Kenneth John J. Verdun
Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drums & Bass Guitar Teacher in Dubai
Guitar & Drums Instructor · Electric, Acoustic & Classical Guitar, Bass Guitar & Drums
7+ years with Melody Makers
About Kenneth
Kenneth is a highly experienced, versatile music educator with over 20 years of teaching and three decades of performance experience. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education, majoring in Guitar, from The Philippine Women's University, and was trained in classical guitar under a mentor recognised as the "Father of Philippine Classical Guitar". That pedigree is the foundation of everything he brings to the studio.
His teaching spans electric, acoustic and classical guitar, bass guitar and drums. He follows the Trinity College London syllabus across every instrument, taking students from first chord or first beat all the way to Grade 8. He has taught one-to-one and in classroom settings, and also coaches full bands in preparation for live performances, so students get the classroom rigour and the real-stage experience in the same programme.
His musical range is deliberately wide: classical, alternative, progressive rock, metal, classic rock, bossa nova and contemporary acoustic. As an electric guitarist he is fluent in advanced techniques including whammy-bar articulation, extended-range (7-string) performance, and complex effects systems. He is also proficient in bass guitar and drums, which makes his teaching unusually integrated, a rhythm-section mindset on a melody instrument, and vice versa.
Beyond performance, Kenneth is skilled in composition, music transcription and digital audio workstations, able to transcribe melodies, harmonies and counterpoint into formal notation. Students who want to write and record their own music get a teacher who can coach both sides of the craft.
As an active performer in Dubai, Kenneth is the vocalist and guitarist of the thrash/heavy metal band Steelhorse. He has shared the stage with internationally recognised acts including Mechanical God Creation (Italy), Malevolent Creation (USA), Acranius (Germany), Rezet (Germany), Massacre (USA), Korpse (Netherlands), Piranha (Greece), Amorphia (India), Danmosh (Japan) and Stigmata (Sri Lanka). Real-world stage experience flows straight back into his lessons.
Students and parents consistently describe him as kind, patient and genuinely motivating. His approach is student-centred: he tailors lessons to individual learning styles and goals, builds on strengths while guiding through weaker areas, and creates a positive, disciplined environment where students feel confident, inspired and valued.
Notable Highlights
Grade 7 Trinity Drums | Dhriti, 5 years with Kenneth
Dhriti has been learning drums with Kenneth for 5 years, is currently completing Trinity Grade 7 and aiming for Grade 8 next. Regular stage performances have been a core part of her journey.
Electric Guitar student transformed after switching to Kenneth
Prasanna Rajagopalan joined Kenneth after completing 4 Trinity grades with another teacher. In his words: "I could immediately see the difference in my playing style. He immediately identified my mistakes, techniques I should learn and helped me improve."
Vocalist & guitarist of Dubai thrash/metal band Steelhorse
Kenneth fronts Steelhorse, a thrash/heavy metal band based in Dubai. He has shared the stage with Mechanical God Creation (Italy), Malevolent Creation (USA), Acranius (Germany), Rezet (Germany), Massacre (USA), Korpse (Netherlands), Piranha (Greece), Amorphia (India), Danmosh (Japan) and Stigmata (Sri Lanka).
Trained by the "Father of Philippine Classical Guitar"
Kenneth studied classical guitar under a mentor internationally recognised as the "Father of Philippine Classical Guitar", giving his teaching a rare depth of classical pedagogical lineage.
Bachelor of Music Education | teaching since 2005
Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Music Education, majoring in Guitar, from The Philippine Women's University, and has been teaching students of all ages and levels since 2005.
What Students & Parents Say
“Under the expert mentorship of Sir Kenneth, his guitar sessions have become the highlight of his week. Sir Kenneth is versatile and enthusiastic, and his ability to make learning fun has truly sparked a passion in my son. The progress he has made in such a short time is remarkable. He was recently held up as an example to older students to showcase his dedication and rapid advancement.”
“My daughter Naomi has been learning guitar with Mr. Kenneth since 2023. He has been consistently kind and patient, making the learning process both enjoyable and engaging. He builds on her strengths while guiding her through areas where she needs support and prepares her well for level assessments. Recitals and stage performances have greatly contributed to building her confidence.”
“I joined Melody Makers with Kenneth Sir after doing my first 4 Trinity grades of electric guitar from another master. I could immediately see the difference in my playing style with his guidance. He immediately identified my mistakes, techniques I should learn and helped me improve. I was starting to enjoy playing and pushed myself to practice more and improve.”
“I've been learning drums at Melody Makers for about 5 years, and it's been such an amazing and passionate journey. My teacher, Mr. Kenneth, has helped me grow so much, not just in my skills but in my confidence too. Because of his constant encouragement, I've had so many opportunities to perform on stage. I'm currently completing Grade 7 with Trinity College London and aiming to finish Grade 8 soon.”
Google Reviews mentioning Kenneth
Verified reviews from Google, refreshed daily
I joined Melody makers with Kenneth Sir after doing my first 4 trinity grades of electric guitar from another master. I could immediately see the difference in my playing style with his guidance. He immediately identified my mistakes, techniques I should learn and helped me impro…
Prasanna Rajagopalan
Apr 2026
My daughter Naomi has been part of Melody Makers since 2023, where she has been learning to play the guitar. Her instructor, Mr. Kenneth has been consistently kind and patient making the learning process both enjoyable and engaging. He builds on her strengths while guiding her t…
Eve
Apr 2026
I’ve been learning drums at Melody Makers for about 5 years, and it’s been such an amazing and passionate journey. My teacher, Mr. Kenneth, has helped me grow so much, not just in my skills in playing, but in my confidence too. Because of his constant encouragement, I’ve had so m…
dhriti nagesh
Apr 2026
I have been learning guitar under Kenneth Sir at Melody Makers for 6 years, and I have genuinely developed a passion for music under him. I started doing guitar randomly,only selecting the instrument because I didn't want to do keyboard, and yet Kenneth Sir's devotion to the art…
Madhanesh Manikandan
Apr 2026
Melody Makers has been an incredible part of our son’s musical journey. He started drum lessons here as a toddler, and teaching such young children takes a rare combination of patience, skill, and genuine passion. We were very fortunate to have Kenneth Sir as his teacher. Kenneth…
Jossie Mendonca
Apr 2026
Since joining the Melody Makers Karama branch in 2022, my son has embarked on an incredible musical journey that has exceeded all our expectations. Under the expert mentorship of Sir Kenneth, his guitar sessions have become the highlight of his week. Sir Kenneth is known for bein…
Damien Cruzneiro Elton Decruz
Apr 2026
Classes with Kenneth
Bass Guitar
1 hour per session | One-to-one (individual lessons)
Classical Guitar
1 hour per session | One-to-one (individual lessons)
Drums
1 hour per session | One-to-one (individual lessons)
Electric Guitar
1 hour per session | One-to-one (individual lessons)
Acoustic Guitar
1 hour per session | One-to-one (individual lessons)
Part of the Melody Makers Team
Kenneth is part of the Melody Makers faculty, a team of dedicated professionals who have been nurturing musical and creative talent in Dubai for nearly three decades. As a Registered Exam Centre of Trinity College London, our teachers are experienced in preparing students for internationally recognised qualifications alongside developing a lifelong love of their art.
Ready to learn with Kenneth?
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