The Piano Conference: NCKP

5 Things You Might Not Know About Colombian Composer Jaime León

Written By Felipe Calle

Don’t forget to check out Felipe Calle‘s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, The Piano Works of Jaime Leon: A Pedagogical Approach, on June 11, 2023 from 4:30-4:55PM during our online event. Register now for NCKP 2023!

1. Jaime León was born in 1921 in Cartagena, Colombia, a colonial city on the Caribbean coast.

His father, an executive for an American company, brought the young León and his family to the U.S. León was raised between San Francisco, California, and New Jersey, where he took his first piano lessons. During his early years and young adulthood, he studied at The Juilliard School under the guidance of Carl Friedberg, once a student of Clara Schumann.

Jaime León in 1928.
Carl Friedberg (1872-1955)
Jaime León in 1948.

2. León’s music was influenced by American music from the first half of the twentieth century.

While working at Tin Pan Alley and Broadway in the 1940s, León was fond of the rhythms of other styles such as swing, blues, and boogie-woogie. Moreover, his music developed a deeply lyrical quality inspired by his appreciation of Gershwin’s songs. He started writing music in 1946 when he composed a theme and variations work inspired by Brahms’s Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Opus 23. His output includes many art songs, which are widely regarded as examples of his excellent craftsmanship.

3. León’s career in the US was varied and extensive.

He worked as a freelance repetiteur and conductor of ballet, opera, and music-hall in New York and Texas. His achievements included being the Assistant Conductor of the American Ballet Theater in Washington D.C. where he premiered Duke Ellington’s ballet The River in 1971. In 1948, he assumed the role of Director at the National Conservatory in Colombia, but political unrest forced him to leave the same year.

Jaime León as a conductor in the pit, 1950.
“Blues” from Made in USA , Jaime León

4. León’s piano music remains unpublished and is seldom performed.

Despite his brevity, his output skillfully blends American vernacular and academic languages, influenced by composers such as Gershwin, Copland, Piston, and Cole Porter.

5. The Five Preludes “Made in U.S.A.” were premiered by the dedicatee, Teresa Gomez, the first Afro-Colombian pianist.

Despite confronting racism in the early stages of her career, Gomez has been hailed as one of the most renowned South American pianists and was chosen to play in the last presidential inauguration in July 2022.

Colombian Pianist Teresa Gomez (b. 1943)
Jaime León circa 1980.
RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFERENCE
Back to Discovery Page

5 Things You Might Not Know About Career-aged Adult Piano Learners

Written By Pei-Chen Chen

Check out Pei-Chen Chen‘s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, It’s Never Too Late – Lived Experiences of Amateur Adult Piano Learners, on June 11, 2023 from 3:00-3:25PM during our online event. Register now for NCKP 2023!

1. They take lessons to fulfill a long held-dream.

Fulfilling a long-held dream is one of the most common motivations for adult piano students (P. J. Jutras, 2006; Kim, 2015; Parker, 2006; Polischuk, 2019; Uszler et al., 1999). Many career-aged adult piano learners delay piano study for different reasons, and they will often wait patiently until their life is ready. Common factors that affect their decision to learn include finding enough time to practice, having the physical space for a piano, and mental readiness.

2. They are self-motivated.

Adult learners are self-motivated and self-directed in their learning. While many young learners have extrinsic pressure and expectations from their parents and others (Fisher, 2010; Polischuk, 2019; Uszler et al., 1999), adults are more intrinsically motivated. Adult piano learners want to improve their piano playing with different goals in mind. Most of their motivations are internal, including the desire for a better quality of life, greater self-confidence, and self-actualization.

3. They like to make conscious and meaningful decisions in their learning.

Career-aged adult piano learners like to learn at their own pace, preferring an individualized curriculum with repertoire that they want to learn. They learn better when the lesson style is customized to fit their needs (MacKeracher, 2004). This means it is important for teachers and students to discuss method books and repertoire choices to create an engaging learning environment (Coutts, 2018; Mizok-Taylor, 2008).

4. They acknowledge the challenges of being an adult learner.

Career-aged adult piano learners acknowledge their mental and physical difficulties while learning and practicing the piano. Feeling mental frustration and discomfort in practice is a common issue for them. However, they are also able to recognize that frustration comes from their own self-judgment. They often hear their own “inner critic,” feel self-conscious, and have negative self-judgments while learning the piano. (Bissell, 1984; Fisher, 2010).

In addition to mental discomfort, career-aged adult piano learners may also experience physical challenges, including feeling a lack of coordination when playing the piano. Many piano educators also believe adults need more time to transfer theoretical knowledge into physical playing energy (Fisher, 2010; Kim, 2015; Polischuk, 2019; Uszler et al., 1999). Hand-eye coordination and the cognitive process of learning to read music are also common challenges adults may experience (Kim, 2015). This lack of coordination can cause career-aged adult piano learners to feel self-conscious and frustrated. The discomfort for adult piano learners is both mental and physical, and often mental aspects will influence physical aspects and vice versa.

