Rated 5 / 5 from 8 reviews
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Curtis Kamiya Studio Want to help you to go where you're interested in going. If you're just getting started and want to play music in the backyard with your friends, we can pursue that goal. If you've been playing for years, but don't quite understand why certain chords sound good together, or what notes to play for your solo, we can learn that together. If you're semi-professional and want to work on your stage presence and your songwriting, we can do that too. I'm here to help you achieve your goals and guide you on your unique journey.

I want to make music fun, exciting, and accessible. I have a very practical and pragmatic approach to playing music. I play music for a living, so I'm less dogmatic about technique and method, and more interested in what works. We don't learn out of a method book. I custom tailor a curriculum to meet your skill level, learning style, and personal taste. Students find me patient, enthusiastic, and flexible. Above all, I want you be stoked to play music, and have fun. If we're not having fun, we're doing something wrong.
Highlights and features
  • Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele, Voice
Videos
Curtis Kamiya Studio
Curtis Kamiya Studio
Curtis Kamiya was born and raised in Honolulu, but his music only begins there. His songs are infused with the lives he has lived"in San Francisco, Seattle, a year around the world. Influenced by the contemporary Hawaiian style of Kalapana, Olomana, and Cecilio and Kapono, Curtis Kamiyas music is layers of time and place, life and love.
The Scientist (Coldplay) Performed by Vocal & Guitar Student Sydney Costales
The Scientist (Coldplay) Performed by Vocal & Guitar Student Sydney Costales
Our Curtis Kamiya Music student music concert series, Thursday Night Music Club, from the fall of 2012. Featuring student performer Sydney Costales performing The Scientist (Coldplay) and backed by the live house band Mango Season.
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
Our Curtis Kamiya Music student music concert series, Thursday Night Music Club, from the fall of 2012. Featuring first time recital performer, student Spencer Lee, singing Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond) and backed by the live house band Mango Season.
Back In Black (AC/DC) Performed by Guitar Student Kyle Nugent
Back In Black (AC/DC) Performed by Guitar Student Kyle Nugent
Our Curtis Kamiya Music student music concert series, Thursday Night Music Club, from the fall of 2012. Featuring student Kyle Nugent performing Back In Black (AC/DC) and backed by the live house band Mango Season.
Reviews (8)
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Nancy H.
Jun 14, 2017
Curtis is s wonderful teacher who is encouraging and has a knack for turning your frustration into a joy when you are having a hard time trying to play a piece. I am always happy and absolutely enthusiastic after each lesson. Thanks you always make my day!
Jana C.
Nov 26, 2016
Curtis Kamiya is an exceptional teacher.an accomplished musician who shares his love for music through his teaching. I laugh, I get frustrated, and always, I have fun. That's my goal and we exceed it all the time. I even go home and practice! He'll teach you any song you want to learn and make it do-able. It's amazing how some of us teachers have to go to school to learn to be teachers and people like Curtis just do all the right things (feedback modeling, zone of proximal development, i do-we do-you do, formative assessment) because it works!
Nicole M.
Nov 08, 2015
Curtis Kamiya is the best! He's really been able to tap into some creative musical vein of mine that I just couldn't find when I was a kid. He's one of the best teachers I've had musical or otherwise! My dad was a wonderful musician. My favorite memories were sitting on the porch with late at night and listening to him sing and play the guitar- tears in heaven, stray cat strut, and as I got older, he'd listen to whatever my favorite song was at the time and then play it for me that night having just heard it once!

So when he passed away recently, I inherited all his beautiful guitars. Although he taught me a little and I had piano and guitar classes as a kid and teen, I just wasn't all that dedicated back then. But now I wanted to learn really badly, I wanted to keep the music alive in my family. So I found Curtis. I told him my story and scheduled my free consultation.

He was very relaxed, very easy to talk to, and I loved that he cared about why I loved music and what music I loved. He could see when my eyes lit up talking about my favorite band or song and he kindled that fire to bring back things I'd learned and forgotten long ago. I quickly scheduled more classes. Whenever he showed me something, it clicked in my mind, and all of a sudden the random bits I'd learned came into focus.

I knew the things I remembered, but he taught me WHY they were so- and it all made sense! He taught me with songs that I chose, and it made it fun for me to go home and practice. I was always amazed at myself after a class, I never felt defeated or frustrated. Unfortunately I'm having a little financial rough patch now and had to take a hiatus, but as soon as I'm back on track, I'm investing in Curtis/investing in myself. I've had a lot of music teachers, but Curtis really cares about how you learn, and what you should learn to keep your passion for it strong, and that's a tough skill to find in a teacher.
Charlye W.
Aug 11, 2014
Curtis Kamiya Music is highly recommended. Most importantly, my teen likes the lessons, looks forward to them and does practice. Second, Curtis is extremely talented not just as a musician, but also as a teacher. He holds a bachelor's degree in music & much of his knowledge is expressed to students. Third, he's a great entrepreneur too. His lessons are easy to schedule online; he's available & communicates well with clients.

In other words, he not at all like the usual creative-type-personalities when it comes to time management & commitment. I will say this though. Curtis Kamiya is pretty well-booked, but I think that's an indicator of his fantastic product.
Dustin W.
May 19, 2012
I'm a beginner but have had a few other teachers. What those guys were lacking, Curtis has. I really didn't like the little 4 x 4 rooms I took lessons in from previous teachers, so I was stoked with the big layout of Curtis's studio. I also like his intro policy; your first lesson's free and he uses that lesson to get feel from you about what you want to get out of the lessons.

All that other stuff aside, Curtis is a natural teacher. A genuine guy that's patient and easy to learn from. I move around a lot so I'll be forced to work with other teachers, but I'm betting that my experiences with Curtis will be the standard that I measure other teachers against for a long time.
Dustin W.
May 18, 2012
I'm a beginner but have had a few other teachers. What those guys were lacking, Curtis has. I really didn't like the little 4 x 4 rooms I took lessons in from previous teachers, so I was stoked with the big layout of Curtis's studio. I also like his intro policy; your first lesson's free and he uses that lesson to get feel from you about what you want to get out of the lessons.
Glenn E.
Oct 10, 2011
Like many chronic guitar-noodlers, I usually hate guitar lessons. But one day, I found my guitar playing stagnating, and found Curtis on Craigslist. I took guitar lessons weekly from Curtis for several months before I had to move away from Hawaii, and I loved it. Lessons were always fun, always insightful, and always encouraging.
Glenn E.
Oct 10, 2011
Like many chronic guitar-noodlers, I usually hate guitar lessons. But one day, I found my guitar playing stagnating, and found Curtis on Craigslist. I took guitar lessons weekly from Curtis for several months before I had to move away from Hawaii, and I loved it. Curtis is a great teacher and a nice guy. Lessons were always fun, always insightful, and always encouraging.

Even though I'm not too into structured learning (or practicing for that matter), I still learned a lot and got a lot better taking lessons from Curtis. In fact, I liked my lessons so much that when myself and my finace got married, we decided to hire his band, Mango Season, to perform. They did a great job.