The Keys Coach Podcast

Dennis Hamm is a Los Angeles-based keys player with over 30 years of professional experience. Known for his virtuosic chops and incredible versatility, Dennis has toured and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

For the past decade, he’s been the keyboardist for Thundercat and the musical director for Alice Smith. He’s also played in over 50 countries with legendary artists like Louis Cole, Chris Cornell, Babyface, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Gino Vannelli, Alan Holdsworth, Larry Carlton, and many more.

Oh—and he was nominated for a Grammy for his performance on Simon Phillips’ Protocol 4.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🎧 Why it’s so important to think like a producer when playing in a band
👂 What having "big ears" really means
🤚 How to develop rhythmic independence between your hands
🏟️ Why Thundercat doesn’t “tame down” the music for stadium gigs
🔄 Why Dennis thinks music theory should evolve with every new genre

Plus: a deep dive into emotion in music, root perception, and plenty of glorious geekery.

Oli Howe is a keys player, producer and prominent figure in the UK scene and has shared stages with the likes of Yoland Brown, Omar Lyefook, Tortured Soul, Freak Power, The House & Garage Orchestra, Billy Cobham and Taylor McFerrin while drawing sold-out houses with headline shows at top UK venues such as Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Brighton Jazz Festival and most recently Love Supreme Jazz Festival. 

 

In 2023, Oli released, “Six”  which explores high-energy live band performances, and extreme feel-good vibes blurring the lines between jazz, fusion, RnB, gospel and hip-hop.

 

In this episode Adam and Oli chat about:

The difference is between playing piano and playing keys

Oli’s process for teaching himself jazz piano and why the Internet has completely transformed education

Oli’s top tips for starting out with social media and how to build a following online

Secrets for developing your chords and finding interesting reharmonisations

 

This is the final episode of Season 1! Season 2 will be dropping later this year - keep an eye out on social media for more info.

 

Oli Howe's Instagram

'Six' on Bandcamp

 

YouTube Tutorial: How to Master Inversions

Follow the Keys Coach on Instagram

 

Hosted by Adam Saunders

Music - https://www.davidcuttermusic.com/

Nicky Brown is a keys player and producer, and a highly respected figure in the music industry, known for his exceptional talent as a Musical Director. He has worked with artists, including Emeli Sandé, Michael Bolton, Tom Jones, Earth Wind and Fire, and Madonna, among many others.

 

In this episode, Adam and Nicky chat about:

Nicky’s incredible career in the music industry

Why it’s so important to have mentors to help you along the way

Why playing keys in church is the best learning ground

Why it’s not about the amount of notes you play, but how meaningful those notes are

Why as keys players, we need to play the song, rather than just the groove.

 

Nicky's Instagram

 

YouTube Tutorial: The Ultimate Piano Warm Up

Follow the Keys Coach on Instagram

 

Hosted by Adam Saunders

Music - https://www.davidcuttermusic.com/

In this solo episode, Adam explains how the Podcast is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever before, ready for the launch of Season 2... and we need your help!

 

CLICK HERE to fill out the Podcast Feedback Survey.

 

The podcast returns for the remainder of Season 1, next Thursday with the awesome Nicky Brown.

David Bennett is a pianist, composer and YouTuber.

With a following of almost 1 million subscribers, his videos use music theory to analyse and appreciate some of the most revered music of the last one hundred years. David's first love is composing. His style is meditative, minimalist and, very much, piano-focused. In 2024, David is set to release a new collection of original songs.

 

In this episode Adam and David chat about:

Why finding the right teacher is so important when starting on the piano

Why it’s vital to have a creative project on-the-go

David’s top tips for getting out of familiar shapes and patterns, and ways to generate new ideas

Why The Beatles are such a huge source of inspiration

Plus we also do a deep-dive into why YouTube is such an awesome opportunity for musicians and creators.

 

David's YouTube Channel

 

 

YouTube Tutorial: 3 Secrets for Crafting AWESOME Chord Sequences

Follow the Keys Coach on Instagram

 

Hosted by Adam Saunders

Music - https://www.davidcuttermusic.com/