Performer
Private and Group Lessons
Caplan offers private lessons in both koto and shamisen to students of all ages. She teaches from her studio in Toronto and her teaching style is a comfortable blend of Western and Japanese traditions. Lessons are one hour long. They can be geared towards a diploma path, if you're interested in certification, or simply towards playing for enjoyment, if that's what you prefer. You don't need any prior knowledge of music and you also don't need to be able to read Japanese in order to study.
Internet lessons are also available to students outside the Toronto/GTA area. Students must already have their own instrument and all necessary accessories. You need a hi-speed internet connection, a good-quality webcam, a microphone, and speakers. Most laptops and notebooks now come with everything built-in. (For older machines, you may need to purchase some or all of those items separately and set them up on your computer.) Internet lessons are taught via Skype, so you'll need to get a free Skype account. Internet lesson fees are paid by PayPal, so you'll also need to set up a free PayPal account.
Please send your lesson inquiries to lessons@lindacaplan.com.
Students will need to have an instrument at home to practise on. If you don't have your own instrument, Caplan has a limited number of kotos and shamisens available for rent at a nominal monthly fee. (Rentals not available for internet lessons). She can also assist you in purchasing your own instrument, should you wish.
In addition to private lessons, Caplan teaches koto and shamisen workshops in a volunteer capacity at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto. The JCCC workshops are open to anyone, and are taught as group lessons. They offer nine hours of instruction, spread over three evening classes of three hours each. The workshops give you a little taste of what it's like to learn the instrument, and you will be able to play a few simple folk songs by the end of the course. For more information about the JCCC's koto and shamisen workshops, please check their website or contact them directly at 416-441-2345.