"Music education should be available to everyone and the school should be the centre of musical encounters"

Parents and children feel welcome at our school, because of our personal approach. Our school is well-known for its relaxed ambiance as well as its high level of professionalism. Our dedicated team of top-notch teachers guarantee music education of the highest level.
Rob Elsenaar, founder and owner of
The Music Collective 
Drum teacher 

Rob studied jazz drumming at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, where he graduated in 1988. Since then he has taught at one of the biggest drumming schools in the Netherlands and has played in all kinds of bands: jazz, soul, funk. 
Rob discovered during his many years of playing and teaching that music has a profound impact on people of all ages. In 1997 he decided to found his own school, based on a view that was new in the Leiden area. He found a suitable venue at Draadbaan 29, Leiderdorp and gathered a team of teachers who share his fundamental philosophy:
                    Music education should be available to everyone and the school should be the centre of musical encounters. 
Alex Debicki
​www.alexdebicki.nl
Keyboard / Computer and music

Alex Debicki (1980) studied with the famous Dutch jazz pianist Karel Boehlee at the Amsterdam Conservatory from 1998-2000.
Alex also studied at the College of Higher Art Education in Utrecht, where he graduated cum laude in 2004. Besides his teaching job, Alex composes and produces music for film, television and animations. He welcomes not only piano students, but also students interested in learning to compose or to produce music.
Alex van der Plas
​www.alexvanderplas.nl
Guitar

Alex van der Plas was born in Haarlem in 1981. He started playing at 15 years of age and has since then played in all kinds of bands and music productions. 
At this moment he plays live shows across the country. In these shows the band only plays requests - a huge challenge for the musicians. Alex is a born teacher, with great enthusiasm, endless patience and highly valued didactic skills. 
Alex: 'Drop by for a trial lesson to see if guitar is an instrument for you or to see how we can bring your playing skills to a higher leven'.
Nancy van der Plas
​www.muziekmetjufnancy.nl
Piano / Keyboard / AMV

Nancy van der Plas graduated in music teaching at a College of Higher Music Education. She likes to work with primary school age children and visits schools with her own "Music with Teacher Nancy" programme.  
At the Music Collective she teaches general music education and instrument orientation.
Vanuit 25 jaar onderwijservaring als groepsleerkracht, met zeer verschillende doelgroepen heeft zij de reputatie opgebouwd kindgericht te werken waardoor zij een goed en veilig pedagogisch klimaat creeert.  Nancy’s lessen zijn goed gestructureerd en methodisch onderbouwd, waarbij zij werkt aan persoonlijke leerdoelen. In iedere les leer je iets nieuws en opbouwends. 

"Plezier in muziek staat voorop, en hierin een uitdaging vinden vergroot dit gevoel. Het zorgt voor ontplooiing van alles dat je in je hebt.  Iets moois om te koesteren en een leven lang van te genieten!"
Kurt Schwab
​www.ohyeahproducties.nl
Saxophone

Kurt is a source of inspiration for students of all ages, capabilities and backgrounds. He graduated from the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Maastricht Conservatory, where he studied classical music and jazz. 
Kurt is in great demand as leader and arranger for workshops and bands. He plays all types of saxophone in all kinds of styles. He performs regularly in the Leiden region as band leader or sideman.
More teachers at our Dutch site.
Heyn Linger
​nl-nl.facebook.com/heyn.linger
Guitar

Heyn is a passionate guitar player with a style of his own. His playing shows rock, blues en jazz influences. He can be seen and heard on several Youtube videos. He is also well versed in classical guitar playing.
Heyn has played in many different bands, for example:
Trackaddicts: Funk/Rap, (comparable to George Clinton’s Funkadelic and Outkast). 
Bald As Love: Jimi Hendrix tribute band
Turbomonster: Rock ‘n Soul.
Martijn Groen
​www.martijngroen.nl
Drums / SambaCollectief / Class band

Martijn Groen is a well-known drummer from Leiden who uses his many years of performing experience in his teaching at the Music Collective. He is also an accomplished bass and guitar player.
Martijn graduated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and the  Amsterdam Conservatory. In 2014 he obtained his Master's Degree in Music Education at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.
Martijn is at home in a wide range of music styles and plays in an equally wide range of bands, such as Licks & Brains (jazz/funk), Bald as Love (Jimi Hendrix tribute band), Men in Blues (blues/country) and De Roodborstjes (‘60’s-‘80’s pop-coverband). 
Ingeborg Cneut
​nl-nl.facebook.com/ingeborg.cneut
violin

Ingeborg Cneut started to play the violin at age 7, attending violin lessons in class working according to the Suziki method in Marke, Belgium.
She took classical violin courses at the Ghent Conservatory (with Corrado Bolsi) and the Maastricht Conservatory. In Amsterdam she studied classical violin with Maarten Veeze. She also studied tango music, in Rotterdam and in Buenos Aires, where she worked with the Orquesta Escuela and took arranging classes with Julian Peralta. She graduated cum laude in Belgium.
She coaches the Tejones de Tango in Leiden and teaches classical and tango violin classes. Her composition ‘’Brisa de plumas Blancas’’ is included in the Café Tango cd.
Monique Houben 
Singing teacher

Monique Houben graduated cum laude at the Maastricht Conservatory as teacher and performer of singing, pop music and jazz. Following her study, she took an introductory drama course at the Maastricht College of Drama Education. She has a passion for teaching and supporting students in their singing ambitions.
Monique's motto: 
" Singing from your body !"
Roosmarijn has worked as lead singer in shows on Cyprus and Aruba. She reappeared recently in Jesus Christ Superstar. In her teaching Roosmarijn  uses the ‘Estill Voice Training System’ (EVTS).
Lennart van Dijk www.lennartvdijk.nl
bass guitar / double bass

Inspired by bass guitar playing genius Jaco Pastorius, Lennart started playing bass guitar in his teens. In 2013 he graduated from the Tilburg Conservatory as all-round musician on bass guitar and double bass.
Lennart's skills are much in demand. He plays in theatres across the country with Kiki Schippers (Leidsche Cabaret finals tour), Femme Vanille, Caruso, Ape not Mice, AnQinea and the Faction.
Emmy Schaling   
www.celloformations.nl
Cello teacher / School music

Emmy graduated in Utrecht (music teacher, performer), Boston (USA) (Master of Music) and Rotterdam (music teacher).
Emmy was fascinated by music from a young age. As a child, she was impressed by her grandparents' choir and by the music made by her parents. She has always loved playing together with other musicians - a thrill she wishes every child and adult to experience.

Emmy teaches cello lessons as well as a general introduction to music (Algemene Muzikale Vorming), which she also teaches in primary schools and which involves moving to music, listening to music, singing, playing and making up music.