Peter Dasent Interview | Play School | The Umbrellas | Keyboard Chronicles Episode 186

Peter Dasent is an incredibly versatile pianist, composer, and musical director best known for his long tenure as the resident keyboardist on ABC's Play School, a role he has held for over two decades. While he is well known for his daily on-set improvisations for children, his impressive resume also includes leading his chamber-jazz ensemble The Umbrellas for over 30 years, as well as composing soundtracks for early Peter Jackson films like Meet The Feebles and Heavenly Creatures. We chat with Peter about that amazing history, his approach to playing and composing across so many different genres, and lots more. 01:28 - Welcoming Peter Dasent and his recent Play School projects 04:05 - Peter's early musical upbringing and classical piano lessons 05:27 - Discovering The Beatles and 60s pop music 08:26 - Exploring blues piano and his dad's jazz records 10:41 - Studying music at university and progressive rock influences 13:21 - Meeting Fane Flaws and forming the band Spats 14:07 - Success with The Crocodiles and touring New Zealand 17:34 - Peter's early keyboard rig: Yamaha CP-70 and Yamaha organ 19:48 - Moving to Australia, studying jazz, and forming The Umbrellas 21:48 - Connecting with Peter Jackson to score "Meet the Feebles" 27:23 - Sequencing music for "Braindead" using a Mac Classic and MIDI 29:25 - Working with a full orchestra for "Heavenly Creatures" 32:28 - 26 years of improvising live piano for "Play School" 41:29 - Accommodating different presenters and guests on Play School 46:14 - The iconic Play School Steinway grand piano 48:06 - Recording "Songs for Solo Piano" at Abbey Road Studios 53:01 - Mastering the solo album at Sterling Sound in New York 54:49 - Advice for aspiring musicians: stay open-minded and follow your curiosity 56:47 - Peter's top five Desert Island Discs Discussion topics covered during the show: The iconic, and Cookie Monster endorsed, Play School, turns 60 -    • The evolution of Play School titles from t...   Peter's musical upbringing Forming SPATS alongside Fane Flaws SPATS - New Wave Goodbye -   • SPATS - New Wave Goodbye   Joining The Crocodiles alongside the brilliant Jenny Morris The Crocodiles - Telephone Lover -    • The Crocodiles - Telephone Lover (1980)   The very interesting Kim Fowley -    • Sins, Secrets & Scandals - The Insane Life...   Peter's admiration of Steve Nieve's work - https://keyboardchronicles.com/2026/0... The Crocodiles - Tears -    • The Crocodiles - "Tears" (1980)   The under-admired (and according to Peter, Mushroom Records' worst selling album ever): I Am Joe's Music (Self-Titled) -    • Talkin' About The Fridge   The inimitable Lobby Loyde - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobby_L... Formation of The Umbrellas The Umbrellas live -    • The Umbrellas Bravo Nino Rota promo   Some timely advice from Don Burrows -   • Don Burrows and James Morrison: A friendsh...   Moving into film composition Peter's work on Peter Jackson's Meet The Feebles -    • Peter Dasent - Garden of Love - Meet the F...   The composition and recording process for Meet The Feebles Working on Peter Jackson's  Braindead / Dead Alive -    • Dead Alive (1992) Official Trailer #1 - Pe...   The legendary E-mu Proteus 2 -    • E-mu Proteus/2 demo   Working on Peter Jackon's Heavenly Creatures -    • Heavenly Creatures (1994) Official Trailer...   Working as the Pianist on Play School Discussion on the level of improvisation required on set of Play School Pivoting on the fly between musical genres on Play School Working with Justine Clarke Peter in action live with Justine Clarke -    • Play School Unplugged: 'Pyjamas' - Live Mu...   Peter's solo work including Songs for Solo Piano -    • Homage to Monsieur Hulot   Peter in action in Studio 3 at Abbey Road -    • Peter Dasent solo piano at Abbey Road Stud...   Sterling Sound in New York -    • Chief Engineer & Sterling Sound Partner, T...   Desert Island Discs: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles, Satie: Works for Piano - Aldo Ciccolini, Plays Duke Ellington - Thelonius Monk, The Fellini Album: The Film Music of Nino Rota: Nino Rota, Hot Rats - Frank Zappa. Patreon -   / keyboardchronicles   Substack - https://thekeyboardchronicles.substac... Facebook -   / keyboardchronicles   Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thekeyboardc... BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/keyboardchro... Instagram:   / thekeyboardchronicles   Our mission is to interview the best and brightest keyboard players from around the world.