Play the music
you love.
Private guitar lessons in Brooklyn with guitarist and educator Erika Toda. For first-time players, lifelong music lovers, and everyone in between.
Kids, teens & adults / English & 日本語
Music starts with you.
Play your first song. Learn to improvise. Finally understand the chords you love. We’ll build lessons around the music that excites you.
For kids
& teens
Playful foundations, rhythm, favorite songs, and confidence that grows with every lesson.
Discover kids’ lessons ↗For adult
learners
Start from zero, return to the guitar, or work toward the music you’ve always wanted to play.
Discover adult lessons ↗Jazz, blues
& beyond
Improvisation, harmony, technique, songwriting, and developing your individual sound.
Explore styles ↗
A musician.
And your teacher.
I’m a Japanese guitarist and music educator based in Brooklyn. I earned my Master of Music at NYU Steinhardt and taught undergraduate guitar students at NYU as a Graduate Student Adjunct Instructor from 2024 to 2026.
I create a personalized learning plan for each student, adapting the repertoire, exercises, and pace to their goals, interests, and experience. My background moves between jazz, blues, rock, pop, and Latin music. I love helping students find what makes music exciting to them — from their first chord to their own improvisation.
Right here in Brooklyn.
Focusing on communities close to home, including the R train corridor and nearby neighborhoods. Ask about lesson location and availability.
Lesson arrangements and travel are confirmed individually; this list indicates the areas of focus, not a fixed storefront.
English or 日本語.
Music is personal — the language of your lesson should feel comfortable, too. I welcome English-speaking students, Japanese-speaking families, and bilingual learners of all ages.
日本語でレッスンについて見るGood questions, good music.
A few things I often talk about with students and parents.
Let’s make some music.
Tell me a little about what you or your child would like to learn. I’d love to hear from you.
First, I listen.
The music you love, the song you wish you could play, the part that feels difficult: these are where we start. I help you put your goals into words, then build a learning plan with you and explain how each step connects to what you want to do.
Your repertoire, exercises, and pace evolve with you. We keep talking about what feels rewarding, what needs a different approach, and where your curiosity is leading next.
A musical beginning, at their own pace.
If a child is very young or their hands are not yet comfortable with a guitar, I talk with the family about a gentler starting point. That can include introductory piano, singing, rhythm games, and listening activities.
The priority is to cultivate curiosity, listening, rhythm, and the confidence to make music. We choose an approach that fits the child, with a foundation they can carry into guitar when it feels right.
In their own words.
Selected excerpts from anonymous NYU private guitar course evaluations.
“Erika was a very great guitar instructor and made concepts easy to learn. She made the lessons very fun and tailored to what I needed to learn to improve.”
“I really enjoy working with Erika! She is always so patient and supportive!”
“I’ve been Erika’s student now for several months. I love learning guitar from her. She is so knowledgeable and friendly. I look forward to my lesson every week. Highly recommend.”