{"id":7643,"date":"2022-05-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=7643"},"modified":"2023-01-09T16:06:45","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T00:06:45","slug":"kevin-castro-musicians-mindset-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/kevin-castro-musicians-mindset-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"The Musician&#8217;s Mindset With Kevin Castro (Pianote Podcast #22)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Kevin Castro has officially joined the Pianote team! Kevin will be supporting the community and helping us with lessons. And what better way to introduce him than to invite him onto the Pianote Podcast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode of the podcast, Kevin and Lisa will discuss the musician\u2019s mindset. Kevin went from barely knowing how to play piano to studying music at the university level in a remarkably short amount of time. Fast forward to today, Kevin has played with some <em>big<\/em> names, including JESSIA, Sarah McLachlan, and Alessia Cara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s hear his story. (Quotes may be edited for length and clarity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Never Miss an Interview<\/strong> \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f<\/h2><p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Get exclusive access to world-class pianists and what makes them tick. Subscribe to <em>The Note<\/em> today.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-late-but-great-start\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>A Late (But Great!) Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many musicians, Kevin initially started piano lessons at a young age. But he soon quit when he won second instead of first place at a competition (out of 30 contestants, so still pretty good!). He remembers the song he played was Backstreet Boys\u2019 \u201cShape of My Heart,\u201d but the second place prize discouraged Kevin from piano because his sister <em>always <\/em>took home first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Then, Kevin\u2019s dad (who was a jazz pianist) brought home a baby grand piano one day, and this re-ignited Kevin\u2019s interest in the keys. He began tinkering with YouTube tutorials, a very new resource at the time. Eventually, Kevin became interested in going to university for music. \u201cEveryone was like, well, you\u2019re crazy,\u201d he says, recalling the reaction he got when he told people his plans. \u201cYou can\u2019t just go if you don\u2019t know how to play the instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So Kevin did more research. He decided to apply for a jazz school because while his theory knowledge was limited, he knew how to play by ear. Then he spent the three months after high school intensely studying music three hours a day, an hour and a half in the morning and then again at night. In this short amount of time, he went from baby books (like finding Middle C) to learning modes and jazz arrangements. \u201cI ended up challenging myself,\u201d he says. \u201cI wanted to see how far I could get from Ground Zero to auditioning for post-secondary school-level piano.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Kevin%20Castro%20Podcast\/kevin%20podcast%202.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>GET MORE PRO TIPS FROM KEVIN:<\/i><\/b> Don&#8217;t miss Kevin&#8217;s inspiring lesson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/twinkle-twinkle-5-styles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;5 Styles of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.&#8221;<\/a> And make sure you catch our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/kevin-castro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">earlier interview<\/a> with Kevin, where he goes into more detail on landing gigs and teaches a short lesson on re-harmonizing.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learning-in-and-out-of-the-classroom\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Learning In And Out of the Classroom<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin successfully applied for an undergraduate program in music, but he was \u201ceasily the worst piano player\u2026by far\u201d in his class. He recalls a professor\u2019s warning that, statistically, only two people will graduate with a performance degree, and just one person will graduate on time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I wanted to see how far I could get from Ground Zero to auditioning for post-secondary school-level piano.<\/p>\n<cite>Kevin Castro<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p>The professor was correct. Only one person would graduate from that program on time, and that was Kevin. \u201cIt was a lot of just putting my head down,\u201d he says. As the first person from his family to graduate from a Canadian university, it was \u201ca huge milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin originally planned to teach with his music degree, but he soon learned that it was possible to make a career <em>playing<\/em> music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a few cold calls, Kevin started landing piano bar gigs. He recalls someone asking him if he could play three hours of music. \u201cI just said yep I\u2019ll do it. And I just forced myself to learn. I think that first gig I ever did, I had to repeat a couple songs.\u201d Despite that, he \u201cmade it work.\u201d The piano bar became a place to implement what he learned in his university classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Kevin%20Castro%20Podcast\/kevin%20podcast%201.