“I am a jazz guitar player
and music addict”.
Florian Hierdeis
Jazz Musician – Guitar Player – Improviser – Music Teacher
I started my formal training at a vocational college for music in Germany and moved to the Netherlands in 2000 to study jazz guitar at the prestigious Conservatory of Amsterdam. During my studies, I was not only trained in the fine arts of jazz and improvisation but also in music theory, technique, composing and arranging music, the history and methodology, ear training, playing and conducting ensembles and sight-reading. Among my instructors were Maarten van der Grinten, Jesse van Ruller, Torsten de Winkel, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nelson Faria, Pat Martino, and Mike Stern. In 2014, I took lessons from Gilad Hekselman and Lage Lund in New York City.
I have been part of the Amsterdam jazz scene since 2000, where I play at various public and private gigs and festivals, in combinations from duos to big bands. I enjoy playing all kinds of jazz – contemporary jazz, Bebop, Swing, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian jazz, Funk, Chamber jazz, Free jazz, Modal jazz. I am proud that I got to perform with great musicians such as Natalio Sued, Joe Ambrosia, Ben van Gelder, Philip Harper, Rick Margitza and many other fantastic musicians.
I teach guitar and jazz at the DJAM (main subject guitar and ensemble instructor), a music school for jazz and improvised music in Amsterdam, at the music school Meer-Music in Hoofddorp and at Muziekschool Badhoevedorp. I also offer guitar lessons at my home in Amsterdam.