5. They feel joy and make meaningful connections between music and life.

Despite the challenges of learning piano, career-aged adult piano learners enjoy playing music and having music in their lives. They find that being able to play music is meaningful and gives them a sense of joy. Sharing music with others and making social connections can also bring them joy. Many educators believe that music is a leisure activity, and adult students enjoy the social opportunity to interact and share music with others (Fisher, 2010; Kronish, 2005; McQueen, 2013; Polischuk, 2019; Uszler et al., 1999).

SOURCES
Bissell, P. M. (1984). “Group Keyboard and the Adult Market.” American Music Teacher, 34(1), 12–17.

Coutts, L. (2018). “Selecting Motivating Repertoire for Adult Piano Students: A Transformative Pedagogical Approach.” British Journal of Music Education, 35(3), 285–299. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265051718000074.

Fisher, C. (2010). “Group Piano and the Adult Hobby Student.” In Teaching Piano in Groups (pp. 189–211). Oxford University Press.

Jutras, P. (2006). “The Benefits of Adult Piano Study as Self-Reported by Selected Adult Piano Students.” Journal of Research in Music Education, 54(2), 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/002242940605400202

Kim, K. R., Peter Jutras, Seon Joo. (2015). “Adult perspectives of learning musical instruments”— Kathryn Roulston, Peter Jutras, Seon Joo Kim, 2015. International Journal of Music Education, 33(3). http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0255761415584291

Kronish, N. B. (2005). “Social, cultural, and psychological influences on three promising piano students’ decisions to continue taking piano lessons” [Ph.D., McGill University (Canada)]. http://search.proquest.com/docview/305364045/abstract/173826EAF88C45AEPQ/12

MacKeracher, D. (2004). Making Sense of Adult Learning. University of Toronto Press Incorporated.

McQueen, M. V., Susan Hallam, Andrea Creech, Hilary. (2013). “Different ways of experiencing music-making in later life: Creative music sessions for older learners in East London” – Maria Varvarigou, Susan Hallam, Andrea Creech, Hilary McQueen, 2013. Research Studies in Music Education, 35(1). http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1321103X13478863

Mizok-Taylor, R. J. (2008). “Promoting self-directed learning in adult piano instruction” [D.M.A., West Virginia University]. http://search.proquest.com/docview/304448652/abstract/B327D2A3DC5F4856PQ/1

Parker, E. (2006). Piano Pedagogy: A Practical Approach. Longbow Pub

Polischuk, D. K. (2019). “Teaching Adult Pianists.” In Transformational Piano Teaching (pp. 21– 35). Oxford University.
Uszler, M., Gordon, S., & McBride-Smith, S. (1999). “The Adult Student.” In The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher (2nd ed. edition, pp. 147–179). Schirmer.

Back to Discovery Page

How to Teach like Kodály in 5 Easy Steps

Written By Megan Hall
Image of Zoltan Kodaly, piano pedagogy, piano teaching, piano technique, singing, music education, aural skills, piano teaching exercises, learning rhythm at the piano

Don’t miss Megan Rich‘s Lightning Talk at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, Singing in the Piano Lesson: Zoltán Kodály’s 333 Elementary Exercises in Solfège Singing, on July 26, 2023 from 4:00-4:50PM during our in-person event. Register now for NCKP 2023!

1. Sing!

Zoltan Kodály said that “To teach a child an instrument without first giving him preparatory training and without developing singing, reading and dictating to the highest level along with the playing is to build upon sand.”1 To develop singing and reading, Kodály wrote a book of sequential solfege exercises titled 333 Elementary Exercises in Solfege Singing.2

2. Use Folk Music

Kodály educator Jean Sinor said that “Content [of music education] should be generated by the music: initially by the folk music of the people and later by the folk music of other peoples and the finest examples of composed music.”3 Folk music is effective because of its familiarity and simplicity, and the use of varied folk music from different regions can greatly enhance piano lessons.

“Children learn effectively from the act of play.”

~ L. S. Vygotsky

3. Speak

Kodály educators use rhythm syllables and chants as a kinesthetic tool to help students internalize a steady beat and rhythm. The Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia published their helpful Rhythm Syllable Chart4 in 2003.

