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Haarlem · Zandvoort · Amsterdam

Every guitarist
has a sound
waiting to be discovered.

Guitar lessons at home, group workshops & RSL certified exams
with Werner Bonthuys in Haarlem

Whether you're a complete beginner or have been playing for years, I teach at home — yours — bringing everything you need and building a practice around how you actually think and learn.

Book a Lesson See what I offer →
34+ Years playing
20+ Years teaching
L6 RSL Teaching Diploma
45 RSL grades passed
ACM Guildford graduate

Guitar lessons in Haarlem

Lessons shaped around you

I don't teach guitar by template. Your goals, your pace, the music you actually love — that's where we start.

Private Lessons

€40 per hour · at home

I come to you — at your home, with everything you need. One-on-one instruction built entirely around your goals, whether that's favourite songs, technique, theory, or a combination of all three. I also teach bass guitar and ukulele. All students get access to a personal online portal — with lesson notes, practice tracking, repertoire, scheduling, and invoicing in one place.

Enquire about private lessons →

Group Workshops

€40 per 3 hours · small groups

Learn alongside others in a relaxed, creative setting. Workshops cover technique, jamming, and music appreciation — all materials included. All levels welcome.

Ask about upcoming workshops →

Certified Graded Exams

€75 – €160 per exam · RSL Awards

Price varies by grade level (Grades 1–8)

Internationally recognised certification through RSL Awards London, Grades 1–8. Structured preparation, mock tests, and expert guidance. Clear goals, measurable milestones.

See student achievements →
Werner Bonthuys, guitar teacher in Haarlem

About me

Guitarist, teacher,
community builder.

I'm Werner Bonthuys — guitarist, teacher, and the kind of person who still gets genuinely excited when a student has a breakthrough. South African-born and Haarlem-based, I've been playing for 34 years and teaching formally for 20. I studied at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford and hold a Level 6 Teaching Diploma from RSL Awards.

My students have ranged from complete beginners to professional composers and music therapists. As a performing artist and session musician, I released my first original album After The Noise in 2026 — available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. I also helped pioneer graded guitar exams in the Netherlands — introducing internationally recognised qualifications to students here for the first time.

Teaching isn't a side project — it's how I share what I love most about music. My approach goes beyond technique and repertoire: I'm interested in who you are as a player, what drives you, and what gets in the way. The goal isn't just to teach you songs — it's to help you become someone who can find their own way through music.

34+ years playing Session musician Recording artist Author ACM Guildford RSL Level 6 Haarlem Guitar Club founder

A second book, The Anatomy of a Scale (Shape), is currently in development.

Get in touch
After The Noise — Werner Bonthuys

First original album · 2026

After The Noise

Nine original tracks — alternative, folk, and singer-songwriter. Available now on all major platforms.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Music Amazon Music

What students say

In their own words

★★★★★

"I've been lucky to have Werner as my guitar teacher for the past 3 years. He is an incredible teacher, methodical, and truly invested in your progress."

Noam Ben Haim

★★★★★

"I have two sons, now 18 and 13, who have been taking lessons from Werner since 2019. We are so happy to have found such an experienced and inspiring teacher."

Klaudine Cannaby

★★★★★

"The best guitar teacher I've ever had. Werner doesn't just teach songs, but rhythm, music, and all the details behind it."

Ghinwa Abou Zein

★★★★★

"Werner is a delightful tutor. He makes lessons fun and enjoyable while keeping the learning challenging and progressive. Very well-prepared."

Hugo Reis

★★★★★

"I've been having lessons with Werner for the past couple of years and have improved immensely."

David Lovett

★★★★★

"Great lessons for our 12-year-old son, who has improved his guitar skills enormously with the help and guidance from Werner."

Thijs Bosch

★★★★★

"My son has really loved learning guitar with Werner. He progresses with the child's own development and keeps them engaged and excited each lesson."

Natalie Gruis

★★★★★

"Werner is a wonderful guitar teacher. I started as a complete beginner, and the progress has been amazing."

Kris Van Hulssen

★★★★★

"Werner is a talented musician and an experienced, knowledgeable tutor."

Andrei Yanovich

★★★★★

"Very professional and knowledgeable teacher, with lessons customised to your needs."

Rabah Al Ali

Guitar Scales, Arpeggios and Chords by Werner Bonthuys

Published work

Guitar Scales, Arpeggios & Chords

A structured reference for guitarists who want to understand the fretboard, not just memorise it.

This book gives guitarists a clear, structured system to develop technique, understand the fretboard, and unlock creative freedom. Every scale family — Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Major — is presented with diagrams, modal analysis, and complete arpeggio structures.

Designed for guitarists who want more than shapes — it teaches you how to use them musically. Whether you're teaching, studying, or refining your improvisation, this is a practical reference you'll return to constantly.

  • Full Major, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor & Harmonic Major systems
  • All seven modes of each scale family in parallel for easy comparison
  • Triad, seventh, and extended arpeggio systems
  • Chord voicings, inversions, and modal arpeggio structures
  • Clear diagrams with theoretical breakdowns
Buy on Amazon

For students & guitarists

Guitar Skill Tree

Know where you are. Know where you're going.

Guitar Skill Tree is a structured learning app I've built to give guitarists a clear map of their development. Rather than practising randomly and hoping for progress, it shows you exactly which skills you've developed, what's within reach, and what to work on next.

Whether you're one of my students or learning on your own, it's a practical tool for making your practice more intentional — and your progress more visible.

