THE JAPAN NEWS


 

Autumn is a good season to enjoy the arts. If you have decided it’s time to try a new musical instrument which you have long dreamed of playing, an electronic one may be a good way to get started. Their prices are comparatively reasonable, they are easy to learn, and one may conveniently dial down the volume. Musical instrument manufacturers are consolidating efforts to improve music lesson programs for adults, with the aim of attracting people who wish to begin playing a musical instrument.

40 types of sounds

Roland Corp. last month released an electronic wind instrument, the Aerophone AE-10 (expected to retail for around ¥85,000). The saxophone-shaped device works on AA cell batteries and can reproduce the sounds of 40 different musical instruments, such as the saxophone, clarinet, violin and shakuhachi bamboo flute.

At a recital in early September, saxophone player Masahiko Fujimoto said: “It’s easy to play [the Aerophone] and you can produce sounds just like a recorder. I’d recommend it for not only saxophone players but also novice learners.”

Normal saxophones are typically priced from ¥100,000 less than ¥300,000. The Aerophone is comparatively more affordable.

Most electronic musical instruments generate synthetic sounds by sensing the motions of player’s fingers via in-built sensors located, for example, under piano keyboards or saxophone keypads. Electronic instruments have evolved to their current state partly thanks to improved functions of the semiconductors used in sensors. A spokesperson for a major manufacturer said that these days instruments “approach acoustic products [in the sounds they generate], and can now satisfy the performance needs of even quality-oriented adult players.”

Suited to apartment living

Electronic instruments are more affordable and more compact than their acoustic counterparts. Yamaha Corp.’s electronic piano Clavinova CLP-545WA (suggested retail price ¥232,200) is nearly half the price of a standard upright piano. It is about 70 percent as tall and deep, and its weight is no more than 30 percent of that of an ordinary piano. These factors increase its appeal for use even in apartment blocks or other types of housing complex.

Novices are often concerned about the sounds of their practice bothering the neighbors. Such concerns are mitigated with electronic instruments, as the volume can be adjusted downwards. Use of headphones further eases noise concerns and allows users to practice without hesitation even at night.

Yamaha’s Silent Violin SV130 (¥84,240) plays at about one-tenth the volume of a standard violin. In April, Roland started selling an electronic drum kit V-Drums TD-11KQ-PS (expected price around ¥180,000) with the volume produced by the bass drum more than 80 percent lower than that of a conventional bass drum.

Lessons target adults

Domestic sales of musical instruments have been decreasing. According to the Japan Musical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association, shipment-based domestic sales of domestic makers for fiscal 2015 were ¥52.4 billion — 20 percent lower than fiscal 2006. Although sales of acoustic instruments fell by one-third to ¥26.5 billion, those of electronic instruments fell by only 4 percent to ¥25.9 billion.

A Yomiuri Shimbun online survey, targeting 2,000 men and women aged 18 to 69 living in the Tokyo metropolitan area, found that 50.6 percent of respondents are not currently learning to play a musical instrument, despite expressing an interest. The reason cited by 60 percent of these respondents was lack of money and spare time in which to take lessons.

Thus, it can be said that there are many potential instrument players.
The industry is fortifying efforts in its music lesson business for adults. According to Yamaha — which offers lessons for adult learners at about 1,300 locations, with monthly fees starting from ¥8,100 for three lessons — 70 percent of its new members are beginners.

Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co. offers lessons for adults at 2,000 locations, with monthly fees starting at ¥5,400 for two lessons. A course targeting those aged 60 and above offers appealing features such as easy-to-read musical scores.

Shimamura Music, a major retailer of musical instruments, said that the number of students for its music lessons aged 50 or above has increased by 50 percent from levels 10 years ago. Shimamura’s lessons are offered at around 150 locations, with monthly tuition fees starting from ¥8,640 for three to four lessons.

Caption:
Masahiko Fujimoto plays the Roland Corp.’s saxophone-like Aerophone.