4. Play

Children learn effectively from the act of play.5 Music lessons that incorporate games and music are not only more fun, but often more effective. The following three websites have resources for Kodály-inspired music games:

1.       Kodaly Center – Collection (hnu.edu) https://kodaly.hnu.edu/collection.cfm

2.       Free Resources – Kodály Australia (kodaly.org.au) https://kodaly.org.au/resources/

3.       Action Songs and Games Level 1.pdf (beaconmedia.com.au) https://beaconmedia.com.au/bm/images/docs/Action%20songs%20and%20games%20Level%201.pdf

5. Make beautiful music together!

Provide an opportunity in every lesson for beautiful music-making. Whether playing or singing, students need the opportunity to participate in ensemble music and in music for music’s sake. As Kodály said, “If we ourselves sing often, this provides a deep experience of happiness in music. Through our own musical activities, we learn to know the pulsation, rhythm, and shape of melody. The enjoyment given encourages the study of instruments and the listening to other pieces of music as well.”6

Other resources you might enjoy

SOURCES

  1. Zoltán Kodály, The Selected Writings of Zoltán Kodály (New York: Boosey & Hawkes, 1974), 196.
  2. Jean Sinor, “Musical Development of Children and Kodály Pedagogy,” Kodály Envoy 40, no. 3 (March 2014): 17–20. RILM Abstracts of Music Literature. 
  3.  Zoltán Kodály, The Selected Writings of Zoltán Kodály (New York: Boosey & Hawkes, 1974), 196; Zoltan Kodaly, 333 Reading Exercises (New York: Boosey & Hawkes, 2004), https://www.boosey.com/teaching/sheet-music/Zoltan-Kodaly-Choral-Method-333-Reading-Exercises/2097. 
  4.  Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia, “Rhythm Syllable Chart,” Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia, 2003, https://kodaly.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/rhythmguide.pdf.
  5. L. S. Vygotsky, “Play and its role in the mental development of the child,” Journal of Russian and East European Psychology 5, no. 3 (1967): 6-18. 
  6. Zoltan Kodaly, Visszatekintés; összegyüjtött írások, beszédek, nyilatkozatok (Budapest: Zenemükiadó, 1964),  117, Organization of American Kodály Educators records, 0160-SCPA. Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.
Back to Discovery Page

Five Principles to Help you Prepare and Practice Orchestral Reductions

Written By Cecilia Lo-Chien Kao

Don’t miss Cecilia Lo-Chien Kao‘s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, Piano as Orchestra: Creating Artful Orchestral Reductions, on June 11, 2023 from 2:00-2:50PM during our online event. Register now for NCKP 2023!

1. Listen to a Recording

When you are learning a new orchestral reduction, it is very important to listen to the original orchestral version of the piece. You want your ears to absorb and be familiar with the orchestral sonority and its characters.

2. Play What You Hear, Not What You See

Remember that an orchestral reduction is the composer or arranger’s piano realization of the piece and not a complete reproduction of the original score. This requires a different approach than playing an instrumental sonata! After listening to the recording and studying the full score, try to focus on the bigger musical picture of the piece and play what you hear as the most important musical elements.

3. Keep the Rhythm (Consider Orchestral Timing vs. Pianistic Timing)

An orchestra can create a lot of rhythmic drive and energy. Remember that a pianist also represents the conductor when playing a reduction. No matter how complicated a passage is, it is important to prioritize rhythmic integrity. If you are playing with a fluctuating tempo to accommodate the difficulty of the reduction, you may consider simplifying or rearranging the reduction

4. Interpreting Orchestral Dynamics vs. Piano Dynamics

The dynamics in the reduction are relative to the full score. In order to maintain the sound and character of the orchestra, it is important to consider the orchestration when interpreting dynamics. 

5. Rethink Orchestral Sonority and Clarity on the Piano

The orchestra can have a very rich and resonant sonority when the entire ensemble is playing at a strong dynamic. In order to replicate that kind of sonority on the piano, you may use the sustain pedal to help give resonance or to “moisturize” the sound in addition to playing fuller or stronger. No matter how you are using the pedal, it is important to maintain clarity and good voicing on the piano since each individual instrument has clarity in the orchestra, even when playing at a loud dynamic.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFERENCE
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Teaching Adults: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Jackie Edwards-Henry, Mary Sallee

Special thanks to Jackie Edwards-Henry (JEH) and Mary Sallee (MKS), members of the NCKP 2023 Teaching Adults committee, for this post.

Why is teaching adults important for pianists today?

JEH: Teaching adults shows us that we’re never too old to learn and experience the joy of music-making at the piano. So many adults say, “I wish my mother had never let me quit piano!”  And they think the ship has sailed—it’s too late to learn to play.  As teachers of adult students, we know this is a fallacy. Watching our adult students succeed at piano also teaches us life lessons—that we can still learn in the Third Age of adulthood, and that learning new skills provides physical and mental benefits.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about working with adult students?

JEH: How much shared joy is experienced by adult piano students and their facilitators! Adults are not being forced to take lessons and come to them because THEY want to learn. Once they relax into the role of learner and enjoy the process, joy is a natural bi-product. When teacher/facilitators include no-fail activities such as black-key improvisation and simple ensemble experiences, shared joy can be experienced from the very first lesson.

