Share the love this Valentine’s Day by honoring piano teachers who are working every day to make the world more kind, inclusive, and connected through the transformational power of music!
We welcome you to celebrate your own teacher by sharing a tribute with us and donating to The Frances Clark Center. Students, parents, and colleagues are honoring piano teachers from their communities as part of the “Power of a Piano Teacher” campaign.
The teachers featured below are making profound contributions to students at all stages, from the youngest beginners, to college students, and to those who study later in life. These inspirational, personal stories testify of the timeless impact piano teachers have on their students and their communities.
Join us by honoring your teacher today!
Teachers Who Made a Difference
Honoring Tish Anne Kilgore
By Nora Mello
Dr. Tish Anne Kilgore was my first piano teacher and I studied with her from age five until eighteen. Over the years, she helped me learn not only technique and repertoire, but also instilled a love of music in me. She always encouraged me to find joy in music and challenged me to strive for excellence. Seeing Tish complete her own doctorate when I was a teenager was a pivotal moment for me, and inspired me to pursue my own doctorate fifteen years later. I will always be grateful for Tish for the strong musical foundation she gave me, and would not be the same musician today without her guidance, patience, and encouragement.
Honoring Ralph van der Beek
By Beth Van Dam
Dr. V. was the teacher who helped me really fall in love with music and discover my own musical voice. His love for music and for his students manifested as an inescapably contagious enthusiasm. I remember leaving a lesson early on in my studies with him and beaming ear-to-ear because, while working on a Bach piece, he had helped me to experience for the first time what it felt like to truly speak the language of music. It was a magical moment and firmly fixed my determination that music would have to be a central aspect of the rest of my life.
More than anything, Dr. V. taught me by words and example that, to quote Bach, “the aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” He helped me to focus on using music to bless people around me rather than focusing on myself and my own insecurities. That emphasis continues to give my work meaning and purpose beyond myself and motivates me on days when it gets hard. I will always be inexpressibly grateful for Dr. V.’s influence on me, both musically and personally. I consider him to be one of my greatest mentors.
Honoring Hong Xu
By Hanqiu Xu
Professor Hong had a profound and positive impact on my life during my high school years at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China. He was the one who encouraged me to audition and pursue my studies abroad in the United States, which ultimately changed the direction of my life. More importantly, his teaching continues to shape the way I teach today. He emphasized careful analysis in every lesson, not only identifying mistakes, but understanding why they happen, whether due to fingering, coordination, or musical thinking. His teaching addressed both the larger aspects of musical taste and interpretation, as well as the smallest technical details. Every lesson was dynamic, and he never taught students in the same way; instead, he solved problems individually, adapting his approach to each student. He grew and learned alongside his students, and he will always be a role model for me as a teacher and musician.
MORE ON THE POWER OF A PIANO TEACHER
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- DISCOVERY PAGE: Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire by Sara Ernst
- DISCOVERY PAGE: She Really Took a Chance on Me by Asia Passmore
- DISCOVERY PAGE: A Tribute to John Salmon by Heather Hancock
- DISCOVERY PAGE: A Symphony of Gratitude by Ricardo Pozenatto
- DISCOVERY PAGE: Honoring Amy Merkley and Irene Peery-Fox by Hyrum Arnesen
- DISCOVERY PAGE: Reflections on My Piano Teacher | Honoring Fern Davidson by Marvin Blickenstaff
- DISCOVERY PAGE: Every Student Has a Voice the World Needs to Hear | Honoring Carole Ann Kriewaldt by Leah Claiborne
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