FAQ
Questions from families outside Japan — new to musicand, or just curious.
Getting started
Does the teacher speak English? Does my child need to speak Japanese?
Yumi isn’t fluent in everyday spoken English, but she has taught music in English in the UK, the US, Rwanda, and the Philippines. Lessons work well through music, gestures, and patience — and for anything that needs more detail, she’s happy to follow up by message. Your child doesn’t need to understand Japanese at all.
Can we try a lesson first before joining?
Yes — a 30-minute trial lesson is $50.
How do we pay?
Credit card payment is accepted. PayPal is coming soon.
Is there an enrollment fee?
Yes, a one-time ¥5,000 enrollment fee.
Can we join short-term, or drop in?
Yes — single lessons and short stays are both welcome.
What if we need to cancel or reschedule?
Payment is made in advance and isn’t refundable, but a lesson can always be rescheduled.
Where are you, and how do we get there?
We’re in the Demachiyanagi area of Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto — near the Masugata shopping street. We’ll share the exact address when you book your trial lesson.
Is there something for babies?
Individual piano lessons are for ages 3 and up. Babies and toddlers are welcome at World Song Circle and piano pod together with a parent. At piano pod, you are welcome to just watch, and it is even better if a parent plays the piano.
Can I just watch piano pod first?
Yes. You are welcome to just watch piano pod. We ask for the venue fee and one drink. Prices →
My child is homeschooled / doesn’t attend a Japanese school — is that okay?
Yes — homeschooling families, and any background, are welcome.
Can I take lessons online?
At this time, English-language lessons are in person only.
About the lessons
What kind of music do you play? Only classical?
Classical, of course — but also pop chords, singing, duets, whatever you want to play. We build lessons around the music you want to make, not around finishing a textbook.
What makes musicand different from other piano schools?
Every school is different, so I’ll just tell you about this one. I’ve taught piano and rhythm education in Japan and abroad — in Rwanda, the UK, the Philippines, and the US — and met musicians from many countries and backgrounds along the way. What matters most to me isn’t textbook knowledge, but meeting each student, in their own place, as they are.
Why don’t you grade “good” or “bad” playing?
Because technique doesn’t sink in while the body is braced. The moment someone thinks “I’ll be embarrassed if I get this wrong,” they tense up, and the sound locks with them. So the measuring stick comes off first — technique still gets taught, once the body is relaxed. One parent put it this way: “It’s not about good or bad — I realized what matters most is simply whether it’s fun.”
I can’t read sheet music / I’ve never played before — is that okay?
At musicand, piano doesn’t start from sheet music. It starts from the body and the ear. Many people who can’t read music, and adults with zero musical experience, come here. Reading comes in when you need it, at your own pace.
I’m an adult and it’s my first time / I haven’t played in decades — is that okay?
Adult piano starts not with finger exercises, but with relaxing your breathing and letting your weight settle. First-timers and people returning after decades start from the same place. That gap isn’t lost time — it’s a chance to meet the piano again.