FAQ

Yes, Honjo Hidesaki Kai accepts trial lesson applications at any time. After coordinating the schedule with our instructor, you can come empty-handed on the day. If you have your own shamisen, feel free to bring it.

For the first free trial lesson and until you purchase your own shamisen, you can rent one from us for up to one year. However, you will need to prepare consumable items such as a bachi (plectrum), a choshi-bue (pitch pipe), a tuner, strings, a yubikake (finger sleeve), and a textbook. We can guide you regarding what is needed, and the full set can be purchased for approximately ¥14,000. Please contact us for details.

If you own one, please bring your shamisen, bachi, choshi-bue, and any other accessories, along with the sheet music used for the lesson. Wear comfortable clothing, as there is no requirement to wear a kimono for lessons.

If you are unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances such as illness or bad weather, we will work to adjust the schedule and arrange a makeup lesson. However, frequent rescheduling may disrupt the schedule or affect other lessons, so we may not always be able to accommodate such requests. Thank you for your understanding.

Participation is voluntary. While we may recommend it depending on the student's goals, we do not require anyone to participate. Rest assured, participation is entirely up to you.

Many people enjoy music but aren’t confident in singing and prefer playing instruments instead. While natural talent can play a role in pitch and singing, most improvement comes from practice. Engaging with music strengthens your relative pitch, and learning proper vocal techniques can enhance your singing. Why not start by taking that first step?

We welcome students of all ages, from elementary school children to seniors. However, handling a shamisen may be challenging for very young children. In traditional Japanese customs, children often start at around six years old.