Welcome to the official homepage of
Atlantic Music School, Galway.
Acoustic, Electric, Bass Guitar & Vocal Lessons in Galway.
About our school
Atlantic Music School is a professional music school in Galway, founded by James Colohan and later joined by Aileen Henderson, brought together by shared teaching values and a belief that music education should be personal, practical, and welcoming. Our goal was to offer Galway an alternative to traditional teaching methods by focusing on individual progress, confidence, and real-world musicianship.
Based in Shantalla, Galway, Atlantic Music School specialises exclusively in one-to-one guitar, bass, and vocal lessons offered both in person and online for students of all ages and abilities. Every lesson is tailored to the individual, taking into account each student’s goals, experience level, and musical interests. Whether you are a complete beginner, returning to music after a break, or looking to develop as a performer, our approach adapts to suit you.
We place strong emphasis on solid technique, musical understanding, and confidence building, while encouraging students to play music they genuinely enjoy. Lessons are delivered in a relaxed, supportive environment by experienced teachers who are passionate about helping students progress at a pace that feels comfortable.
Atlantic Music School is proud to provide Galway with high-quality, one-to-one music tuition in a modern, student-focused setting.
Meet The Tutors
James Colohan
Hi, I’m James Colohan, and I’m the founder of Atlantic Music School in Galway. I’ve been working as a professional musician and guitar teacher for over ten years, specialising in electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and bass. I’ve taught students of all ages and abilities, and I love helping people gain confidence and skill in their playing.
Some current and past qualifications of mine include:
Advanced Certificate in Music Theory and Composition from GRETB
Registered Tutor with the London College of Music
Galway Music Academy Teacher
Music Educator with Music Generation - Galway City & County
Tutor with Loughrea Music School
Member of the School Of Rock Ireland team.
My teaching style is a mix of structure and real-world application. I use the London College of Music graded curriculum as a foundation, but I always focus on showing students how to actually use what they learn in their own playing — whether that’s on stage, in a band, or just at home for themselves.
Outside of teaching, I’ve spent the last decade performing full-time. I’ve played with some of the top corporate and wedding bands in the country, toured internationally, played festivals, cruise ships, and everything in between. These days, I still gig hundreds of times a year as a session player and performer. I also write, record, and release music under the moniker COLOHAN.
Aileen Henderson
Hi, I'm Aileen Henderson. I'm a professional vocal coach, specialising in contemporary vocal technique, healthy voice development, and confident performance. I work with singers of all ages and abilities, from beginners finding their voice to experienced performers looking to refine technique, build stamina, and perform with confidence.
My professional training and qualifications include:
BA in Commercial Modern Music (Specialising in Vocals)
CPD Diploma in Vocals
QQI Level 5 Certificate in Music Theory and Composition
Certified Oxygen Advantage Functional Breathing Instructor
Music Educator with Music Generation (mother-and-baby classes through to teenagers)
Vocal Coach with School of Rock Ireland
My coaching style combines structure with real-world application. While strong technical foundations are essential, I focus on helping singers understand how to practically use their voice in rehearsal, recording, and live performance settings. Breath efficiency, vocal health, and confidence are central to every lesson.
Alongside teaching, I have many years of professional experience in the music industry as a songwriter, lead vocalist, backing vocalist, and session singer. I’ve collaborated with musicians both locally and internationally. Including Co-writing projects with US-based musicians and sharing the stage with musicians who have worked with artists such as The Bay City Rollers, Vulfpeck, and Brad Paisley.
Instrument Lessons
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
€40 per lesson
I offer comprehensive acoustic guitar lessons for players of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced musicians. Whether you want to learn just for fun or work through the London College of Music grades 1 to 8 and beyond, I’ll guide you at your own pace with a structured and supportive approach.
Lessons cover essential techniques like fingerpicking, flatpicking, Travis picking, chord shapes, crafting melodies, and percussive playing — all tailored to your style and musical goals. I also place a strong focus on music theory, helping you understand what you’re playing and how to apply it creatively.
Whether you're into folk, pop, country, or something entirely your own, we’ll build a strong foundation while developing your own unique sound. You'll learn real-world skills that translate directly into confident, expressive playing — not just ticking boxes for exams, but actually making music.
Electric Guitar Lessons
€40 per lesson
My electric guitar lessons are built to take you from the basics all the way to advanced, expressive playing — whether you’re starting fresh or aiming to master the instrument. I teach London College of Music grades from 1 to 8 and beyond, but always with a practical focus on real playing and creativity.
We’ll cover key techniques like economy picking, hybrid picking, sweep picking, scale shapes, bends, double-stops, and more — all while working towards fretboard fluency and confident improvisation. Every lesson is tailored to your goals, whether that’s soloing, rhythm work, lead playing, or building your own style.
You'll also develop a solid grasp of music theory and how it applies directly to the fretboard — no dry theory for the sake of it, just useful tools to help you play better and sound great.
Whether you're into jazz, rock, blues, metal, indie or funk, I’ll help you get there.
Bass Guitar Lessons
€40 per lesson
My bass guitar lessons focus on building solid, musical players from the ground up — whether you're picking up the instrument for the first time or looking to refine your skills. I teach London College of Music grades 1 to 8 and beyond, but always with an emphasis on groove, feel, and real-world playing.
You’ll learn essential techniques like fingerstyle playing, slapping and popping, chord knowledge, and crafting your own basslines. We'll explore how to lock in with the drums, outline harmony, and create bass parts that actually serve the music — whether it's funk, rock, pop, soul, or anything in between.
Lessons also include practical music theory, helping you understand your role in a band and how to play with purpose and confidence. My goal is to help you become a well-rounded, creative player who knows when to hold it down — and when to shine.
Vocal Lessons
Vocal Lessons
€150 per 4-week block of lessons
I offer comprehensive singing lessons for students of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced vocalists. Whether you want to sing just for enjoyment, build confidence, prepare for performances, or work towards Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate practical exams, as well as Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) exams, I’ll guide you at your own pace with a structured and supportive approach.
Lessons cover essential areas of vocal technique including posture, breath control, pitch, tone, range, mix voice, belting, vocal agility, and vocal stamina. We’ll also work on song interpretation, performance skills, and microphone technique, all tailored to your individual voice, style, and goals.
I place a strong focus on musical understanding, helping you understand what you’re singing and how to apply technique confidently. This includes ear training, breath awareness, basic music theory, and stylistic awareness, all applied practically to the repertoire you’re working on.
We’ll build a strong foundation while developing your own unique sound. You’ll learn real-world singing skills that translate directly into confident, expressive performances.
Online Breathwork Classes
€20 per class
I am a Certified Oxygen Advantage Functional Breathing Instructor and I run occasional online group breathwork workshops focused on functional breathing, designed to support both singers and non-singers alike.
The workshops explore how breathing patterns affect the body, voice, and nervous system, with practical tools that can be applied immediately in everyday life. Sessions are suitable for all levels and do not require any previous singing or breathwork experience.
Benefits for singing & music
Improved breath control and efficiency
Greater vocal stamina and reduced vocal fatigue
Better phrase control and support when singing
Reduced performance anxiety and pre-performance nerves
Increased awareness of how breath supports tone, pitch, and ease
A calmer, more reliable breathing pattern under pressure (auditions, exams, performances)
Benefits beyond music
Improved focus and concentration
Reduced stress and anxiety
Better sleep quality
Increased day-to-day energy levels
Support for confidence, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing
Tools to manage breathlessness, tension, and over-breathing habits
Check out some examples of our tutors performing!
Contact Us
Interested in booking a lesson together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. Looking forward to meeting you!