Personally, I feel that the series could do more to connect viewers with the characters. Perhaps it has to do with the koto being a relatively unknown instrument to us foreigners, or maybe it is because the plot seems to revolve entirely around this koto club, and so there aren't many opportunities to explore the various interesting characters in situations which do not involve any kotos.
Yet.. I'm only at episode 7 now and it seems like the show may now be placing a greater focus on individual characters after getting a major plot point over and done with.
Also, it does provide a fairly accurate portrayal of learning and playing music, which makes it better than most of these music anime. At one point, one of the characters gives a better explanation of interpreting classical music than my music teacher! lol
