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Features of a Guitar School in Tokyo That You Can Continue Attending for the Long Term: Lessons from More Than 20 Years of Teaching and Performing

Hello. I run a private guitar school in Shibuya, Tokyo. Based on more than 20 years of experience working as a teacher and performing musician in Japan and New York, USA, I have taught several hundred students.

There are countless guitar schools in Tokyo, and many people find it difficult to decide which one is right for them. In this article, I will explain how to choose a guitar school that you can continue attending for a long time, as well as the advantages of private schools, drawing on my own experience.

First, trust your intuition and choose a teacher whose playing you love.

Finding the right school among the hundreds available in a city like Tokyo can be truly difficult. It is natural to feel uncertain at first, but begin by watching various videos and looking for a performance you genuinely like or a teacher you feel drawn to instinctively.

I believe it is perfectly reasonable to value this intuition. Follow your own instincts rather than being persuaded by someone else. Even if you and the teacher are both perfectly reasonable, the relationship may be satisfying—or it may not be the right fit. If you make the choice based on your own intuition and responsibility, you can accept the outcome as your own decision.

When attending a guitar school, it is important to choose one with a good teacher. A good teacher suggests practice that suits each student, has a teaching philosophy aligned with the student’s goals, and possesses strong teaching and performance skills.

Through more than 20 years of teaching, I have strongly recognized the importance of compatibility between teacher and student. Even a highly skilled teacher may not help a student progress if communication does not work well. Conversely, some students improve remarkably under a teacher who may not be technically perfect but knows how to speak in a way that reaches the student’s heart. That is why I believe the first step toward continuing for the long term is to choose a teacher who makes you feel, “I want to learn from this person.”

One-on-one private lessons are the fastest route to improvement.

First, I recommend choosing private lessons rather than group lessons. Group lessons can reduce the cost, but they also shorten the amount of time available for each student. You must also adjust your pace to the other members of the group. Group lessons can be useful if your main purpose is to make friends while learning guitar, but one-on-one lessons are ideal for those who are serious about improving.

Some large music schools also offer one-on-one lessons. If you want to practice according to your own pace of growth and interests, it is a good idea to choose a school that provides individual instruction.

My school provides completely private, one-on-one instruction. In a group lesson, students must follow the pace of others and may not have enough time to overcome their own weaknesses thoroughly. In a private lesson, I can carefully check each student’s finger movements, tone production, and sense of rhythm. For example, if a student is struggling with the F chord, I can spend 30 minutes working intensively on correcting the student’s form. This is not possible in a group lesson.

The flexibility of large schools versus the lasting relationship of a private school.

Large guitar schools may appear flexible because they have many teachers, but in my view, lessons are often arranged for the convenience of the school and its large organization rather than for the individual student.

On Fumitoshi Kobayashi’s blog, a guitar student is reported to have said, “I actually attended a large music school for five years, but I did not improve at all.” The student explained that the main reason was that the lessons consisted only of predetermined basics, which were not enjoyable and eventually made playing guitar feel painful.

An article by Kaz Takayama also points out that teachers may change at large chains, and many students say, “The teacher I originally learned from is no longer there.” Because the curriculum is standardized, there are also situations in which the school cannot fully respond to individual requests such as, “I want to play this song” or “I want to develop this particular technique.”

My recommendation is still a guitar school run by an individual. When the same teacher continues working with you, the teacher can understand your way of thinking, musicality, and development, then create a curriculum accordingly. It takes time to understand a student’s habits and characteristics at the beginning, but by working together over a long period, the teacher can discover the most effective teaching approach for that person. At a private school, you have chosen the teacher yourself, so you can approach any situation as part of your own choice and responsibility. At a school with many teachers, the first challenge may be dealing with a teacher you did not choose, a different musical direction, or concerns about compatibility. A large school is a company, and its teachers are employees. Although this does not apply to everyone, some teachers may have low motivation, and there have even been reports of schools treating teachers in ways resembling problematic workplace practices. Large schools can also lack flexibility. Because they have many teachers as well as a large number of students, it becomes difficult to create a curriculum suited to every student’s individuality. In contrast, a private school can carefully guide each student in a direction that suits them.