What is one free resource about teaching adults that you would recommend?

MKS: I will have a handout at our session, “Yes to Lead Sheets” A-chording to Adults!” that demonstrates how to turn a lead sheet of “Greensleeves” into a duet. Secondo of the duet will play their part based on the chord symbols. Teachers can see how to get their students reading chord symbols to create a free, easy duet that is perfect for friends, siblings, or family members.

What makes your track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

MKS: Members of our committee are excited to share their heartwarming experiences of working with their adult students. They hope to inspire any novices or teachers that have not had good experiences to try some new ideas. There will be something for everyone because good teaching can be applied to any student at any level. The more ways you have to explain/present a concept to a variety of different learners, the better equipped you will be as a teacher of any student. Regardless of experience or success, we can all learn from each other.  We invite participants to bring their questions and share their experiences as they join in the discussions.

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

MKS: (1) To see friends and great teachers from around the country and abroad once again—IN PERSON!  (2) To get some time away for “R and R” that is also tax deductible.  (3) To get inspired about teaching and learn from great pedagogues—like I have for more than 35 years!

Interested in learning more about teaching adults? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all the Teaching Adults track sessions: online and in-person, and register for the conference.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Technology: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Stella Sick

Special thanks to the Stella Sick, chair of the NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference Technology committee, for this post.

Why is technology important for pianists today?

The last three years have expanded everyone’s base-level of technology usage. This newly found familiarity opened doors to immersive music experiences, exciting collaborations, reaching new audiences, and expanding repertoire. The technology committee continues its mission to push the envelope and encourage and support music teachers in their journey to incorporate technology in the most organic and helpful way.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about technology?

Technology may touch nearly every aspect of modern teaching and performing, but we are all still creative spirits at our core. The goal will always be finding the right tools for delivering an expressive and meaningful message through music.

What are three tips you would give a pianist interested in incorporating technology?

  1. Be open to new ideas.
  2. Begin with creative goals—let your imagination guide you.
  3. Build a community of collaborators.

What is one free resource about technology that you would recommend?

There are many groups on social media that are a great source for information and support. YouTube can also be a great resource.

What makes your track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

The NCKP Technology committee has brought cutting edge technology to the teaching community since the very beginning, demonstrating distance learning and creating multimedia programming before the internet could handle video. The committee’s collective experience represents a treasure trove of useful information. This year’s program is both reflective and progressive with a wide range of topics. We’re excited!

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

We are excited to see colleagues and friends who we have not seen in a long time.  We always cook up the most outrageous ideas when we are together in Lombard!

Interested in learning more about technology for pianists? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all Technology track sessions: online and in-person. Register before May 8, 2023 for extended early bird pricing.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Teaching Young Musicians: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Janet Tschida

Special thanks to the Janet Tschida, chair of the NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference Young Musicians: Birth to Age 9 committee for this post.

Why is working with young musicians important for pianists today?

The Young Musicians Track’s theme of “Learning Music from the Inside Out” endeavors to support teachers aspiring to implement an aural/experiential approach as the pathway to literacy for young musicians. Many of the musical and technical challenges young students face during lessons can most effectively be addressed by engaging in research-based activities such as singing, chanting, moving, and improvisatory activities. These practical strategies for training the ear and body, although associated with teaching young children, are applicable and effective at every level.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about young musicians?

The Young Musicians Track’s theme of “Learning Music from the Inside Out” involves a whole-body experience “music is conceived by our brains, played through our bodies, perceived through our sensory organs, and then interpreted by our brains” (Trainor, 2008). Thus, an “inside out” approach builds a critical foundation for musical thinking. Research indicates that our brains develop more and faster during the first five years than at any other time in life. Thus, an “inside out” approach to learning music at this age is crucial for what can be accomplished musically later in life. For example, when a pianist owns a variety of musical ideas before playing them (whether read or improvised), effective self-assessment ensues, leading to efficient improvement in musicality and technique.

What are three tips you would give a pianist interested in your teaching young musicians?

Three tips for teachers interested in the Young Musician’s Track theme of “Learning Music from the Inside Out:”

  1. As we endeavor to build a toolkit of strategies for implementing an “inside out” approach, we want to maintain an open mind to new ideas from a variety of approaches such as Dalcroze, Music Learning Theory, Feierabend’s Conversational Solfege, Kodaly, Orff, Laban Movement, etc. 
  2. Being willing to experiment with our own voice and body and actively participate in the learning process will help us grow as musicians and teachers.
  3. Changing the focus from “making pianists into musicians” to “helping musicians become pianists” will more effectively guide us as we facilitate music learning activities for our students.

