Hawkes Bay
Guitar Lessons | Bass Guitar Lessons, Double Bass Lessons | Artist development, Aural Lessons, Song Writing Workshops, Theory Lessons, Composition Lessons, Jazz Improvisation Lessons, Mixing and Mastering Lessons, NCEA Music Tutoring
Bio
Canopy Music School is your local hub for professional, high-quality music lessons in Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay).
Founded by experienced gigging musicians and qualified tutors, Canopy offers expert tuition for all levels, from first-time learners to tertiary and professional musicians.
We bring real-world experience from teaching and performing across New Zealand, including at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music and EIT Hawke’s Bay. Every lesson is personalised to each student’s goals, style, and pace, with a focus on developing confident, creative, and well-rounded musicians.
Our mission is to provide accessible, inspiring music education that builds community, encourages creativity, and nurtures lifelong musicianship.
Teaching Info
Lessons at Canopy Music School are one hour long and take place in our home studios across Hawke’s Bay. Students usually bring their own instruments, though some are available on site.
We offer tuition in electric and acoustic guitar, electric and upright bass, jazz improvisation, theory, and songwriting, covering genres from jazz and metal to indie, rock, and classical.
Our teaching style blends structured learning with ear-based and creative approaches. Students can expect a hands-on, practical focus supported by musicianship, theory, and performance skills. Lessons may include backing tracks, recording, and performance preparation to help students apply what they learn in real musical contexts.
"Chris is one of the best tutors/teachers I ever had! Open-minded to lots of genres and approaches. He always finds ways to push you further in whatever direction you want to go"
Peter Hamilton
"Chris is a highly educated teacher who really focuses on the interests of the individual musician. He is engaging, and is knowledgeable on so many aspects of music. My bass playing has improved significantly as a result of his teaching"
Darcy Monteath
"Chris was my first double bass teacher and he put everything in such a digestible and understandable manner that I couldn’t help but improve. Chris was the starting point of my passion for the instrument"
Thomas Moore
"As a past student of Chris at the university level, I have found his teaching to be consistently insightful, holistic and inspiring. I would gladly recommend him to any music student."
Jono Benzur
"I would highly recommend Chris Beernink to anybody looking to learn a musical instrument, music theory or musicianship. Chris is very proficient, dependable, organised, great at communicating, and he is also a nice person to have a conversation and laugh with"
Julian Tabat
"Chris is a great teacher, who takes care to understand the needs of each student. He works alongside them to help progress their skills on the instrument aswell as their overall understanding of the musical world!"
Nick Castles
"Chris was great as a tutor. He balanced covering all of the technical bases with helping you towards your specific goals very well. His wide range of musical knowledge and experience was great to learn from"
Jonny Warnes
"Chris was great as a tutor. He balanced covering all of the technical bases with helping you towards your specific goals very well. His wide range of musical knowledge and experience was great to learn from"
Elina Chester
"Chris was one of the best tutors I’ve ever had. His vast musical knowledge and down-to-earth, patient teaching style made a huge impact on my development. Thanks to his guidance, my playing reached a new level — I now perform jazz gigs regularly and continue to use the skills he taught me"
Petar Tavich
"Chris Beernink is a phenomenal teacher who understands how to learn! Great teacher and a great person to hang out with!"
Josh Schönberger
"Chris was consistently an encouraging, kind and passionate teacher. His approach to music is holistic and always inspiring, creating space for all students to feel supported and safe to express their creativity freely. Not only did I gain technical skills and better musicianship under his tuition, but also a more nuanced understanding of myself as a musician and a part of a wider community"
Elisa Bird
"Chris's dedication and attention to detail shines through in his teaching; it's contagious in the best way."
Jacob Meikle
"Chris teaches you everything about music inside and out. He’s follows the learning pace if a student is a quick or fast learner. Chris also takes time to listen to students preferred music and uses their own music taste to relate to the current learning topic of music and theory"
Eric Nielson
"Chris combines a comprehensive musical understanding and skillset with innovative, approachable teaching methods to get the best out of his students. I was lucky to study improvisation under his tutelage and he is a top tier music educator!"
Will Hanlon
Chris Beernink helped teach me what I now know about music. He has an open mind and thinks outside the box. Im so thankful he taught me what I know now. He has mastered many themes in music and even worked overtime to help students with there projects. Clearly passionate about his work. I would strongly recommend his knowledge in assisting fellow artists. This Guy can be trusted and knows what he’s up too. Always giving 110%. Often me and the bros reminisce on his skill and passion in any genre. Would recommend any class he hosts. Take this opportunity while you can! Simon Grundy.
Simon Grundy
As a young bass player dipping my feet into the world of jazz, and jazz improv, Chris has taught me more than enough to comfortably keep up with the ever evolving, fast paced, and high intensity nature of the world we call music. From simple technique inefficiencies to advanced bebop language, Chris has helped me not only become a better bassist but a better musician overall.
Jago Watson
With a wealth of knowledge in music theory, live performance and practice, studio recording (in both live & studio settings) and music production, Chris led workshops and lectures with confidence, always happy to go above & beyond to assist and support myself and fellow students in our growth and learning as emerging musicians. I deeply appreciate the year spent under his guidance and tutelage during my NZ Music Diploma studies at EIT Hawkes Bay.
Rin De Lune
'During my time at Te Kōkī NZSM, I was lucky enough to study jazz improvisation with Chris. These were some of the most valuable and transformative lessons that I received during my time at jazz school, both in how they elevated my technical playing and provided me with the skills to think creatively.'