A pay-as-you-go system lets you continue at your own pace.

This is another advantage of private schools, and I would like to address the issue of monthly tuition. Everyone is busy. In particular, working adults and homemakers inevitably have weeks or months when they cannot attend. With a monthly payment system, however, you still have to continue paying.

At my school, students pay for four lessons at once, but they are charged only for the lessons they actually attend. There is no monthly tuition system. I recommend one lesson per week, or four lessons per month, but there may be busy months when you can attend only twice or even once. Even if you attend only one lesson in a month, you pay only for that one lesson, and the remaining three lessons can be taken in other months. This is a major benefit and allows students to progress at their own pace. Some students travel frequently for business, while others have difficulty making fixed plans because of childcare. Thanks to this system, they can continue without placing excessive pressure on themselves.

The peace of mind that comes from starting with no enrollment fee and a trial lesson.

Perhaps an enrollment fee can serve as a commitment to oneself. Nevertheless, paying a large fee at the very beginning requires a firm decision. At my school, people who would first like to see how the lessons work can also pay a fixed price for each individual lesson.

Many people have the common misconception that private lessons may feel intimidating or difficult to approach. However, beginners have the most to gain from professional private lessons, because learning the correct form and practice methods from the beginning is especially valuable.

In fact, many students who come to my school begin with a trial lesson or a one-time lesson. You cannot know whether a school is truly right for you until you actually take a lesson. That is why I provide an environment where you can take the first step comfortably instead of paying a high enrollment fee at the outset. During a trial lesson, I check your current level and offer a specific plan for your future improvement. I believe this system is especially suitable for people who want to enjoy learning at their own pace.

The importance of community and recitals for continuing over the long term.

It is important to have the same teacher over time—someone who understands your development. At the same time, it is valuable to grow together while cherishing human connections over the years. Recitals and other events also provide opportunities to interact with people who have made the guitar a lifelong companion. I hope that a place where students can share their progress and concerns will help them continue learning for a long time.

Because improving on the guitar requires consistent practice, it is important to choose a school where you can continue practicing for a long time.

My school also holds recitals twice a year. Some students initially say, “I would be too nervous to play in front of people,” but after standing on stage, they often say, “I never expected it to feel so rewarding.” A recital is not merely a place to perform; it is also an opportunity to deepen bonds with fellow students who are working toward the same goals. Guitar is an instrument that requires long periods of solitary practice, so occasional opportunities to connect with empathetic fellow musicians can greatly help maintain motivation. With the exception of a small number of exceptionally gifted people, learning an instrument takes time. It is best to choose a motivational system that helps you continue, and to keep moving forward with teachers and friends who can share your long-term goals.

Conclusion: Choosing a guitar school in Tokyo.

Here is a summary of the key points when choosing a guitar school in Tokyo.

1. Trust your intuition — Choose a teacher whose videos or playing genuinely move you.

2. One-on-one private lessons — You can thoroughly overcome your weaknesses at your own pace.

3. Continuity at a private school — The same teacher can work with you over time and understand your development.

4. A flexible payment system — Pay for the lessons you take rather than a monthly fee, making it easier to continue during busy periods.

5. No enrollment fee and a trial lesson — You can begin comfortably and without pressure.

6. A sense of community — You can grow together with fellow students through recitals and other activities.

Whether I was working in New York or in Japan, I have consistently valued facing each student as an individual. Rather than relying on the organizational efficiency of a large institution, I believe in nurturing music through human connection. I believe this is the greatest strength of a private school.

Trial lessons are available. If you have any questions, please contact me at any time through the contact page below. I look forward to meeting you.

GUITARIST

SHOGO KUBO

guitarsho@yahoo.com

070-1402-6029