Looking for Guitar Lessons in Tokyo? Here’s Why I Teach in Takadanobaba

ryanboisselle
Sep 29
3 min read

So—you’ve decided to start learning guitar. Or maybe you’ve already been playing and want to tighten things up.

Either way, you type “ギター教室高田馬場” into Google, and suddenly you’re hit with a wall of websites, lesson listings.

How are you supposed to choose?

I’ve been teaching in Takadanobaba for quite a while now, and in this post, I want to give you some honest advice on how to pick the right guitar school for you—whether that’s my school or someone else’s.

Let’s break it down.

🧑‍🏫 What Makes a Good Guitar School?

Here’s something I tell students all the time:

A good guitar school isn’t about how flashy the website looks—or how many awards the teacher has. It’s about whether the lessons are helping you play better, and enjoy the process while doing it.

Here are a few things I think matter most:

Lessons should fit you, not the other way around. Everyone learns differently. Some people want to read notation. Others want to learn by ear. Some want to dive into theory, others just want to groove.
You should be learning music you actually want to play. If you love funk or R&B but are being forced to play classical etudes… it’s not going to be fun. And if it’s not fun, you won’t stick with it.
You should feel progress—even if it’s slow. A good teacher will help you break through the common plateaus, keep things clear and structured, and celebrate the small wins.

If you're not sure where to start, book a few trial lessons at different places and trust your gut. The vibe matters just as much as the curriculum.

📍 Why Takadanobaba Is a Great Area for Guitar Students

I may be biased, but Takadanobaba has a really special energy—especially for musicians.

It’s easily accessible from all over Tokyo
You’ll see guitarists walking around with cases all the time
There’s a mix of students, pros, artists, and hobbyists that keeps things fresh

There’s a “music in the air” vibe here, and it rubs off on you.

Whether you’re grabbing a quick sundubu lunch after your lesson (yes, that’s me every Wednesday 😆), or hitting a local jam session, it’s a great place to learn and grow as a player.

🎶 A Little About My School – Ontario Guitar Studio

At Ontario Guitar Studio, I teach private and group lessons focused on groove, tone, and phrasing—not just running scales.

Styles I teach:

R&B
Funk
Rock
Jazz
Pop

I work with everyone from tinkering beginners to intermediate players prepping for jam sessions. And yes—lessons are available in English, Japanese, or a mix of both.

My job is to help you sound better, feel more confident, and actually enjoy the process of learning guitar.