PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS · NEWCASTLE, KZN

Learn to play real music, with real people.

One-on-one lessons with experienced tutors. Your instrument, your pace, your goals.
In-person in Newcastle or online, your choice.

  • From R1 000 per month
  • 40-minute weekly lessons
  • No lock-in contract
  • In-person or online
Book your first lesson → See how it works →
Private music lesson at The Amateur Musician
★★★★★

“With a structured approach I was able to learn Bass, Guitar, and Keyboard in a short amount of time. The theory foundation carries across every instrument. The key is Practice Practice Practice!”

Ayo — Bass, Guitar & Keyboard
6+
Instruments taught
40 min
Per weekly lesson
R1 000
Per month, flat
0
Lock-in contracts
WHAT YOU GET

Lessons built around you, not a textbook.

⏱

One 40-minute lesson per week

Each session is focused and intentional. Designed to build you into the musician you want to be — not fit you into a musician-shaped mould as fast as possible.

🎵

Your tutor. Your pace.

We don’t use a one-size-fits-all syllabus. Your tutor gets to know how you learn and builds around that. A reactive tutoring style means you get the tutoring you need.

📍

In-person in Newcastle — or online, your choice

Most lessons happen face-to-face in Newcastle, KZN. Based further afield, or prefer to learn from home? Online via video call works just as well.

What a lesson might look like

  • A short warm-up or technique check-in (5 min)
  • Working through your current song or exercise (20 min)
  • New concepts, technique, or material introduced or a goal set for the week (10 min)
  • Final Check-In, Q&A, and recap (5 min)

Instruments we teach

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Drums, Violin — plus Tailored Lessons for anything else music or event related.

Acoustic GuitarElectric GuitarBass GuitarKeyboardDrumsViolinTailored Lessons
WHAT WE TEACH

Pick your instrument.
We’ve got the rest covered.

All our tutors are multi-instrumentalists with real-world performance experience. Whatever you want to learn, you’re in the right place.

Acoustic Guitar

Electric Guitar

Bass Guitar

Keyboard

Drums

Violin

Tailored Lessons — with John

By arrangement

Not sure which instrument is right for you? Your first lesson can be an exploration session — no commitment required.

INVESTMENT

Simple, honest pricing.

Standard Private Lessons
R1 000per month
  • One 40-minute 1-on-1 lesson per week
  • 4 lessons per month
  • Matched with one of our experienced TAM tutors
  • Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard or Drums
  • Flexible rescheduling (48 hours notice)
  • Lesson notes or practice tips shared after each session
Book your first lesson →

In-person lessons in Newcastle are our default. If you’d prefer your tutor to travel to you, a R150 travel surcharge applies — payable directly to your tutor. Prefer to learn online? Just let us know when you book — no surcharge.

Tailored Lessons — from
R1 200 – R2 000per month
  • Built around your specific goal — no fixed syllabus
  • Stage performance, live sound, video & studio production, lighting
  • Suited to musicians who already play and want to master a specific skill, sound, or context
  • 1-on-1 sessions with John, frequency agreed between you
  • Pricing depends on scope — confirmed with John before your first session
Tell us what you need →
A single 1-hour session with a private music teacher in SA can cost anywhere from R250 to R680. At TAM, you get four sessions per month, a consistent tutor who knows your goals, and a structured approach — all at a flat rate.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY

Real students. Real results.

★★★★★

“John has taken my guitar playing from a place of just repeating old songs to actually playing my guitar freely, bringing a sense of joy and satisfaction that I had always been searching for. Highly recommend his work!”

— Alex C. — Guitar
★★★★★

“John had an exceptional way of making it relate to me, and he understood exactly what I wanted to learn — so I actually stayed interested in continuing. I still play drums to this day because of it. Would highly recommend!”

— Marno v.R. — Drums
★★★★★

“Learning to play guitar is one thing, but using a guitar in a band is a totally different thing. The guy from T.A.M. taught me how to use my instrument in a band — and that is way better than sitting at home jamming alone! Ever grateful!”

— Carel B. — Guitar
★★★★★

“With a structured approach — starting with basic theory and applying it to practical instruments — it was possible for me to learn Bass, Guitar, and Keyboard in a short amount of time. What surprised me most was the universal application of the theory foundation across different instruments. As a professional in the medical field with a demanding schedule, work and life happens — but dedication to learning won’t stop you from creating a little time for practice daily, or even a couple of times a week. The key is Practice Practice Practice!”

— Ayo — Bass, Guitar & Keyboard
YOUR TUTORS

Learn from musicians who actually play.

Our tutors aren’t just teachers — they’re working musicians with years of stage, studio, and session experience. They teach because they love it.

John, founder and tutor at The Amateur Musician
FOUNDER & TUTOR

John

“Great musicians are made through purposeful learning and the right guidance.”