What makes your track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

Early Childhood Music and Movement is a research-based field, and NCKP may be ground-breaking among music conferences in its support for networking skilled piano teachers with early childhood music experts. What a unique opportunity! Many teachers feel uncomfortable teaching young children, but our Young Musicians Track can help them build skills and confidence for facilitating music learning from the “inside out” beginning at birth! Furthermore, the practical strategies for training the ear and body, although associated with teaching young children, are applicable and effective at every level. 

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

Our Young Musicians Committee is so excited to connect and network in person this year! Developing a network of professional connections will provide valuable support as we prepare for another year of growing young musicians. We highly applaud the 2023 NCKP staff for planning an absolutely amazing conference consisting of diverse topics and experts, and we can’t wait to learn and revitalize ourselves as teachers and musicians.

Interested in learning more about teaching young musicians? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all Young Musicians: Birth to Age 9 track sessions: online and in-person. Register before May 1, 2023 for early bird pricing.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

Five Ways to Improve Your Website

Written By Clinton Pratt

Don’t miss Clinton Pratt’s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, From Solo to School, on July 26, 2023 from 1:30-2:20PM. Register for NCKP 2023 before May 1, 2023 to receive the early bird discount!

1. Have a clear call-to-action.

Don’t confuse prospective clients with too many things to do. Should they call you? Email you? Fill out the form? Book a lesson? Go to your Facebook page? Have one thing you want them to do, make that clear, and put it on every page.

 2. Less is more!

French Designer Antoine de Saint-Exupery said “a designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Don’t overwhelm potential clients with too many things to read and look at. Have only 3-4 pages, with minimal text on each page.

3. Photos of happy students making music.

Photos of pianos and cozy waiting rooms are great, but people want to see other people! They want to know that your students are having a good time, so show smiling faces of happy customers.

4. “About” page: not a lengthy academic bio!

Honestly, most people don’t care about your credentials and lengthy resume. They just want to know that you’ll give them a good experience.

A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

On your about page, instead of a long boring biography, tell a story that people can relate to. Keep it personal, write in first person, and focus on what they will get.

5. Reviews!

Social proof and credibility are important! If people see lots of positive reviews about your studio, they are much more likely to take the next step.

Other resources you might enjoy
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Creative Music Making: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Bradley Sowash

Special thanks to the Bradley Sowash, member of the NCKP 2023 Creative Music Making committee, for this post.

Why is creative music making an important topic for pianists today?

Today’s students benefit from instruction in reading and generating music. Why? Because students that read well, play by ear, and/or create music can play a wider range of styles, are motivated by personal expression, and from revisiting fully-notated classics to winging it on pop songs with friends, versatile pianists are more likely to continue to enjoy playing as adults.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about creative music making?

Any piano teacher with a basic understanding of music theory and willingness to explore alongside their students can integrate creative music making into their curriculum.

What are three tips you would give a pianist interested in creative music making?

  1. Talent is overrated. Just like traditional musical skills, creative music making is developed through study and practice. 
  2. While off-page skills may intimidate seasoned adult musicians due to omissions in their training, many students enjoy improvising, composing, and/or playing by ear uninhibitedly. Start your students early and it becomes a fearless, natural way to make music. 
  3. Choosing one’s own notes and rhythms does not need to be difficult. While master composers and improvisers often deal with complex musical ideas and techniques, anyone can improvise with just a scale and a few chords or perhaps even less with guidance.

What is one free resource about creative music making that you would recommend?

Many of the planners and presenters for the Creative Music Making track publish free blog posts and how-to videos online. Take advantage of those that match your experience level and interests.

What makes the Creative Music Making track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

Interest in teaching creative music making has changed and grown significantly in the past 20 years. When thought-leaders first began advocating for teaching off-page skills alongside a traditional curriculum, it was a new and not always welcome idea for many educators. Today, teacher attitudes about this topic have shifted from less about “why?” to more about “how?” Learning tips, strategies, and observing demonstrations firsthand from fellow teachers experienced in this area are some of the best opportunities that NCKP provides.

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

Speaking personally, my favorite part of attending NCKP is reconnecting with friends and colleagues as well as fostering new relationships. Since many piano teachers work alone most of the time, it’s great to feel viscerally part of a large community of dedicated music educators.

Interested in learning more about creative music making for pianists? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all wellness track sessions: online and in-person. Register before May 1, 2023 for early bird pricing.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Independent Music Teaching: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Jason Sifford

Special thanks to Jason Sifford, chair of the NCKP 2023 Independent Music Teaching committee, for this post.

Why is independent teaching important for pianists today?

Today’s emerging professionals and young parents are the first to be born in the 2000’s. This generation enters a world unlike any before, and understanding and embracing the unique challenges and opportunities of today is essential for keeping the arts thriving for future generations.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about independent music teaching?

Every era has its challenges. Just as the world of Claude Debussy would’ve been unrecognizable to Johann Sebastian Bach, the world we live in today would be impossible for pianists and composers in the 20th century to comprehend. Change is scary, but it has always been with us.

