Benan Avci began studying piano when he was four years old with his mother, a private teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. He also studied voice and trombone, as well as jazz, rock and pop piano while growing up. Majoring in choral education at the University of Illinois, he became a high school choir teacher while moonlighting as a dueling pianist and entertainer at bar and fraternity party gigs. After moving to Nashville, Benan became a sideman, touring with Jarrod Niemann and playing with various groups around town such as the renowned multi-tribute band, MIPS.

In this episode, Ben and I discuss traditional piano lessons and making the shift to becoming a commercial musician. He gives advice on how to learn massive amounts of material in a short period of time, talks frankly about the Nashville scene for sidemen and suggests ways that playing piano can be a tool for navigating difficult emotions.