Kent D. Smith is a composer, performer, and music instructor with over 25 years of professional experience. The topics covered in Kent's tutorials come directly from his teaching experience. When recording a lesson, Kent chooses a familiar student who would be able to understand the material, and imagines he is teaching directly to that student. (The chosen student varies, according to the topic and the level of experience required.)
Kent started drum lessons at age 7, and landed a part-time professional gig at 14. He has a college degree in music with a focus on classical and jazz piano.
My entire "Blues Piano Crash Course" is now available on Curious! This course includes a bonus "mini-course" on additional improv techniques and theory, using Van Morrison's classic "Moondance" as a vehicle. Enjoy!
Want to shred up and down the piano keyboard like blues legend Ray Charles? This course teaches blues patterns and licks essential for playing blues piano.
Want to shred up and down the piano keyboard like blues legend Ray Charles? This course teaches blues patterns and licks essential for playing blues piano.
What separates a beginner piano player from an experienced pianist? The ability to improvise. Learn piano improv techniques with Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and Yiruma’s “River Flows in You.”
What separates a beginner piano player from an experienced pianist? The ability to improvise. Learn piano improv techniques with Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and Yiruma’s “River Flows in You.”
Chord-style and rhythm piano players: this one’s for you! Learn about I-IV interval movements and how to use them to embellish major piano chords.
Chord-style and rhythm piano players: this one’s for you! Learn about I-IV interval movements and how to use them to embellish major piano chords.
Learn how to dress up piano chords with a simple device called the “add 9.” It’s only a matter of adding just one note (the ninth) to any chord!
Learn how to dress up piano chords with a simple device called the “add 9.” It’s only a matter of adding just one note (the ninth) to any chord!
In this piano lesson, Kent D. Smith shares a simple trick for instantly visualizing any inversion of any chord. Add this trick to your music theory arsenal!
In this piano lesson, Kent D. Smith shares a simple trick for instantly visualizing any inversion of any chord. Add this trick to your music theory arsenal!
Learn a catchy melody called “Matilda” while building your two-handed piano coordination skills. Forget about boring drills; use fun songs to build skills!
Learn a catchy melody called “Matilda” while building your two-handed piano coordination skills. Forget about boring drills; use fun songs to build skills!
Break music theory into fourths—and fifths! In this piano lesson, Kent D. Smith teaches the difference among perfect, diminished, and augmented intervals.
Break music theory into fourths—and fifths! In this piano lesson, Kent D. Smith teaches the difference among perfect, diminished, and augmented intervals.
It's essential to have a systematic approach to playing chords and melody together on piano. In this piano lesson, learn about a chord-playing system.
It's essential to have a systematic approach to playing chords and melody together on piano. In this piano lesson, learn about a chord-playing system.
By the end of this beginner piano lesson, be able to construct or recognize any major scale on the piano without having to learn each one by rote.
By the end of this beginner piano lesson, be able to construct or recognize any major scale on the piano without having to learn each one by rote.
Improve your two-handed coordination on piano while learning how to play a fun tune in this first lesson of a four-part series on beginner piano technique.
Improve your two-handed coordination on piano while learning how to play a fun tune in this first lesson of a four-part series on beginner piano technique.
In part two of this series on two-handed coordination on piano, learn targeted exercises to help build these piano skills, and get better at syncopation.
In part two of this series on two-handed coordination on piano, learn targeted exercises to help build these piano skills, and get better at syncopation.