KubokanI am Nakamura!
Suddenly, a common worry of wind instrument players...
Where do you guys practice? ？？？？？？？？？？
As a working adult, I realize how fortunate I was to have a good practice environment when I was a student.
So, I would like to introduce how I and other people around me practice.
Music studio
In fact, there are often music studios in front of train stations.
Unfortunately, my nearest station isquietlyNone because it is a quiet residential area, but there are quite a few at the major stations.
For private practice, I would say most places are around 700~800 yen per hour.
But even so, it is still 1,400~1,600 yen for 2 hours, which is a bit painful to use consistently....
I often use it for rehearsals with my jazz band (15~20 members).
Outdoor
Free and unlimited use! I see people practicing in big parks and on the riverbanks. I am not crazy about Yoyogi Park and the Tama River.
Very nice... But in summer it is not good to practice at all due to mosquitoes and heat, and in winter it is just too cold.
The weather makes it difficult to practice on a music stand, and although it is excellent for warming up and basic practice, it can be a challenge when trying to practice sheet music.
Karaoke
Many people are surprised to hear that wind instruments can be used for karaoke. Many people are surprised to hear that wind instruments are OK, but surprisingly, many establishments allow them.
Some stores have air-conditioning, music stands, drink bars, and the ability to sing and dance. You don't have to sing and dance.
The major karaoke bar I went to charged me "30 minutes (about 150 yen) x number of hours + drinks (about 500 yen)," so I stayed for 2 hours and paid a little over 1,000 yen with drinks, which was quite cost-effective.
Of course, prices vary greatly from store to store.
The only drawback is that prices more than double at night, during the year-end and New Year holidays, and during the summer vacation season. Stores in popular areas are also quite expensive. Also, some people say they don't like an environment that echoes too much.
・Public facilities
If you have a public facility nearby where you can practice wind instruments, you are very lucky.
There are rooms available for 300 yen for one hour.I pay taxes for this.
For brass bands, orchestras, etc., where dozens of people are practicing, these facilities are often used.
. Home
If you can do this, you will have no trouble.... If you live in a house, it is difficult to soundproof your apartment or condominium.
The option of installing a soundproof room could be considered, but considering the initial investment of nearly 1~2 million yen and the large space required, it is difficult to take the plunge.
Depending on the instrument, trumpets and trombones can be sounded out by using muffling mutes. However, although various companies have devised various ways to muffle the sound, as long as the bell is blocked and muffled, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling of blockage, poor pitch, and a fuzzy feeling of not feeling like you are playing.
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
These are the 5 places to practice.
Tangentially, let me introduce an item that will help those folks who are struggling with places to practice.
I live in an apartment or condo, but I want to practice at home.
I don't want to use a muffled mute because it's too painful.
We can solve these problems.
Please watch my video demonstration.
A new option for brass band and orchestra rehearsals,Shibaura Studio
Although we introduced public facilities above, it is inevitable that popular rehearsal spaces will be fought over by various groups.
Are there any studios that are hole-in-the-wall and ideal for solid rehearsals?
There are, in Shibaura, Setagaya, and Haneda.
They are spacious and have high ceilings, so there is no feeling of oppression when performing, and there is a waiting room where the staff can hold meetings during rehearsals.
There are such wonderful studios in Shibaura, Setagaya, and Haneda.
And nowWeekend discount and a limited, half-price campaign.They are implementing the
What's more, it was implemented in the fall of 2024.Studio used by Adam Rapa during his visit to Japan for the LOTUS eventwas also here.
The environment is top notch. In fact, it is a studio used by many famous artists in Japan and abroad, and this is your chance to use the best studio in Japan at half price.
Please check it out.
Wind instrument people whose problems are not solved by this, please come to the store.
Let's worry together! (But it won't solve your problem.)
Nakamura