What are three tips you would give a pianist interested in independent teaching?

First, be yourself. Whether you’re 20 or 80, you have an important place in today’s world.
Second, broaden your social network. Learn from those from different backgrounds and with different worldviews.
Third, above all—listen. Listening never ages, and it’s never been more important.

What is one free resource about teaching independently that you would recommend?

The resources that Piano Inspires has to offer are second to none. No other organization is as committed to supporting the future of piano teaching than the people at the Frances Clark Center.

What makes your track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

We’ve made a conscious effort to tackle big-picture issues. You’ve heard about ornaments in Bach for years. You’ve seen all the webcam recommendations. Now let’s start a conversation about the issues that we face as individuals, as a profession, and as an art form.

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

This year, we finally get to be in a room with each other! There is no substitute for shared experiences and shared spaces, and it’s time to reconnect with each other and rebuild our community.

Interested in learning more about independent music teaching for pianists? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all independent music teaching track sessions: online and in-person. Register before May 1, 2023 for early bird pricing.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

A Quick Look at Wellness: What Pianists Should Know

Written By Laura Amoriello, Jessica Johnson, Carina Joly, Brenda Wristen, Vanessa Cornett, Lesley McAllister, Paola Savvidou, Linda Cockey

Special thanks to the NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference Wellness Committee for their contributions to this post.

Why is wellness an important topic for pianists today?

It is known that few pianists go through life without encountering an injury or illness, whether directly related to playing or not. Therefore, it is very important that there is an awareness of how we can help prevent injuries and find ways to cope with the unexpected things that can happen.

What is something you wish every pianist knew about wellness?

That we focus on finding ways to find balance in ourselves and our students in this post-pandemic world that incorporates both the physical and psychological aspects of playing. Our sessions will incorporate a mixture of both along with a basic introduction to mindfulness, contemplative and movement techniques that can be used in and out of the studio. 

What are top tips you would give a pianist interested in cultivating wellness at the piano?

  1. Playing the piano is both physically and psychologically demanding. Therefore, the more one knows about this topic, the more one can apply new techniques to their playing and teaching that reduces the risk of injury.
  2. Producing beautiful sounds requires a balance between the technical and the emotional. 
  3. For lifelong music-making, one needs an awareness of what healthy piano playing consists of.
  4. One small adjustment in one’s playing to reduce tension can make a world of difference to one’s overall sound.

What is one free resource about wellness that you would recommend?

MTNA’s Essential Learning Skills are in four parts and provide basic information for anyone who would like to learn more about our topic. Everyone has free access, regardless of whether they are a MTNA member.

What makes the Wellness track at NCKP 2023 special? Why should people attend?

Members of our committee are practitioners and pedagogues in this area who have ground-breaking techniques and fresh ideas they have used in their studios. These techniques have been proven to be useful teaching tools. 

What are you most excited for at NCKP 2023?

It is an opportunity to connect to colleagues again and learn from their ideas. And, it is a face-to-face conference!

Interested in learning more about wellness for pianists? Attend NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference! View the NCKP 2023 schedules to explore all wellness track sessions: online and in-person. Register before May 1, 2023 for early bird pricing.

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

What to Expect at NCKP: The Piano Conference

Written By Trevor Thornton

Thanks to Trevor Thornton, member of the New Professionals Committee for NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, for this post!

Trevor Thornton assisting Lara Downes at NCKP 2019.

So, it’s your first NCKP. You are probably curious about what to expect. I remember the feeling well. My first NCKP changed my life, and it might change yours too. NCKP has a gift for you regardless of the stage of your career, whether you are a piano performance major searching for your role in the field, an experienced teacher looking for friendships and inspiration, or a seasoned veteran who wants to leave your mark on the future of the profession. Each person will have different takeaways, but I believe we will all share these four in common:

New Performance Ideas

If you are looking for inspiration in your performance career, you can expect to gain many ideas from the presentations and performances at NCKP 2023. Several presentations this year are lecture recitals that will reveal the music of underrepresented composers. Take note! You might find yourself with an entirely new recital program by the end of the conference. There will also be performances including both solo recitals and Piano Stories on Stage. Each concert can be both inspiring and instructive, a place to learn how the performers of today shape their careers.

New Teaching Ideas

It is impossible to leave NCKP without picking up hundreds of teaching ideas—some brand new and some helpful reminders. If you are a student or a recent graduate, you will be drinking from a firehose of new information and perspectives. My advice? Try to absorb as much as you can, and decide what to implement or research further after the conference. One danger for us younger professionals is to pre-judge new information before understanding it, so make an effort to learn about as many approaches to teaching as possible!