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Kevin, \u201cthe more I focus on bettering myself as a musician, the less I\u2019ve had to chase opportunities.\u201d At first, he tried not to limit himself by genre, but eventually, people grew to love his Latin style playing. So Kevin became known (and got successful through) his Latin piano work. \u201cI started to get tons of gigs and lots of work,\u201d Kevin says. In fact, after this podcast, Kevin is flying to New York to play at the Tik Tok headquarters. He\u2019s definitely come a long way from studying YouTube tutorials!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>Kevin on Motivation \ud83d\udcac<\/b><\/h3><\/center><p>&#8220;I think the biggest mistake people make when they want to practice and get better is they really rely on motivation. And what I\u2019ve found is that motivation is the wrong way of looking at it. There are days when you won\u2019t want to go to the gym because you\u2019re just not motivated every day. But I would tell myself\u2026let\u2019s go to the gym, pick up one weight, and then I can go home. Because the thing is, once you show up, you\u2019re gonna finish your work. And even if you do a light workout, that\u2019s fine. You did the workout! And that\u2019s the same thing with practicing. It\u2019s the discipline to show up, even on the days you don\u2019t want to. If you can just find that discipline within you to show up\u2014even just play one song on the piano\u2014a lot of times, that\u2019s going to inspire you to keep going. Motivation comes after the commitment to showing up.&#8221;<\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-importance-of-being-a-good-hang\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>The Importance of Being a \u201cGood Hang\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When asked how he got to play with so many famous names, Kevin reiterates that he \u201cwasn\u2019t even close to being the best piano player\u201d in his undergraduate class. <em>But<\/em>, he was \u201ca really friendly guy to hang out with and people liked hanging out with me.\u201d There are skilled musicians who show up, do the job, and then leave. But Kevin will stay after a show, have a drink, and chat with people. Which Kevin believes makes a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Failing and failure are totally different things.<\/p>\n<cite>Kevin Castro<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Having good rapport is especially important when you\u2019re playing with other musicians. Vocalists \u201chave to have that trust in me,\u201d says Kevin. \u201cAt the end of the day, music\u2014at least when you\u2019re improvising\u2014is a conversation. Being a good hang is just as important as being a good musician.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Kevin%20Castro%20Podcast\/kevin%20podcast%203.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Latin Essentials With Kevin Castro<\/b><\/h3><\/center><p>Pianote Members can access Kevin&#8217;s six-part Latin jazz course. For a taste of the course before you join Pianote, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/latin-piano-montuno-tutorial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;How to Play the Most Popular Latin Montuno.&#8221;<\/a><\/p><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JOIN PIANOTE<\/a><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you-re-never-too-old-to-start\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>You\u2019re Never Too Old to Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Kevin\u2019s story shows, you don\u2019t need to start playing piano the same time you learn how to walk in order to be successful. The oldest student Kevin has taught was in their early 80s. So, Kevin\u2019s first piece of advice to aspiring musicians is that you\u2019re never too old to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"font-size:32px\">\n<p>The more I focus on bettering myself as a musician, the less I\u2019ve had to chase opportunities.<\/p>\n<cite>Kevin Castro<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Kevin%20Castro%20Podcast\/kevin%20podcast%204.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin\u2019s next piece of advice: \u201cfailing and failure are totally different things.\u201d He believes many piano students bite off more than they can chew and then get dejected. \u201cIt\u2019s okay to take that step back and re-evaluate yourself,\u201d he says. \u201cI might fail at something. But the reason I\u2019m not a \u2018failure\u2019 is because I keep trying, I keep getting back up. And if you keep doing that, there\u2019s no way you can fail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to hear Kevin\u2019s opinion on pineapples and pizza, whether he likes country music, and why he prefers playing for 20,000 people rather than five? Listen to this episode of the Pianote Podcast and follow us on Spotify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t matter if you grew up playing music. What matters is that you made a decision that this is what you&#8217;re gonna do now.<\/p>\n<cite>Lisa Witt in conversation with Kevin Castro<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pro pianist Kevin Castro reveals what it takes to play with names like Sarah McLachlan and JESSIA. Hint: It&#8217;s more than being good at music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musicianship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7643"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10440,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7643\/revisions\/10440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}