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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Piano Inspires Podcast: Chee-Hwa Tan
As we get closer to The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 this July, we invite you to register for our 2025 Gala, celebrating our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Outstanding Service Award Recipients. The Frances Clark Center celebrates its Outstanding Service Award recipients with special re-releases of podcast episodes. Congratulations to Chee-Hwa Tan for this recognition! Register by…
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5 Reasons to Attend The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 Online Event
The online event of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 is just around the corner! Events will occur from June 6-8 and will be packed with music, social events, concerts, and more. With the event only a few days away, register now to gain access to this exciting event. Learn more and register by clicking here. 1.…
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5 Reasons to Attend The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 Online Event
The online event of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 is just around the corner! Events will occur from June 6-8 and will be packed with music, social events, concerts, and more. If you have not registered, there’s still more time. Learn more and register by clicking here. 1. Accessibility The Piano Conference Online Event is…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Dan Zhaoyi
We would like to thank Tsz Hin Lam for this article on Dan Zhaoyi. Interested in learning more about Dan Zhaoyi? Attend this session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 online conference on Sunday, June 8, 4:00-4:25pm EDT. Learn more and register for the online and in-person conference here. 1. Dan, born 1940, was a student of renowned Chinese…
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Frances Clark Center Awards Inaugural Community Impact Grants Initiative to Support Inclusive Piano Education
The Frances Clark Center has announced the recipients of its first-ever Community Impact Grants Initiative, a national program supporting innovative, community-driven projects in piano education. Funded by the Elvina Pearce Education Fund, the initiative provides grants of $500 to $2,500 to individuals and organizations whose work expands access, fosters inclusion, and strengthens community engagement through…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Mélanie Bonis (1858–1937)
We would like to thank McKenna Girdeen for this article on Mélanie Bonis. Interested in learning more about Bonis? Attend this session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 in-person conference on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 1:30-2:20pm CDT. Learn more and register for the online and in-person conference here. Mélanie Bonis, a largely underrepresented composer, remains unknown to many musicians …
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Happy 90th Birthday to Marvin Blickenstaff!
Thanks to the generosity of supporters around the world, The Marvin Blickenstaff Teaching Excellence Fund is advancing high-quality teacher education and raising the standard of piano instruction. We invite you to join this meaningful effort by making a contribution to help complete this tribute in time for his milestone birthday. Gifts can be made online…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Abby Whiteside
We would like to thank Stephen Marquiss for this article on Abby Whiteside. Interested in learning more about Whiteside? Attend this session at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 online event on Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:30-1:55pm CDT. Learn more and register for the conference here. 1. Abby Whiteside (1881-1956) transformed her teaching after admitting only her talented students progressed.…
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Campos Internacionais Disponíveis – Inscreva-se Já!
A Conferência de Piano expandiu seu escopo para incluir campos em coreano, mandarim, inglês, espanhol e português.* Todas as sessões em línguas estrangeiras incluirão legendas em inglês para torná-las acessíveis a todos. A inscrição completa na conferência inclui acesso ao evento online e aos arquivos do evento online. Inscreva-se agora para conferir apresentações de especialistas,…
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5 Key Elements of Foundational Piano Pedagogy
1. Teachers should use words that are relevant and efficient while considering other powerful ways to communicate. Teachers use words to teach concepts, praise students, and offer feedback. Words used to give praise and feedback should focus on the music–how it sounds, looks, and feels, rather than the student’s personal ability. Specific, sincere, and descriptive…
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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…
