teacher! Makes excellent use of lesson time and I was able to immediately apply things I learned.
In the beginning, it was great, I loved it, but I moved in Paris recently for family reasons and guess what, They told me I need to pay for 1 month! It's not Nils's fault but Takelesson's
He's top notch. Nils has a really positive attitude and is very patient.
He was on point and thorough
As an adult learner who's never even held a guitar until now, I put in a lot of time and effort into finding the right guitar instructor. I wanted someone extremely patient and empathetic to the struggles of a novice, in addition to being an expert musician himself. I found all that and more in Nils B. Don't hesitate to set up a lesson!
+ Read MoreI'm a singer/songwriter that wanted to play guitar to help make it easier to write songs. It's only been 5 lessons & Nils has already taught me so much & I can feel my potential growing with each lesson. If you want a teacher who cares & teaches you right I highly recommend Nils!
+ Read MoreMy daughter love her lessons with Nils. And I can see already some progress
Lessons with Nils have been a great experience. I've taken lessons on and off for several years and finally found an instructor that plays the music I want to learn.