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About Me.

Welcome to my piano website!

My name is Elia Gaitau, and I am thrilled to share my passion for music and teaching with you. With a Bachelor's degree in Jazz and the piano as my main instrument, I have dedicated over 20 years of my life to honing my skills, both as a professional jazz pianist and as an experienced instructor.

 

Currently based in Tokyo, I am proud to be performing regularly as a jazz pianist throughout this vibrant city.

Also, another musical passion lies in teaching, and I devote a significant amount of time to offering private lessons to students of all ages. Whether you are a budding musician or an experienced pianist looking to take your skills to new heights, I am here to provide personalized instruction that will help you achieve your musical goals.

 

One of the key principles that guides my teaching philosophy is the belief that every student deserves to find joy and fulfillment in their musical journey.

 

With this in mind, I strive to tailor each lesson to suit the individual needs and interests of my students. By creating a relaxed and encouraging learning environment, I aim to ignite a lifelong love for music in each of my students. In addition to in-person lessons, I am also thrilled to offer online piano lessons. This means that no matter where you are in the world – whether it's in America, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, or anywhere else – you can take advantage of my expertise and guidance.

 

Through video conferencing and digital resources, I am able to deliver high-quality instruction to students from all corners of the globe. My piano lessons cover a wide range of musical topics, including ear training, chord recognition, jazz progressions, arranging and composition, reading scores, and much more. I have a deep understanding of various musical styles, including pop, Latin, gospel, jazz, bossa nova, and many others.

With my guidance, you will have the opportunity to explore and master a diverse array of musical genres, enabling you to express yourself authentically through the piano.

 

Thank you for visiting my website. I invite you to explore the various resources and services I offer and take the first step towards an exciting musical journey.

 

I am confident that together, we can unlock your full potential and make your piano-playing dreams a reality. Let's embark on this musical adventure – I can't wait to meet you and start making beautiful music together!

Education and Music "Education."

1999-2002

Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Music. Piano
Massey University, N.Z

2003 -2004 

Teacher at Te Wananga O Aotearoa, Mangere Campus

2007 - 2010
 

Pianist at New Akao, Hotel

Atami, Shizuoka Japan

2010 - Present
 

Freelance Jazz/ Pop Pianist in Japan

Studio Musician

Online Jazz Piano Teacher
Private teaching throughout Kanagawa, Japan.

 

Elia has performed with many of N.Z's top musicians throughout his career.
After finishing high school, Elia played in various pop / RnB bands which started off his performing career, while also giving back to piano students from his old High School and other neighboring high schools.
His passion for jazz was evident and after several years of playing throughout Auckland with different groups,  he furthered his love for Jazz study at Massey University, focusing on Jazz Piano under the mentorship of Anita Schwabe, Kirsten McKenzie, Leigh Jackson, and Kevin Fields.
At that same time, Elia would be playing in a popular 10-piece covers band (NUDGE)  which would be playing every week performing songs from E.W&F, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, etc

After University, He would continue giving back to his community as a Kaiako (Teacher) for Te Wananga O Aotearoa (Mangere Campus, Auckland ) teaching Contemporary Music. Elia also helped design the music curriculum along with two of his work colleagues.

Elia loves to perform with his musical peers and is equally passionate for teaching also.

 

He's been gaining popularity throughout Kanagawa, Japan as a pianist and Educator.


 

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© 2012 by Elia Gaitau .   All rights reserved.

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