New Connections

Marvin Blickenstaff talks about creating moments of expressive music making in each lesson. He calls them “Purple Moments.” For me, the Purple Moments of NCKP are the conversations with new and old conference friends and the moments of connection with like-minded colleagues. Pianists and piano teachers frequently work in isolation, making it even more important to create opportunities to deepen relationships with people who face similar challenges. You might find someone who has helpful answers to some of your professional questions! You might even meet a future employer or mentor.

Inspiration

Inspiration is subjective, but I believe it is impossible to leave NCKP without a spark of it. It is incredibly stimulating to hear seasoned professionals discuss their teaching, research, and practice habits. There is a contagious level of dedication in the air at NCKP. You will meet highly experienced teachers who are as passionate as ever about improving their craft. Best-case scenario, even the way you feel about your students will change as you listen to other devoted teachers speak. To paraphrase Jane Magrath’s acceptance speech for her NCKP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019: our students are lights that illuminate our paths, showing us the next steps in our careers. That beautiful imagery has been with me in many lessons since. I trust you will encounter similarly transformative ways of thinking at NCKP 2023. I hope to see you there!

Register for NCKP 2023!

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFERENCE
Back to Discovery Page

What’s New at NCKP This Year

Written By Anna Beth Rucker

We are excited to welcome you this summer to NCKP: The Piano Conference as we celebrate 25 years of excellence in piano teaching, learning and performing. We stand on a rich legacy of piano educators who for more than two decades have cultivated the conference to provide relevant and needed resources to piano teachers. This year is no exception! Read on to see what’s new at NCKP: The Piano Conference.

1. Online and in-person sessions and experiences

NCKP 2023 includes two unique-but-unified events: an online event in June and an in-person event in July. We are desperate to be together in person after too many years apart, so we are thrilled to again be offering an in-person event in Lombard, IL. We are looking forward to hearing live music, running into you in the elevator, chatting with presenters about their topics after sessions, trying out new products in the exhibit hall, and experiencing all of the unique benefits that come with attending a physical event. Additionally, our online event in 2021 was an enormous success, and based on your incredible feedback about its accessibility and flexibility, we knew it was important to keep this option open in 2023. This enables a wider range of attendees to experience the conference, both here in North America and abroad. These NCKP events are on different dates to provide attendees with a tailored and excellent program. Additionally, the online and in-person events are uniquely programmed with no repeated sessions. For the full NCKP 2023 experience, we encourage you to attend both!

2. Committee tracks every day for an all-inclusive experience

NCKP committees curate content that encompasses fifteen different focused topics related to piano teaching, learning, and performing. Rather than a single, in-person preconference day, we have reenvisioned the NCKP schedule to be an all-inclusive, four-day experience with both committee track and general session blocks every day. This is true for both the online and in-person portions of the event. All attendees, regardless of modality, will have the opportunity to experience sessions from all fifteen of our special-topic committees.

NCKP 2023 Committees:
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Collaborative Performance
  • Creative Music Making
  • Diversity
  • Inclusive Teaching
  • Independent Music Teachers
  • Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula
  • New Professionals
  • Performance Practice
  • Research
  • Teacher Education in Higher Ed
  • Teaching Adults
  • Technology
  • Wellness
  • Young Musicians: Birth to Age 9

3. Social events and celebrations

While planning NCKP 2023, we prioritized scheduling various social events, meet-up hours, and parties to make sure there is time for connection and celebration. This is dual purpose. First, the last few years have been extremely isolating and we need to reconnect with each other. NCKP is as much about belonging as it is about teaching, learning, and performing. Second, this year marks the 25th anniversary of NCKP! We invite you to celebrate the legacy of this incredible conference by bringing your fanciest party attire and joining us online and in Lombard.

4. Designated exhibit hall time

The NCKP exhibit hall provides a strategic opportunity for you to explore the newest resources for pianists, from technology to publications and pianos. This year, you will have opportunities to visit the exhibit hall without missing out on any programming. Browse, purchase, and prepare your studio for the upcoming year with ease!

5. Community-sourced concerts

It’s hard to say which of these updates to NCKP we are most excited about, but this one might be it. This year, in addition to the concerts of our conference artists, we will feature performers from our community in our Celebration Performance. We encourage those interested to submit a performance video by April 10, 2023. This concert will be a transformative experience as we experience the artistry from within our community as a celebration of NCKP’s 25th Anniversary.

We hope you will join us to enjoy these updates, as well as all of the long-standing aspects of NCKP that make it so special, including teaching demonstrations, hundreds of curated sessions, a vibrant exhibit hall, world-class concerts, engaging PEDx presentations, and a welcoming community. Make sure to register for NCKP 2023. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
Back to Discovery Page

The Benefits of NCKP: The Piano Conference and Why You Should Attend

Written By Marvin Blickenstaff

Register for NCKP: 2023! Click here to register.

Marvin Blickenstaff at NCKP 2019.

