Guitar Lessons

WELCOME TO MENTEI MUSIC GUITAR LESSON
In-person guitar lessons in the NY/NJ area or from anywhere in the world via Zoom and Skype. All levels and ages are welcome!
Over 20 years as a guitar teacher, I have worked with children to adults (3 years old to 75 years old!), complete beginners to advanced players. I have also taught as a visiting artist at many classes and workshops in the USA, Canada, Europe including Berklee College of Music. 

Learn to play guitar at your level and on your pace with customized lessons. Let's work together to achieve your musical goals!   
 
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Learning tunes and techniques
Guitar Fundamentals
Improvisation
Ear Training
Music Theory
Composition
Practice Ideas
Finding your sound in any style
Playing a Great Solo
The Art of Accompaniment
and many more!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"I worked with Nobuki for ten years. He is a very professional and talented person. He is totally reliable and his manner is very welcoming. He never misses a beat in his music and in his business approach. I recommend him wholeheartedly!!" 
- Bonnie S.

"Absolutely amazing teacher, very honest and passionate about his work. Highly recommended." 
- Rajesh K.

"I have taken guitar lessons with Nobuki and he’s wonderful. Calm and friendly and he explains everything well. Fantastic player too - so allow for some time to just jam!"
- Thomas J.

"I had many guitar teachers throughout the years and he is certainly the best! He is extremely knowledgeable about many genres of music, especially jazz and took my playing to the next level."
- Martin L.

"Great teacher!" 
- Vinayak K.

"Nobuki is a great guitar teacher, he has taught me so much over the years, and really helped me get to grips with practical approaches to applying theory to my playing. I do monthly lessons via zoom. He explains things clearly and gives great demonstrations and examples. And is always on hand to answer any questions that come up. I also use several music books, but having a teacher you can ask questions really helps a lot, as he will put things in context and be able to simplify things. Very much recommend!"
- Adam T.
TEXTBOOK:
All of my students will receive my eBook (164 pages), which will make you understand more about the guitar, improvisation and music in general. Additional books would be recommended.

Please check some of my lesson PDFs from here.

LESSON VIDEOS:
Click here for my Youtube guitar lessons.
WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING:
''the sweetest tones we've heard in some time from his 335'' (Guitar World)

''a mature player with keen sense of composition [and] considerable skill'' (Vintage Guitar Magazine)

''Jim Hall meets Wes Montgomery on their way to a Kenny Burrell show’’ (Critical Jazz)

Nobuki Takamen
Guitar Teacher

Originally from Hiroshima, Japan, guitarist Nobuki Takamen has been developing a reputation as ‘’the best jazz guitarist Japan has ever produced’’ as lauded in AllAboutJazz since he relocated to New York in 2004.

Described by Critical Jazz: ‘’…Jim Hall meets Wes Montgomery on their way to a Kenny Burrell show…’’, his music draws influence from the jazz greats and other musicians such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and melts them into something distinctively his own.

As a teacher, Nobuki has taught thousands of guitar students (from 5 years old to adults over 70 years old) since he started teaching in 2001. His diverse teaching experiences include jazz workshop at festivals in the USA, Canada, Europe and Japan, as well as Berklee College of Music. Nobuki currently teach one-on-one lessons in the NY/NJ tristate area, and online lessons to students from the USA, Canada, U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Korea.

As a performer, Nobuki has toured with his group in North America and Europe, performing at many of the best international jazz clubs and festivals including Iridium Jazz Club, Blue Note NY, Blues Alley, Smalls Jazz Club, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the Nisville Jazz Festival, where he opened for the original Blues Brothers Band. He has also toured annually throughout Japan since 2004.

Nobuki has four albums released on What’s New Records and Summit Records, and four albums on his own label, including his first solo album, ”Solo Guitar”, his two-disc 6th album, ”Live in Japan”, his eponymous 7th album, ”The Nobuki Takamen Trio”, and his 8th album, ”Life is Now”, which was released in October 2020.

His playing and music have been featured in publications worldwide, including DownBeat, Guitar World, Vintage Guitar Magazine, Just Jazz Guitar, AllAboutJazz, Jazz Podium (Germany), Jazz’n’more (Switzerland), Jazz Special (Denmark), Musica Jazz (Italy), Jazzwise (UK), Swing Journal (Japan), Jazz Life Magazine (Japan).

Nobuki is the winner of the Instrumental Category in the 2019 USA Songwriting Competition, and endorsement artist of Acoustic Image Amplifiers, Raezer’s Edge Speaker Cabinets, ZT Amplifiers, Eventide, JHS Pedals, Sommer Cables, and Reunion Blues.


FESTIVALS & VENUES:
Montreal International Jazz Festival (Canada)
Rochester International Jazz Festival (USA)
Vancouver International Jazz Festival (Canada)
DC Jazz Festival (USA)
Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (USA)
Riverview Jazz Festival (USA)
Jersey City Jazz Festival (USA)
Medicine Hat Jazz Fest (Canada)
Jazz YYC Summer Jazz Fest (Canada)
Calgary Jazz Festival (Canada)
Lethbridge Jazz & Blues Festival (Canada)
JazzVez (Croatia)
Nisville Jazz Festival (Serbia)
Petrovac Jazz Fest (Montenegro)
Orta Jazz Festival (Italy)
Techno Jazz Festival (Japan)
Santo Music Street (Japan)

Iridium Jazz Club (New York, NY)
Blue Note (New York, NY)
Smalls Jazz Club (New York, NY)
Bar Next Door (New York, NY)
Blues Alley (Washington, D.C.)
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre (Medicine Hat, Canada)
Martha Cohen Theatre (Calgary, Canada)
ECU (Paris, France)
iF Cafe (Budapest, Hungary)
Budapest Jazz Club (Hungary)
Malmitalo (Helsinki, Finland)
Tokyo TUC (Tokyo, Japan)

Read full biography
ONLINE LESSON RATE:
$90 for a 60 minute lesson
$45 for a 30 minute lesson

Payment can be made via PayPal and venmo, and prepaid required. You'll get a discount if you pay for 2 or 4 lessons ($80 for a 60 minute lesson & $40 for a 30-minute lesson). 

24-hour advance notice required for any cancellation/rescheduling. In-person lesson rate varies depending on your location.
If you're ready to sign up, email me to discuss your goals and schedule your first lesson!

Email: nobukitakamen@hotmail.com