A guitar player since the age of four, Nic has played guitar, ukulele and sang in many different bands around Auckland often having multiple residencies. Over the ensuing years, Nic has also learned bass guitar, mandolin, violin, drums and oboe along with traditional Croatian instruments (Tamburica).

As a Music Educator, Nic has 30 years experience teaching people aged between 5 and 75 in group, individual, ensemble and orchestral lessons.

“My teaching approach has been formed not only upon good teaching principles, but also what I experienced and expected as a paying student. I have met some wonderful teachers over my career, but have also felt unfulfilled on many occasions when experience didn't match my expectation. Therefore, any student of mine will not only receive personally tailored lessons, but also in a way, my "ideal lesson".  

I believe in a holistic approach towards any instrument: on one hand really enjoying the learning experience through playing favorite songs (otherwise why play?), and at the same time counterbalancing this with strong practice disciplines and an ability to understand music through sight reading, theory, aural skills, rhythmisation, ear training, technical, improvisation and historical knowledge (and then applying that back to the music!). In other words, learning the “why” as well as the “how”.” Nic Cebalo

Teaching is in my blood

I currently teach adults and children at my home studio in Auckland, via Zoom as far away as the United Kingdom and the United States, and in several schools throughout Auckland. I also teach guitar teachers. I have taught in many schools, along with Community College for adults. Some of these current and former include: Flanshaw Road School, St Thomas School, Matipo Primary, Riverhead School, Peninsula Primary,  Rangeview Intermediate, Ponsonby Intermediate, Rutherford Primary, Owairaka District School, Tirimoana School and Community Education At Selwyn College and Rutherford High School. If you would like to book a lesson let me know.

In 2012 I sat my Licentiate Diploma in music teaching through Rockschool- a world leader in Guitar, Bass, Keyboard & Vocal tuition, tutorial publication and performance. At the time I was one of the first 7 teachers to graduate in Australasia. I passed with distinction.

Recently I also started a "guitar teacher group" (and am still trying to think of a cool and profound name, sorry) as there seemed to be a significant gap in terms of professional peer development and knowledge sharing. We meet regularly to discuss, demonstrate and critique various teaching scenarios.