John is the founder of The Amateur Musician and has spent years teaching and performing across multiple instruments. He’s as comfortable behind a drum kit as he is on guitar, bass, or in a studio producing a full track from scratch. His lessons are patient, structured, and driven by one thing: making sure you leave every session with a genuine win.

  • Drums & Percussion
  • Acoustic & Electric Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Keyboard
  • Production: stage, live sound, video, studio & lighting

Available: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday afternoons

More about John →
Kyle, keys specialist at The Amateur Musician
KEYS SPECIALIST

Kyle

“A player first. A tutor who brings music to life.”

Kyle is a Keys Specialist with deep roots in gospel music and years of real-world performance experience. He’s played in church bands, live settings, and session work — and what he brings into every lesson is the same thing he brings to every stage: genuine love for the music. His teaching is warm, encouraging, and built around helping you find your own voice on any instrument.

  • Keyboard (specialist)
  • Deep understanding of feel, groove, and musicality
  • Bass Guitar
  • Drums
  • Acoustic & Electric Guitar
  • Gospel & contemporary music theory

Available: Monday – Friday evenings · Saturday mornings

More about Kyle →
Bella, violin tutor at The Amateur Musician (temporary AI-enhanced placeholder photo)AI-enhanced placeholder
VIOLIN TUTOR

Bella

“Discipline gives you the foundation. Curiosity gives you everywhere else to take it.”

Bella is classically trained on violin, with the ability to read and write classical music theory and perform classical repertoire. Over the past few years she’s been expanding her playing into commercial and contemporary genres, and she’s always looking for new ways to bring the violin into whatever style of music you’re into.

  • Violin (classical & commercial)
  • Classical music theory — reading & writing
  • Classical repertoire
  • Contemporary & commercial genres

Available: Monday – Thursday afternoons

More about Bella →
Bennie, guitar specialist at The Amateur Musician
GUITAR SPECIALIST

Bennie

“Authentic expression is the goal — but solid foundations are what get you there.”

Bennie is a seasoned musician and band leader with decades of experience in church music across Newcastle. He has built worship bands for major regional events, led groups of amateur musicians to confident ensemble performance, and earned a reputation for clear, patient, and precise guidance. What makes him exceptional isn’t just his playing — it’s his ability to hear what a band needs and get everyone pulling in the same direction.

  • Acoustic Guitar (specialist)
  • Keyboard
  • Bass Guitar
  • Band direction & ensemble leadership
  • Music theory that actually improves your playing

Available: Monday & Tuesday evenings

More about Bennie →
QUESTIONS

A few things people ask us.

Not at all. We teach complete beginners and returning players alike. If you’ve never touched an instrument before, that’s completely fine — we’ll meet you where you are.

Lessons take place at your tutor’s home studio (preferred), or at our neutral venue in the Newcastle CBD if that’s more convenient for you. Prefer to learn at home? We can come to you — a travel surcharge of R150 per month applies within a 10km radius of your tutor, with a per-km rate beyond that.

For standard lessons, we match you with one of our tutors based on your instrument and the time slot you choose — all our tutors are experienced multi-instrumentalists, so you’re in good hands either way. If you’d like guaranteed access to a specific tutor, check out the Mentorship Package.

Yes. If for any reason your lesson isn’t the right fit, just let us know and we’ll sort it out. No awkwardness, no drama.

We ask for 48 hours notice to reschedule. Life happens — we get it. As long as you give us enough notice, your lesson can be moved to another slot that month.

No lock-in. You pay month to month. If the lessons aren’t right for you, you’re free to stop. We’d rather earn your loyalty than lock you in.

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Drums, and Violin as standard private lessons. Want something else — production, performance, or another instrument entirely? Ask about a Tailored Lessons package with John.

Standard lessons follow a structured approach for the core band instruments at a flat R1 000/month. Tailored Lessons are custom-built around your specific goal — production, performance, event skills, and more — with John. Pricing is scoped per student, from R1 200 to R2 000/month.

A premium one-month package where you book a specific tutor as your mentor — guaranteed direct access plus 1-on-1 coaching agreed between you and your tutor. Ideal for students working toward a specific goal. R2 000 for one month. Click “Book [Tutor] as your mentor” on a tutor’s card above.

Via EFT. Once you submit a booking request, your tutor will personally follow up with banking details and confirm everything before your first lesson.

No. Submitting the form sends us your request — it doesn’t charge you anything or lock in a slot automatically. Your tutor will personally follow up to confirm everything first.

Yes — while most of our lessons happen in person in Newcastle, online lessons via video call (Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime) are available too. Just choose “Online” when you book.

Your instrument, a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection. That’s it. Your tutor will guide the rest.

TAM is focused on adult learners, but we are able to teach motivated teenagers & pre-teens. Get in touch and we’ll let you know if we’re the right fit — no obligation.

Ready when you are.

No experience required. No long-term commitment. Just great lessons, a tutor who gets you, and music that actually sounds like you.

Book your first lesson →

R1 000 / month · 40-minute weekly lessons · Cancel any time