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Piano Inspires Discovery
A space dedicated to inspiring the love of piano and music making through educational and inspirational content.
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Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part One
This past May, we invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching in honor of his birthday (May 19). We hope you enjoy reading his answers below. This week, Marvin is touring Colorado, Utah, and Nevada with staff from the Frances Clark Center. Is Marvin coming to a place near…
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5 Things to Discover about Hispanic Composers
1. Manuel Ponce was the earliest internationally successful Mexican composer of classical music. The Mexican composer Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar was musically active in the first half of the 20th century. The European-influenced Ponce was the earliest internationally successful Mexican composer of classical music. A prolific composer, Manuel Ponce wrote orchestral suites and symphonic poems;…
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Marvin Blickenstaff on Tour!
Over the next ten days, Marvin Blickenstaff, along with Jennifer Snow and other staff from the Frances Clark Center, will tour Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. During this tour, Marvin will present “The Power of One” as well as masterclasses in seven different cities and locations! Participants will also learn about the Frances Clark Center, its…
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Where can I find more resources about composers from Latin America?
Latin American piano music is rich in influences, traditional dance rhythms, and unique forms, making this music exciting for students of all abilities. From September 15-October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor and reflect upon the remarkable music and contributions of individuals with Hispanic heritage. In this Discovery Page post, we…
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Piano Inspires Kids: An Interview with Co-Editors-in-Chief Andrea McAlister and Sara Ernst
The Co-Editors-in-Chief of Piano Inspires Kids, Andrea McAlister and Sara Ernst, recently answered some questions about the new magazine for young pianists ages 8-14. Find out more about the magazine below and go to kids.pianoinspires.com to join our community of inspired music makers! Why did you start a kids magazine? Piano Inspires Kids is a…
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5 Ways to Provide Student-Centered Feedback
In his Summer 2023 article “Breaking Out of the House of Corrections,” Craig Sale gave practical advice about how to develop independent learners and motivated students. Here are five tips for providing student-centered feedback from his article. Read the full article at https://pianoinspires.com/article/breaking-out-of-the-house-of-corrections/. 1. When working on technique, provide good models and then ask students…
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From the Archives: An Interview with James Lyke
In celebration of Dr. James Lyke and his life, the Frances Clark Center is pleased to share an excerpted interview written by Ronald Chioldi and published in the May 2009 issue of Clavier Companion (Vol. 1, No. 3). Click here to read the full interview. An Interview with James Lyke When I attended Jim Lyke’s…
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Mindfulness in the Piano Lesson: Where Do We Start?
In the Summer 2023 Piano Magazine issue, Fernanda Nieto posed a question about mindfulness in the piano studio: how do we help our students deal with the stresses in piano lessons but also in everyday life? Enjoy this excerpt from her article, and consider how you can help your students manage the many stresses in…
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Five Things You Might Not Know About Practicing the Piano
We would like to thank Sheryl Iott for collaboration on this post. We encourage you to watch Sheryl’s archived webinar titled, “Music Cognition: Patterns, Predictions and Practice,” by clicking here. Want to watch, but not yet a subscriber? Subscribe now for only $7.99/mo or $36/year. 1. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Not even perfect practice! What…
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Programación internacional disponible ¡Regístrate ahora!
La Conferencia de Piano ha ampliado su alcance para incluir programación en coreano, mandarín, inglés, español y portugués.* Todas las sesiones en idiomas extranjeros incluirán subtítulos en inglés para que sean accesibles para todos. La inscripción completa a la conferencia incluye acceso al evento en línea y a sus archivos. ¡Regístrate ahora para disfrutar de…
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5 Reasons You Should Learn “Arirang”
We would like to thank Kowoon Lee for this article on the Korean song, Arirang. Interested in learning more about Arirang? Attend this session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 1:30-1:55pm CDT. Learn more and register for the conference here. 1. Cultural Understanding As Korean culture continues to gain global…
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Teaching Us to Be Our Best Selves: The Power of a Piano Teacher
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 here are making profound contributions to students at all stages,…
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What to Expect at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025
From the Inclusive Teaching Track and Keyboard Lab Presentations The Committees of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 work to research, compile, or otherwise address issues of ongoing significance to our participants and the piano teaching public in meaningful and substantive ways. As we eagerly anticipate NCKP 2025, we asked our committee chairs to give us…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
The Frances Clark Center recognizes Barbara Fast, Susanna Garcia, Gary Ingle, William Chapman Nyaho, and Craig Sale as recipients of the 2025 Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award. Each of these recipients exemplifies outstanding dedication to the field of music and piano teaching. Their influential contributions in the field of piano pedagogy have impacted our profession…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About the Ergonomically Scaled Piano Keyboard
We would like to thank Camila de Oliviera for this article on the Ergonomically Scaled Piano Keyboard (ESPK). Interested in learning more about the EPSK? Attend her session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 12:00-12:25pm CDT. Learn more and register for the conference here. 1. Playing an ESPK doesn’t mean…
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Navajo Cultural Elements in Sandpaintings by Connor Chee
We would like to thank Le Bai for this article on Connor Chee’s piano piece, Sandpaintings. Interested in learning more about this work? Attend Le Bai’s session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 on Thursday, July 24 from 10:30 AM – 10:55 AM CDT in Lilac B. Learn more and register for the conference here.…
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2025 Collegiate Connections
An international cohort of students responded to our call for proposals for the 2025 Collegiate Connections virtual event, which will highlight innovative group projects. The Frances Clark Center is pleased to announce the selected proposals for our Collegiate Connections event on Friday, April 25, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern; click here to…
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What to Expect at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025
From the Technology and New Professionals Tracks The Committees of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 work to research, compile, or otherwise address issues of ongoing significance to our participants and the piano teaching public in meaningful and substantive ways. As we eagerly anticipate NCKP 2025, we asked our committee chairs to give us a sneak…
