Teacher Profile: Brent Labasan

About Brent Labasan

Brent Labasan (he/him) is a Seattle-based pianist and music producer with over a decade of piano experience spanning classical, pop, contemporary, EDM, and some jazz. His musical journey began in the first grade with formal lessons, continued with recital and concert performances, and today he can often be found busking his piano on the streets of Seattle, engaging listeners of all ages while enjoying the thrill of performing for an ever-changing audience. In addition, he volunteers with Music Mends Minds, playing the piano over Zoom for individuals with neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and PTSD.

As a teacher, Brent’s goal is to make learning the piano both approachable and rewarding for every student. He takes time to understand each student’s background, skill level, and personal goals, and then creates lessons tailored to their interests and learning style. Whether a student wants to learn to play their favorite songs, build confidence with stage performance, or dive deeper into music theory, Brent provides step-by-step guidance. He works through any frustrations students encounter and supports them in overcoming challenges as part of their musical journey.

For Brent, playing the piano is both an artistic and technical skill that allows students to express their emotions and humanity. It strengthens focus, sharpens discipline, and enables emotional expression in ways that words often cannot. His teaching is rooted in these values, and he strives for every student to experience the joy and self-expression that comes with learning and playing the piano.

Brent uses Ableton Live and FL Studio for music production, and MuseScore for composition and notation. Students who want to learn the software driving today’s music industry will find his lessons engaging and relevant to the ever-evolving world of music and entertainment.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Brent studied with teachers Mildred Oshiro, Juei Lee Mariano, and Kay Goshi. Since moving to Seattle in 2005 to attend the University of Washington, he has made the city his home. When not teaching or performing, Brent enjoys exploring entrepreneurship, videography, gathering people for volleyball, and biking around Seattle on both his regular and electric bikes.