This Week in Piano History: Happy 150th, Sergei!
Back to Discovery Blog Home A portrait of Rachmaninoff THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of composer, pianist, and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff, born on April 1, 1873. Despite his enduring fame as a composer, Rachmaninoff was largely known in his day as...
This Week in Piano History: Beethoven’s Viennese Debut
Back to Discovery Blog Home A portrait of young Beethoven THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate Beethoven’s debut as a pianist in Vienna on March 29, 1795. At just twenty-four years old, Beethoven’s performance marked the beginning of a lifelong musical relationship with the...
This Week in Piano History: The Demise of Hanon
Back to Discovery Blog Home THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember composer and organist Charles-Louis Hanon, who died on March 19, 1900 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Author of the infamous collection The Virtuoso Pianist, Hanon is little known besides this work. Hanon was born in...
This Week in Piano History: The Birth of “Mr. Harmony”
Back to Discovery Blog Home Mario Ruiz Armengol THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of composer Mario Ruiz Armengol, who was born on March 17, 1914. A Mexican composer, Ruiz Armengol wrote a number of important piano works including a sonata, the...
This Week in Piano History: National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day
Back to Discovery Blog Home Michelle Cann Tania León Dr. Valerie Capers Nina Simone Margaret Bonds Happy National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day! Created by the organization Black Women in Jazz, this day celebrates the remarkable impact of Black women in jazz...
This Week in Piano History: The Concert with an Audience of Legends (Including Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Wieck!)
Back to Discovery Blog Home Frederic Chopin THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, Chopin had his premiere at the Salons de Pleyel in Paris on February 25, 1832.1 Chopin’s first concert after arriving in Paris, this debut marked one of the few times the Parisian public...
This Week in Piano History: The King of Etudes
Back to Discovery Blog Home Carl Czerny THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of pianist and composer Carl Czerny who was born on February 21, 1791. Although primarily known for his numerous etudes, Czerny was a prolific composer publishing over 800 works...
This Week in Piano History: The Ragtime “Scott” You Might Not Know
Back to Discovery Blog Home James Sylvester Scott THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of major ragtime composer James Sylvester Scott who was born on February 12, 1885. Scott produced a number of hits including Ophelia Rag, Frog Legs Rag, and Grace...
This Week in Piano History: The Pianist Who Could Crack a Joke
Back to Discovery Blog Home Victor Borge THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember the debut of The Victor Borge Show on NBC-TV on February 3, 1951. Borge’s brilliant comedic routines brought humor to the classical music concert hall in ways previously not experienced. Born...
This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Philip Glass | January 31, 1937
Back to Discovery Blog Home Philip Glass THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of American composer Philip Glass, who was born on January 31, 1937. Known for his unique approach to minimalist style, Glass’ award-winning compositions continue to inspire audiences worldwide. Born...
This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Muzio Clementi | January 23, 1752
Back to Discovery Blog Home A piano manufactured by Muzio Clementi & Co. THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of pianist, composer, and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi, who was born on January 23, 1752. Although Clementi is most well known today for...
This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata | January 20, 1939
Back to Discovery Blog Home Charles Ives and Harmony Twichell Ives THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the premiere of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata, which American pianist John Kirkpatrick premiered on January 20, 1939. The sonata, Ives’ second piano sonata, lasts over forty-five minutes...
This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Ballet “The Nutcracker” | December 18, 1892
Back to Discovery Blog Home The original production of The Nutcracker, Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg,1892 THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker, on December 18, 1892. Although the premiere performance of the ballet was not well received,...
The Fundamental Responsibility of Piano Teachers | Honoring Crystal Lee
Back to Discovery Blog Home We believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you to celebrate your teacher and share your tribute...
This Week in Piano History: Death of Ignatius Sancho | December 14, 1780
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember composer (Charles) Ignatius Sancho who died on December 14, 1780. Sancho, also an abolitionist and writer, impacted eighteenth-century British literature and culture. Sancho’s life began tragically as he was born on a slave ship headed for South America....