Explore Guitar Skill Tree
◆

Structured skill map

Every technique, concept, and style area laid out clearly — so you always know where you stand.

◆

Track your progress

Mark skills as you develop them and watch your abilities grow over time.

◆

Intentional practice

Stop guessing what to work on. The skill tree shows you what's within reach and what comes next.

How lessons work

A lesson built
around you.

Every lesson is 60 minutes. Within that, I work in focused blocks — the number and length shift in real time depending on how you're playing, how you're thinking, and where your energy is that day. I read you as much as I read the music.

The one constant is music itself. Technique, theory, improvisation, ear training — all of it is grounded in actual songs. Songs are never the reward at the end of a lesson. They're the reason for everything in it.

Progress doesn't come from me — it comes from you. My job is to create the conditions where that becomes possible: to encourage without flattering, to challenge without overwhelming, and to help you see what you're capable of before you can see it yourself.

I'm not interested in a teacher-student hierarchy. We're working on this together, as equals with different roles. You bring the curiosity. I bring the experience. And between the two, something grows.

20 min

Block format — three topics

When there's ground to cover across multiple areas, I divide the hour into three focused blocks. Each gets full attention without becoming overwhelming.

40 min

Two-block format — deeper focus

When a topic deserves more time — a difficult piece, a new concept, building towards an exam — we go deeper with two longer blocks.

60 min

Full session — one focus

Sometimes one thing needs the whole hour. A concept that's not clicking, a performance piece that needs to be nailed, or a breakthrough that's worth following all the way through.

Always

Adapts to you

The structure above is a starting point, not a script. I read how you're doing in real time and adjust accordingly — more time where you need it, less where you don't.

What you leave with

  • Lesson notes summarising what we covered
  • A clear practice assignment for the week
  • Recordings where useful — to listen back and self-correct
  • An honest understanding of what you're struggling with
  • Something to work toward before the next session

Community

The Haarlem Guitar Club

Founded in 2023, the Haarlem Guitar Club is a community for guitar players of all levels — a place to connect, collaborate, and grow musically beyond the lesson room.

We meet regularly to play together, share ideas, and push each other forward. No performance pressure, no gatekeeping — just players who care about music. All levels welcome.

Find out more
Haarlem Guitar Club session

Common questions

What people ask before enquiring

What age do you teach?

My youngest students start at 8, though I find lessons work best from around 13 — when focus and finger strength make progress more rewarding. I also teach adults of all ages, including complete beginners who've always wanted to start.

Do I need a guitar before the first lesson?

Ideally yes — having your own instrument means you can practise between sessions, which is where the real progress happens. That said, if you're unsure what to buy, I'm happy to advise you before or after the first lesson so you get the right guitar for your goals and budget.

What happens in a first lesson?

We start with a song — something you actually want to play. From there I get a clear picture of where you are technically, what your hands are doing well, and where the gaps are. By the end of the first lesson you'll already be playing something, and I'll have a clear direction for what comes next.

How quickly will I see progress?

Most students can play a recognisable version of a song within 3–4 weeks — sooner if they practise regularly between lessons. Progress depends heavily on how much you practise at home, but even 15–20 minutes a day makes a significant difference.

How often are lessons?

Once a week is the standard, and it's what I recommend. It gives you enough time to practise what we covered without losing momentum. More frequent lessons are possible if you have a specific goal — like preparing for an exam.

Do you teach online?

My preference is always in person — I can hear, see, and correct technique far more effectively face to face. That said, I'm open to online lessons in situations where in-person isn't possible. Get in touch and we can work something out.

Which areas do you cover?

I teach students across Haarlem, Zandvoort, Heemstede, Bloemendaal, and the surrounding areas. All lessons come to you — I travel to your home with everything needed for the session.

Do students get anything beyond the lessons?

Yes — every student gets access to a personal online portal through MyMusicStaff. It includes lesson notes, a practice log, your repertoire list, scheduling, and invoicing. Everything in one place, accessible from any device.

What styles and genres do you teach?

All of them. My background spans rock, blues, jazz, folk, classical, and contemporary styles. I teach what you want to play — not what's easiest for me to teach. I also teach bass guitar and ukulele. All students get access to a personal online portal — with lesson notes, practice tracking, repertoire, scheduling, and invoicing in one place. Students bring their own musical tastes and we build from there.

How do I get started?

Just get in touch — use the contact form below or send me a message on WhatsApp. Tell me a little about where you are with the guitar and what you're hoping to work on, and we'll take it from there.

Where I teach

Lessons at home,
across the region.

I travel to you. All lessons take place at the student's home — I bring everything needed for the session. I teach students across a wide area centred around Zandvoort and Haarlem, covering most destinations reachable within 30 minutes by car.

If you're unsure whether your area is covered, get in touch — I'm happy to confirm.

Check your area

Areas covered

Zandvoort Haarlem Heemstede Bloemendaal Bentveld Aerdenhout Overveen Santpoort Spaarndam Halfweg Hoofddorp Badhoevedorp Amsterdam West Amsterdam Zuid Amstelveen Lisse Hillegom Bennebroek Vogelenzang Boesingheliede

Not sure if your area is covered? Most locations within 30 minutes of Zandvoort are fine — just ask.

Get in touch

Let's find your sound.

Tell me a little about where you are with the guitar and what you're hoping to work on. I'll get back to you within a day.

Email werner@learnguitar.nl
Phone / WhatsApp +31 6 555 62695
Location Haarlem · Zandvoort · Amsterdam
Certified by RSL Awards London