OIST Sanshin Class Spring Semester (April 18 ~ July4)
Instructor Biography
Satsuki Agena:
Satsuki was born and raised in Okinawa. She started to learn to play the Sanshin at the age of 8. At the age of 16, She joined the Ryukyu Classical Music Preservation Nomura Style Association, and began to learn about Ryukyu classical music.
After graduating from a university in Okinawa, she went to Canada and recognized how wonderful Okinawan culture is. When she returned from Canada, her Sanshin journey commenced with her artist name “sanshinista” in January 2019. With her Sanshin, passed over from her grandfather and aunt, she seeks to share the fun and spread Okinawa's beautiful culture.
“Although my base is Ryukyu classical music, I always want to be open to new ways to inherit the tradition, not just stick with preservation. I will be so happy if I can bring joy to many people through my work.”
【Certificates】
Grand Prize in the Performing Arts Contest for Sanshin — Okinawa Times
Sanshin Teaching Certificate — Ryukyu Classical Music Nomura Association
BA in Development Studies — University of Calgary
【Media appearances】
2019 FM Okinawa Radio program
2020 NHK Radio program
2020 NHK TV program
2020 NHK TV program
【Prefectural Program】
2023 Promotion of Strengthening the World Uchina Network “Okinawa culture and entertainment leader dispatch program”−sent to Canada to teach sanshin by the Prefecture
Class Details
Every Thursday (Starting on April 18th)
◆Beginners Class 18:00-19:00
◆Intermediate/Advanced Class 19:00-20:00
¥2000 (＋¥500 for sanshin rental) per class
Beginners Class
You will be able to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in the first class!
In this class, you will be introduced to a brief history of Sanshin and basic skills such as how to use a pick, how to hold the Sanshin, and how to read the notes. We will practice the first 3 songs below for a month to get along with the sanshin. Then, we will gradually move onto Okinawan traditional songs and POP songs.
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star（きらきら星）
- Froggy song（カエルの歌）
- Orion Beer Song from BEGIN（オジー自慢のオリオンビール）
- Aha-bushi – Okinawan fork song（安波節）
- Asadoya-Yunta – Okinawan fork song（安里屋ユンタ）
- Shimanchunu Takara (Treasure of Islander) from BEGIN（島人の宝）
Intermediate/Advanced Class
This is a class for those who can read notes fluently. Requests are welcome! We play Okinawan folk songs, POPs, Ryukyuan Classical music in this class. You will enjoy your favorite songs such as:
・Nada soso（涙そうそう）
・Sanshin no Hana（三線の花）
・Warbigami（童神）
・Songs for Eisa (Okinawan traditional drum dance) （エイサー曲）
・Onna-bushi (Ryukyuan classical song)（恩納節）
etc.
This class is available throughout the year (Thursdays) so please contact me whenever you’d like to join.
Let’s play sanshin together and make your Okinawan life more colorful!