pianoinspires.com
Piano Inspires Discovery
A space dedicated to inspiring the love of piano and music making through educational and inspirational content.
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Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire
We would like to thank Sara Ernst for this tribute to her mentor, Marvin Blickenstaff. On January 30, 2024 we are hosting a virtual Publications Party to celebrate Marvin Blickenstaff’s new book, Inspired Piano Teaching. Click here to register for this free event! If you are interested in learning more about Marvin’s book, you can read more…
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5 Things to Know about Piano Inspires Kids Composition Contest
Attention budding composers! Piano Inspires Kids invites students to submit a piano solo for our first composition contest! Winning compositions will be featured in the Summer 2024 issue and on our website, kids.pianoinspires.com. Read below for all the details! 1. The composition must be a fanfare. A fanfare is a short and usually brilliant piece…
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Collegiate Resources
Calling all collegiate students! Looking for more information about how The Frances Clark Center can help you as you navigate the early stages of your career? Look no further. In this article, we will share information and resources including employment and postgraduate opportunities, opportunities for students, discounts on purchases, and other ways to get involved.…
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Perspectives: Managing performance anxiety
We would like to thank Ali Snow for this insightful article on managing performance anxiety and motivation. Want to learn more about motivation? Join us on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11am ET for “Determinants of Motivation in World-Class Musicians and Olympic Athletes: Exploring the Front and the Back Side of the Medallion,” a webinar…
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Collegiate Essay Runner-Up: The Unrecognized Performing Art of Group Piano Teaching
We would like to thank Dominick Cristofori D’Alessandro for this insightful article on collegiate group piano and motivation. Want to learn more about motivation? Join us on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11am ET for “Determinants of Motivation in World-Class Musicians and Olympic Athletes: Exploring the Front and the Back Side of the Medallion,” a…
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Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire
We would like to thank Sara Ernst for this tribute to her mentor, Marvin Blickenstaff. Since 1999, Marvin Blickenstaff has been a beloved faculty member of the New School for Music Study in Kingston, NJ. In honor of the 25th year of his work for NSMS, we recognize the tremendous impact he has had on…
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Meet People Where They Are | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff
We would like to thank Karen Zorn for this tribute to her teacher, Marvin Blickenstaff. On January 30, 2024 we are hosting a virtual Publications Party to celebrate Marvin Blickenstaff’s new book, Inspired Piano Teaching. Click here to register for this free event! If you are interested in learning more about Marvin’s book, you can read more…
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Piano Inspires Kids: David, Plays!
The Winter 2024 Issue of Piano Inspires Kids is coming soon! Subscribers will be receiving the print issue in their mailboxes in the coming weeks. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to receive the issue and give the gift of music to the musicians in your life! Keep reading for a sneak peek into the…
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Collegiate Essay Winner: Emerging Adulthood and Undergraduate Group Piano
We would like to thank Melody Morrison for this insightful article on adulthood and collegiate group piano. This year more than a dozen collegiate students submitted essays in the collegiate writing competition. The topics were varied and the entrants, who came from eleven different universities, were at different stages of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.…
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Spotlight on Gayle Kowalchyk
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Gayle Kowalchyk, we are spotlighting her extensive scholarship and research published by The Frances Clark Center. Gayle Kowalchyk is a pianist, educator, and pedagogical composer who has taught at California State University Northridge. Read more below to learn about her pedagogical compositions, method books,…
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Holiday Gifts for Pianists: Works for Pianists of All Levels
Build your holiday wish list with our inspiring collection of piano teaching resources! From expert repertoire guides and diverse repertoire collections to practical teaching tools and personal essays by leading educators, our publications make the perfect gift to enrich your studio and spark creativity all year long. Weaving Sounds: Elementary Piano Pieces by Native and…
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5 Things from the Autumn Issue of Piano Magazine
The Autumn 2025 issue of Piano Magazine is here to illuminate your studio and inspire your artistry. From vital discussions on pianist wellness to celebrating the legacies of beloved pedagogues, this issue explores the current concerns of the piano teaching community. Delve deep into the expressive artistry of Brahms’s rubato, discover accessible new repertoire by…
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Holiday Inspiration: The Perfect Piano Publications for Your Wish List
Build your holiday wish list with our inspiring collection of piano teaching resources! From expert repertoire guides and diverse repertoire collections to practical teaching tools and personal essays by leading educators, our publications make the perfect gift to enrich your studio and spark creativity all year long. Read below for a special code to use…
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Spotlight on Craig Sale
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Craig Sale, we are spotlighting his extensive scholarship and research published by The Frances Clark Center. Craig Sale is a pianist, teacher, workshop clinician, adjudicator, author, and editor. For thirty years he served as Director of the Preparatory and Community Piano Program at Concordia…
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2024-2025 Gratitude Report: Celebrating a Year of Community, Legacy, and Innovation
We are deeply grateful to our donors, educators, and partners who continue to invest in our mission of advancing piano education. Your belief in The Frances Clark Center sustains our programs, inspires teachers and learners, and strengthens the profession for generations to come. This year was one of growth, innovation, and shared achievement. We established…
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Around the World with Piano Magazine
Curious about music and music-making practices around the world? Piano Magazine has you covered with articles covering piano teaching and performance practices in all corners of the globe. Piano Music by Composers from Asia: A History of Self-Discovery In this article by Lisa Yui from the Spring 2023 issue, Yui writes about her journey of…
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This Month in Piano History – November 2025
As we move into November, we celebrate the birth of a famous ragtime composer, remember an important premiere, and reflect on Bach’s criminal record! November 6: Bach Goes to Jail This month in 1717, Johann Sebastian Bach went to jail! The beloved composer and pianist spent about four weeks in a “justice room” at the…
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Community Impact Grant Winners 2025
Across the country, pianists are using their art to build connection, inclusion, and opportunity. These four projects—by Kelly Hooper, Zaiba Sheikh, Penny Lazarus, and Raphaelita Justice—show how community impact begins with creativity and compassion, inspiring others to design meaningful initiatives that make music accessible for all. Kelly Hooper: Free-To-Be Kelly Hooper’s Free-To-Be recital reimagines what…
