{"id":5138,"date":"2021-10-13T15:07:03","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T22:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=5138"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:39:15","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T23:39:15","slug":"kevin-castro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/kevin-castro\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Castro: From DIY Pianist to Professional Artist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kevin Castro is a pianist, arranger, producer, and performer based in Vancouver, BC. And we’re lucky to have him visit the Pianote studio, show off some cool covers, and teach us some Latin jazz piano<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike what many people expect of professional piano players, Kevin didn\u2019t start intense piano lessons as a toddler. And he still believes that it\u2019s never too late to get good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how Kevin went from DIY learning on YouTube to earning a degree in music and performing with world-class artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/_0PnALthwPg\n<\/div>
Kevin Castro visits the Pianote studio to perform a slick cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Biography<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When Kevin started playing piano at four years old, he was also trying to learn English and Spanish at the same time. He struggled with English, but had a good ear, so when he went trick-or-treating, he didn\u2019t know the words but could copy the \u201ctrick-or-treat!\u201d intonation that would get him candy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin\u2019s parents were immigrants from Mexico and Kevin grew up listening to Latin jazz (which he thinks of as just jazz). His dad is also a piano teacher and was his main instructor growing up. \u201cEverything I learned, I learned from him,\u201d says Kevin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From DIY Learning to a Degree in Music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, Kevin left piano around ages seven to eight for a \u201csad reason\u201d: his sister played piano too and always got first place in competitions. So when Kevin took home a 2nd-place trophy from a competition with mainly older kids, he felt bad and left the piano entirely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Lucas Parry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kevin wouldn\u2019t return to music until his early teens, when he took a more DIY approach to learning. YouTube was just becoming popular, and Kevin started learning songs from video tutorials. For a while, all he could play was \u201cLove Song\u201d by Sarah Bareilles and \u201cApologize\u201d by One Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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