084: Creating Well-Rounded Piano Students with Grant Kondo

Grant Kondo believes in saying “yes” to every student’s musical journey. From his early experiences in Hawaii to his current studio in San Jose, Grant has combined classical foundations with modern creativity to inspire well-rounded musicians. In this episode, he shares how improvisation, arranging, and flexible teaching approaches can help students of all ages connect deeply with music, while his new book series Skills for the Modern Pianist equips teachers and learners with practical tools for artistry and growth.

• Grant shared a brief overview of his background and his music studio in San Jose, California.
• How his early teachers gave him strong sight-reading and classical training.
• He described the moment in high school when he realized he could not play from a lead sheet.
• The influence of Forrest Kinney in helping him learn improvisation and arranging.
• The importance of teaching students all four arts of music: interpretation, improvisation, arranging, and composition.
• Why his teaching philosophy centers on being a “yes man” who meets students where they are.
• The value of allowing students to explore different genres like pop, K-pop, classical, and anime.
• How he tailors method books to fit each student rather than using one program for all.
• Why he loves teaching adult students who bring diverse goals and musical interests.
• Why he believes all students should learn both classical and non-classical repertoire.
• Grant highlighted his new book series Skills for the Modern Pianist.
• How the books use familiar pieces in multiple variations to teach arranging, improvisation, and theory.

Links Mentioned

• Grant Kondo's Website
• Grant's Books: LifeOffThePage.com
• Grant's Books "Skills for the Modern Pianist" (US Amazon Link)
• Grant's Books "Skills for the Modern Pianist" (AU Amazon Link)
• TopMusic Composition Competition 2025

Today’s Guest Grant Kondo, is a pianist, educator, and author of Skills for the Modern Pianist, a three-level series designed to bridge classical foundations with improvisation, arranging, and modern genres. Inspired by Forrest Kinney, his innovative approach empowers students and teachers alike to move beyond the page, cultivating creativity, artistry, and a connection to the music they make. Grant runs a private studio in San Jose, CA, USA, and is a trip planning and transportation nerd as he loves anything from planes to trains to cruises! He has served on local, state, and national levels in leadership for Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). About Rachel Ehring Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find...