Forrest Kinney

(1957-2019)

— educator, author, pianist, composer, presenter 

Forrest Kinney was an educator who taught music for over four decades. He was a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) as recognized by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). His goal in life was to help others become creative, whole musicians capable of enjoying the Four Arts of Music: improvising, arranging, composing, and interpreting.

A frequent presenter at conferences and public events, Forrest gave hundreds of presentations (speeches, workshops, master classes, concerts, teaching demonstrations, etc.) for music educators in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He was the Conference Clinician, Conference Artist, or Guest Artist at eighteen state and national music teacher conferences. This includes six straight years (2012-2017) as a Guest Artist at the Music Teachers Association of California conference. In 2015, he gave five presentations at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, including a Teaching Demonstration of the Four Arts. Though he usually spoke about The Four Arts, his topics included performance anxiety, piano technique, songwriting, the history of music, and creative practicing.

As a pianist and performer Forrest gave many solo and collaborative concerts in the past few decades, many with vocalist Kevin Helppie, his collaborator on the World Songs project, and Andrea Rackl, his duet partner. At his engagements, he often began by spontaneously composing pieces for audience members based on notes or themes given him. He also frequently improvised with audience members, some who had never played the piano before. Forrest played for the 28th time at the home of Bill and Melinda Gates in December, 2018. He also performed at many events hosted by the Seattle Symphony including the gala dinner at the opening of Benaroya Hall. 

Forrest was a professional arranger whose arrangements for a variety of instruments are included in over 40 publications by the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Forrest was a composer who composed hundreds of piano pieces and songs. He was the co-composer with Dr. Kevin Helppie of World Songs, two collections of 35 original art songs based on ancient poetry from around the world, Drops of Silver, a song cycle, and Bridges to Artistry, a collection of 26 songs that are etudes. 

Forrest wrote numerous articles for such publications as Clavier Companion, American Music Teacher, and Music Matters. He was a columnist for American Music Teacher.

Forrest was awarded a U.S. Patent for inventing a new kind of computer key system that allows us to type all the letters of a word at once, just like playing chords on a piano. Learn more here.