Kenji Shinagawa

Teaches at New York City Guitar School

Kenji comes to us from many avenues of the world. In Osaka, Japan, he first learned about music, and was exposed to Classical and Japanese music. In Bethesda, MD, he found his life’s calling in a guitar as a teen, and began to spend several hours everyday practicing and playing music with his friends. In Miami, FL, he immersed himself in the daily studies of formal musical training, while playing music with some of the most talented young musicians from all over the world. Shortly after earning his B.M. in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami, Kenji packed up his car and followed his dream by moving to New York. 

As a teacher, Kenji also considers himself a student of music, and is a very enthusuastic and patient one at both. He emphasizes learning the guitar with proper fundamentals, but at the same time keeping in mind that to be great, you must play with style, and develop your own voice on the instrument (and don’t forget to have fun!). A recording artist who enjoys a life of composing, arranging, and playing a handful of different stringed instruments, you can find Kenji performing with his band and other artists right here in NYC.