As an experienced music teacher with over 10 years of teaching practice, I have worked with a wide range of neurodiverse learners aged 6–60, each with their own unique story and reasons for wanting to learn music. I believe that every student learns differently, and one of the most important parts of my role is understanding how you learn best so that I can tailor lessons to suit your individual needs, goals, and interests.
My teaching philosophy centres on creating a personalised and supportive learning environment. Whether your aim is to develop solid technical foundations, work towards graded examinations, improve memory and musicianship skills, explore improvisation and jamming, develop songwriting techniques, or simply enjoy making music, lessons are designed around what motivates and inspires you.
I strongly believe that music education is most effective when it is relevant and engaging. Rather than relying solely on traditional teaching materials, I incorporate the music that inspired you to learn in the first place, using it as a foundation for developing new skills in a way that is both enjoyable and rewarding. Alongside practical playing, I may introduce tailored exercises, original pieces, creative activities, and structured practice strategies to support consistent progress throughout your musical journey.
I also have extensive experience teaching autistic students on both piano and drums. Drawing upon my music therapy training, I incorporate visual learning techniques and adaptable teaching methods to create an accessible and positive learning experience. Music can be a powerful tool for communication, self-expression, confidence building, and emotional regulation and I am passionate about helping students develop skills that enrich their lives both musically and personally.
Above all, my aim is to create lessons where every student feels understood, supported, and empowered to reach their full musical potential.
Instrument I teach:
Drums - Beginner to advanced
Tuned Percussion - Beginner to advanced
Piano - Beginner to intermediate
Guitar - Beginner to intermediate
Please contact me if you would like to set up sessions
My teaching philosophy centres on creating a personalised and supportive learning environment. Whether your aim is to develop solid technical foundations, work towards graded examinations, improve memory and musicianship skills, explore improvisation and jamming, develop songwriting techniques, or simply enjoy making music, lessons are designed around what motivates and inspires you.
I strongly believe that music education is most effective when it is relevant and engaging. Rather than relying solely on traditional teaching materials, I incorporate the music that inspired you to learn in the first place, using it as a foundation for developing new skills in a way that is both enjoyable and rewarding. Alongside practical playing, I may introduce tailored exercises, original pieces, creative activities, and structured practice strategies to support consistent progress throughout your musical journey.
I also have extensive experience teaching autistic students on both piano and drums. Drawing upon my music therapy training, I incorporate visual learning techniques and adaptable teaching methods to create an accessible and positive learning experience. Music can be a powerful tool for communication, self-expression, confidence building, and emotional regulation and I am passionate about helping students develop skills that enrich their lives both musically and personally.
Above all, my aim is to create lessons where every student feels understood, supported, and empowered to reach their full musical potential.
Instrument I teach:
Drums - Beginner to advanced
Tuned Percussion - Beginner to advanced
Piano - Beginner to intermediate
Guitar - Beginner to intermediate
Please contact me if you would like to set up sessions
Reviews from parents and students:
Willem has been teaching my son the drums for several years now and been a constant source of inspiration for him on the instrument. He has a great combination of covering the important techniques needed for progressing with grades, whilst also ensuring my son is interested and engaged! He is creative in his teaching methods and so was able to create bespoke lessons during lockdown on zoom that kept my son interested in his early stages of learning the drums, and this really helped my sons well-being during that time as well as continuing to develop on the instrument. My son has been excelling and done really well in his grade exams and so I would highly recommend Willem as a drum teacher.
Willem has been teaching our 8 year old daughter drums for the past 9 months. We really appreciate his engaging, adaptive style to teaching. This ensures the lessons are structured around the child's interests, are engaging and fun, but also develop musical understanding of the instrument
As a retired student, I found Willem’s enthusiasm to teach inspiring. He is always willing to adapt methods and lesson content to my needs, making practicing at home a daily pleasure. Our lessons are an opportunity for me to learn techniques I wanted to learn since childhood in an adult environment.
Willem, has been teaching my 14-year-old son, William, drums for the past three years.
William really enjoys his lessons with Willem and always looks forward to them. Willem takes the time to understand William’s musical interests and adapts the sessions to keep him engaged, while also encouraging him to push himself and develop his skills.
Over the past three years, William’s drumming has come on a lot, and his confidence has grown too. He regularly takes part in school performances as part of the orchestra, plays drums in a band at public events, and has recently started busking.
Willem is kind, patient, reliable, and trustworthy. He has made a real difference to William’s enjoyment and passion for music and has helped him to thrive. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Willem to others.
Willem has been teaching my son the drums for several years now and been a constant source of inspiration for him on the instrument. He has a great combination of covering the important techniques needed for progressing with grades, whilst also ensuring my son is interested and engaged! He is creative in his teaching methods and so was able to create bespoke lessons during lockdown on zoom that kept my son interested in his early stages of learning the drums, and this really helped my sons well-being during that time as well as continuing to develop on the instrument. My son has been excelling and done really well in his grade exams and so I would highly recommend Willem as a drum teacher.
Willem has been teaching our 8 year old daughter drums for the past 9 months. We really appreciate his engaging, adaptive style to teaching. This ensures the lessons are structured around the child's interests, are engaging and fun, but also develop musical understanding of the instrument
As a retired student, I found Willem’s enthusiasm to teach inspiring. He is always willing to adapt methods and lesson content to my needs, making practicing at home a daily pleasure. Our lessons are an opportunity for me to learn techniques I wanted to learn since childhood in an adult environment.
Willem, has been teaching my 14-year-old son, William, drums for the past three years.
William really enjoys his lessons with Willem and always looks forward to them. Willem takes the time to understand William’s musical interests and adapts the sessions to keep him engaged, while also encouraging him to push himself and develop his skills.
Over the past three years, William’s drumming has come on a lot, and his confidence has grown too. He regularly takes part in school performances as part of the orchestra, plays drums in a band at public events, and has recently started busking.
Willem is kind, patient, reliable, and trustworthy. He has made a real difference to William’s enjoyment and passion for music and has helped him to thrive. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Willem to others.