The list of sessions for the upcoming NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference has been posted, and it looks to be a best-ever conference. I wouldn’t miss it. If memory serves me correctly, I have attended every NCKP since its founding by Richard Chronister some 25 years ago. The memories of those conferences remain vivid in my mind, and I am a better piano teacher for having attended those events. The presentations have been informative and inspiring. The performances have been spine-tingling. And the teaching demonstrations have changed my teaching in many ways. I am confident that those who have attended would agree that NCKP is the best of its kind. 

Every piano teacher who can possibly manage to attend this summer’s outstanding program should do so. The variety of sessions offers something for everyone, whether you are a teacher just beginning your career or are a seasoned professional. We all need the stimulation of meeting with like-minded professionals, hearing inspiring performances, learning from the best in our field, and having our horizons widened through outstanding lecture presentations. We often feel isolated in our own studios, and NCKP offers the opportunity to dialogue with teachers from around the country and profit from that professional connection.

I guarantee that you will find your time at NCKP well worth the effort. You will come away from the conference with a new perspective on the importance of your role in the lives of your students. You will approach your teaching with renewed vigor and ideas on how to improve your work with your students. You will be inspired by the performances you hear and the information gleaned from the lecture presentations. You will learn!

A bit of advice: attend each session with equipment for taking notes. There will be so much information shared that you cannot retain it all in your memory. Take notes. You need those notes to remind you of what you have experienced. A Conference Proceedings will be published, but your notes are the most important documentation of what you have experienced.

I look forward to seeing you this summer at NCKP in Chicago. You’ll find me sitting in the front row (with my pen and notepad!)

I guarantee that you will find your time at NCKP well worth the effort. You will come away from the conference with a new perspective on the importance of your role in the lives of your students.

Marvin Blickenstaff
QUICK LINKS FOR NCKP 2023: THE PIANO CONFErENCE
Back to Discovery Page

E-Posters: Why You Should Submit and Tips for Success

Written By Robin Heinsen

With gratitude we welcome one of our NCKP 2021: The Piano Conference Research E-Poster Award Winners, Robin S. Heinsen, to our Discovery page. Heinsen is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Miami University, and has provided helpful insight into her experience as an NCKP poster presenter. We hope it will inspire you to join us this summer for NCKP 2023, and to submit your own e-poster proposals by April 15, 2023 at 11:59pm PT.

View Robin S. Heinsen and Robert Duke’s winning research poster, “I play the piano because I like the piano: A national survey of school music teachers.”

How did you decide on your proposal topic?

Our pathway to NCKP: The Piano Conference is probably different from most other presenters because we are not pianists—we are music education professors who became curious about how school music teachers use the piano in their classrooms and wondered whether there were relationships between how teachers learned to play the piano and how they use it in their teaching. We had previously shared our findings in music education circles, and subsequently sought out this conference as an opportunity to share with the piano pedagogy community. We all have a stake in what our students learn and retain from university class piano.

What would be your top three tips on writing a successful e-poster proposal?

First, ask a great question! What are you curious about, what do you wonder about, and how can you design a project that can help answer that question? 

Once you’ve done that, practice condensing your research question, potential findings, and implications into only a few sentences to ensure your own thinking is clear about what you want to propose and why it matters. 

Then, once you start writing, make sure a reader can extract that information from your proposal so the significance of your work stays prominent instead of getting buried. This may be best accomplished by asking someone else to read your proposal and then tell you about the project they think you are describing. 

What was it like using the Kubify platform?

From what we remember, it was a pretty intuitive interface. It was easy to navigate, customize, and upload materials into the platform, and it integrated well with the NCKP conference page. We had never used it before this event, but we found it to be straightforward with little to no learning curve.

We had many great conversations with participants who were interested to learn more about our findings and eager to share ideas and collaborate.

What advice would you give to someone building their e-poster? Any tips, tricks, or recommendations for effectively communicating their research through the software?

We approached our e-poster as if it was a slide deck (such as in PowerPoint or Keynote) and each square was a “slide” that contributed one piece of information. We titled the squares with short questions so that the reader knew what to look for as they clicked on each one. We frequently utilized charts and graphs to make it easier to visualize the data and answer the title questions, and avoided extensive prose or paragraphs of text when possible. Our introduction and conclusion were larger boxes that bookended the smaller content slides.

Why would you recommend presenting an e-poster at NCKP?

As non-pianists, we were hesitant to enter this space and initiate these conversations, but we felt extremely welcomed and enjoyed our time at the conference. We had many great conversations with participants who were interested to learn more about our findings and eager to share ideas and collaborate. It was an important reminder that all of our work can benefit from interdisciplinary dialogue.

Inspired? Submit your e-poster proposals for NCKP 2023 by April 15, 2023 at 11:59pm PT.

OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Back to Discovery Page

Search
piano inspires logo, black with colored stripes in the tail of the piano