Matt Dennis (Feb. 11, 1914-June 21, 2002) was a well-known teacher and songwriter on the Los Angeles scene. He has been a guest on a variety of TV shows and has appeared at leading clubs and concert halls throughout the country. Matt is especially recognized for his talents in the field of jazz, where his many compositions for jazz piano are legendary. He believed that students, hearing and playing full modern chord arrangements at an early age, will find it stimulating to the ear and will be encouraged to experiment with modern sounds in their own playing. He felt that most players desire to play and improvise with more harmonic freedom. His books are carefully designed to enhance the student's knowledge and ability in performing the demands of modern piano stylings.