Do you think it's hard to learn how to play Shamisen?
Not at all! You can master quite easily
with "Bunka-Fu" at the Kine-ie School.
*Bunka-Fu is a musical score for playing shamisen, originally invented
by Kin-ie Yashichi IV about eighty years ago.
*Learning how to play shamisen is an essential step to learning shamisen in general. It's a common sense now.
Even if you have not seen Kabuki, you may have heard most popular Nagauta
numbers such as "Musume Dojoji" or "Kanjincho".
As you may know, Nagauta has been developed as an accompanying music for Kabuki theatrical arts. Among most of the shamisen music, it is recognized as the total accomplishment of shamisen music because of its basic and most diversified styles.
Needless to say, the Nagauta shamisen music is really fascinating and charming
with its cheerful and sophisticated melody.
It is widely accepted that Nagauta shamisen music is the fundamental shamisen
music to learn as a basic step, whatever style of shamisen music you will
be learning in the future, such as "Kouta", "Hauta",
Joruri", etc.
So, it is a common sense now that, if you learn to play shamisen, Nagauta
shamisen music is the essential to learn.
*Enjoy learning Nagauta shamisen music by using the "Bunka-Fu"
music score
As there is a saying that it takes three years to tune correctly and eight
years to get correct sound on each sound position, shamisen is the most
difficult musical instrument to master among string instruments. However,
you will find it easy to learn at the Kine-ie School, where teachers train
you step-by-step using Bunka-Fu" musical score.
Grandmaster Kine-ie Yashichi IV, the originator of the "Bunka-Fu", invented this original method of playing shamisen, in 1922. The "Bunka-Fu"
is now widely used in the world of traditional shamisen music. It is composed
of three lines with numerical numbers, while the western system is based
on five lines with musical notes. The sound notes in the "Bunka-Fu"
are indicated with numbers, and all you have to do is to follow the numbers
which show the sound positions.
*Once entered, you will be accepted as an immediate student of Grandmaster
Kine-ie Yashichi VI.
No matter where or no matter which branch you will join the Kine-ie School,
you will be accepted as an immediate student of "Ie-moto", the
Grandmaster.
In case you happen to be transferred from one work place to other, or you
have to move from present location to other for some reason, you do not
need to worry. In Japan, there are six local branches and sixty sub-local
branches of the Kine-ie School, from the extreme north in Hokkaido to the
farthest in Kyushu. Even in the United States, there is a big branch with
1200 students in Tacoma City, Washington State.
You can choose any branch which is most convenient for you, and keep learning
with no problem.
*For taking lessons, you can choose any date and time which is most convenient for you.
The Kine-ie Shamisen School is open at the Kine-ie Kaikan(built to commemmorate
the birth of the Grandmaster Kine-ie Yashichi IV).
Classes are open from 10:00am to 9:00pm(except 4:00pm to 5:00pm), Monday
through Friday. There is no class on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays.
Four classes per month, 30-40 minutes per day.
* Please feel free to ask Headquarters Office, if you want to take lessons
on holidays.
*About the tuition...
You are requested to pay monthly lesson fee (including hall use fee) at
the first lesson of the month. You are also requested to pay the entrance
fee (equivalent to one month regular fee) when you enter the School. For
furher information, please refer to the "Guide to Admission".
*You can receive the Certificate(s) of Proficiency as you advance.
There are three courses in the lesson curriculum; Basic course, Intermediate
course, and Advanced course. You will be qualified to receive the Certificate
of Proficiency at each step you master one of those courses.
On top of that, you can also challenge to obtain the Professional Title
"Natori", and higher ranked "Shihan Natori". These
titles will be granted after you pass the examination(s), "Natori
Shiken".
*Person-to-person lessons are provided in accordance with your level.
You can take thorough lessons by your instructor, according to the person-to-person teaching method.
<Lesson Scene>
It's great because it's a person-to-person lesson!
*You can improve your skills by participating in Concerts and Training
Courses.
You are encouraged to participate in various concerts such as "Kine-ie
Kai", "Benkyo-Kai", "Yashago-Kai" and "Otsuki-Zarai",
in accordance with your level and qualification.
*Are you afraid if the location of lesson place is too far?
Don't worry. For those who want to take lessons but you hate to go too
far, we will be introducing the location of a nearest branch school or
an instructor.
*Access to the Kine-ie Kaikan Hall
Alight at the Ebisu Station of JR Yamanote Line or Saikyo Line. Eight minutes
on foot.
Or, alight at the Daikan-Yama Station on Tokyu Toyoko Line. Five minutes
on foot.
Map to the Kine-ie Kaikan Hall
The Kine-ie Kaikan Building
*For further information, please contact;
The Kine-ie Kai Headquarters Office
2-18-6, Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021
Phone:03-3461-1953
Fax:03-3477-2207
