Currently, the Takahiro Maeda Guitar School is actively recruiting students in the vicinity of Tokorozawa City who are eager to learn jazz guitar!
Whether you're thinking, "It seems a bit challenging, but I want to try jazz guitar,"
"I want to play cool improvisations,"
"I want to play the guitar freely without reading sheet music,"
"I want to study jazz standards thoroughly," "I want to learn music theory from scratch,"
"I'm a beginner on the guitar, but I want to try playing jazz," or "I've retired, so I want to start playing the guitar as a hobby,"
anyone interested in learning jazz guitar or music theory is welcome! We offer free consultations, so please feel free to contact us.
Moreover, we can also provide support in English, which is rare in guitar schools.
We look forward to hearing from foreigners who may not be comfortable with Japanese!
Connecting with many people is one of the characteristics of music (instruments). Jazz guitar, in particular, can be applied to various genres, making it a valuable skill to acquire.
Our lessons are priced at a reasonable 4,000 yen per hour, which is about 1,000 yen cheaper than the market average.
We also offer trial lessons and student discounts, so please check our page for more details. For those living far away, we also conduct online lessons!
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Learning Jazz Guitar
Here is a brief explanation of how we will proceed with the lessons.
First and foremost, we will start by playing a song that the student would like to try. In the case of jazz, this often involves working on jazz standards.
If the selection proves to be too challenging, we may consider choosing a different song. Personally, I also started practicing by working on songs I enjoyed.
Once a song is chosen, we will take the time to analyze the theme, chord progressions, and functions in detail.
We will then proceed to practice together, aiming to naturally play through the song. While copying phrases from favorite musicians, we'll repeat the practice until the student feels comfortable.
Initially, it may take a considerable amount of time to complete one song, but gradually, as we work on multiple songs, the time investment tends to decrease – a characteristic of learning jazz guitar.
Since jazz often features similar chord progressions, I advise against working on several songs simultaneously, especially for beginners.
Meticulously mastering one song at a time allows the knowledge and phrases learned to be effectively applied to other songs in the genre.
Good point of Jazz Music
Many people find jazz challenging, a sentiment I can empathize with as I continue my own studies. This difficulty is undeniable.
However, one remarkable aspect of jazz is its ability to connect people through music, even with strangers or individuals from different countries, as long as you have an instrument.
In jazz, it's not uncommon to perform without sheet music and forego rehearsals.Meeting someone for the first time at a live performance is also quite normal.
Collaborating with musicians of different ages and jumping in as a player on the spot happens frequently. The freedom, depth, and the ability to enjoy playing regardless of age make jazz a unique genre.
Age is not a barrier to starting jazz. One of my most admired musicians, Bucky Pizzarelli, played the guitar until he was 90, and I aspire to follow in his footsteps. If you have any interest in jazz, I invite you to learn together with me, regardless of your age!
