Piano Inspires Podcast: An Interview with William Chapman Nyaho
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question To celebrate the latest episode of Piano Inspires Podcast featuring William Chapman Nyaho, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Jennifer Snow. Want to learn more about Nyaho? Check out the latest installment of...
Life in Music
Spring 2024; Vol. 16, No. 1
Recently, in our newly launched Piano Inspires Podcast, I had the great honor to speak with Dr. William Chapman Nyaho who is the featured artist-educator in this issue. During our conversation, we explored the concept of the artist as advocate and ambassador. We discussed how...
Winter 2024: Life in Music
Winter 2024; Vol. 15, No. 4
The end of the 2023 calendar year provides us with time for reflection and gratitude. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with the renowned master teacher, Marvin Blickenstaff. At teacher engagement events, he shared his lifetime of wisdom on piano teaching and specifically a...
Thank You!
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, we pay tribute to piano teachers from around the country who are transforming the lives of their students. Students, parents, and colleagues are honoring piano teachers from their...
Autumn 2023: Life in Music
Inspired teaching is driven by curiosity to learn, improve, and advance practice. By adopting a “beginner’s mindset” we embrace the opportunities to learn and grow every day. This summer, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy gatherings embodied this ethos. The breadth of programming encompassed music...
Summer 2023: Life in Music
As educators, we embrace summer as a time for reflection and renewal. It offers the possibilities to attend a conference, work on a new credential, catch up on reading, prepare new programs, and generally restore our creative energy. For newly graduated professionals, June can also...
Helpful Guidance for Piano Teachers During the COVID Crisis
COVID-19 Special Issue; Vol. 12, No. 2
In the uncertainty and confusion of the COVID-19 crisis, the music community faces unprecedented issues surrounding private and group instruction. As you consider what is best for your studio, we at the Frances Clark Center hope that you find this document helpful in your decision...
Spring 2023: Life in Music
With the arrival of spring, we at the Frances Clark Center are enthusiastically planning for our twenty-fifth anniversary of the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference.1 The response to the call for participation resulted in an inspired, diverse, and engaging program...
Winter 2023: Life in Music
Winter 2023; Vol. 14, No. 4
This fall, we at the Frances Clark Center launched a new initiative—The Power of a Piano Teacher.1 We believe passionately in our noble profession and have been moved by the deeply personal stories people have shared appreciating their teachers from across the country and the...
The Power of a Piano Teacher
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question Teaching is probably the noblest profession in the world — the most unselfish, difficult, and honorable profession.Leonard Bernstein We at the Frances Clark Center believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to their...
Autumn 2022: Life in Music
Autumn 2022; Vol. 14. No. 3
With the passing of Elvina Truman Pearce, our community has lost another giant in our field. As the many testimonials in this issue attest, Elvina Pearce shaped modern piano pedagogy through her unparalleled teaching, writing, leadership, artistry, and composition. “Mrs. Pearce,” as I knew her...
Summer 2022: Life in Music
Summer 2022; Vol. 14, No. 2
By Jennifer Snow Living post-pandemic is a hot topic of discussion as we process and adapt to the many disruptions of the last two years. With summer arriving, many of us welcome more time to enjoy live music, travel to see family and friends, venture...
Spring 2020: Life in Music
COVID-19 Special Issue; Vol. 12, No. 2
“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” – Khalil Gibran Reflecting on these last months, it is hard to process the overwhelming changes that have taken place all over the world because of the pandemic crisis we...
Winter 2022: Life in Music
Winter 2022; Vol. 13, No. 4
The new school year marks a time of beginnings and discoveries. As lifelong learners, we launch into the fall with aspirational plans for our students and for ourselves. The opportunity to synthesize newly acquired approaches, strategies, and skills inspires us to build on our craft...
Spring 2022: Reflect: Life in Music
Spring 2022; Vol. 14, No. 1
Never in our history has music been more critical for the well-being of people and communities. Shared musical experiences connect people in profound and beautiful ways. As we overcome the challenges of the last two years, making music is a powerful path forward. All forms of music making...