Welcome to the official homepage of
Atlantic Music School, Galway.
Acoustic, Electric, and Bass Guitar Lessons in Galway.
Now Enrolling for September 2025.
About Us
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.
Our Services
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.
Check out some examples of my playing!
Contact Us
Interested in booking a lesson together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. Looking forward to meeting you!