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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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Our Experiences Writing for Piano Magazine
Every year, Piano Magazine offers students the opportunity to showcase their research and writing through the Collegiate Writing Contest. We are pleased to present the testimonies of two recent winners of this competition, in hopes that it will inspire other collegiate students to submit their manuscripts for a chance to be featured in Piano Magazine.…
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How to Record an Effective Teaching Demonstration: 6 Tips for Success
We are delighted to share top tips from Dr. Sara Ernst on recording effective teaching demonstrations as you compile your teaching video submissions for NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference. Sara is Director of Teacher Engagement for the Frances Clark Center and a member of the Executive Committee for NCKP: The Piano Conference. We invite you…
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This Week in Piano History: The Death of Jazz Pianist Alice Coltrane | January 12, 2007
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember Alice Coltrane, who died on January 12, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. Coltrane was a jazz pianist, harpist, and composer who later transformed her life as a Hindu spiritual teacher (swamini) under the name Turiya Sangitananda. Her recording and performing career spanned the second half of the twentieth…
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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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This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Ballet “The Nutcracker” | December 18, 1892
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker, on December 18, 1892. Although the premiere performance of the ballet was not well received, it has become one of Tchaikovsky’s most beloved compositions. The History of The Nutcracker Based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker tells the…
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More Thoughts on Creating a Singing Tone: Special Guest Q&A with Sharon How
This week we invited our followers to submit questions for Sharon How about creating a singing tone. Today, Sharon is answering those questions! We encourage you to read Sharon’s article in the Autumn 2022 issue of Piano Magazine, “Creating a Singing Tone at the Piano“, for her foundational thoughts on teaching a singing tone. Join…
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The Fundamental Responsibility of Piano Teachers | Honoring Crystal Lee
We believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you to celebrate your teacher and share your tribute with us by making a donation to the Frances Clark Center via our secure online…
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Opportunities for African American Pianists: Awadagin Pratt on the Nina Simone Piano Competition
We’re pleased to bring you this extended interview between Awadagin Pratt and Artina McCain. Read more about Awadagin Pratt’s accomplishments as a pianist, conductor, and music education advocate in the Winter 2022-2023 issue of Piano Magazine. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe now for only $7.99/mo or $36/year. Nina Simone was an American songwriter, pianist, and…
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This Week in Piano History: Death of Ignatius Sancho | December 14, 1780
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember composer (Charles) Ignatius Sancho who died on December 14, 1780. Sancho, also an abolitionist and writer, impacted eighteenth-century British literature and culture. Sancho’s life began tragically as he was born on a slave ship headed for South America. Both of his parents died in his infancy—his mother died…
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This Week in Piano History: Birth of Jorge Bolet | November 15, 1914
This week, we celebrate the birth of Jorge Bolet, born on November 15, 1914 in Havana, Cuba. Bolet was a Cuban-American pianist whose impressive technical and expressive powers made him a champion of the music of Franz Liszt. Bolet began his studies with his sister Maria. From a very early age, Bolet was captivated by…
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Thoughts on Healthy Musicianship: Special Guest Q&A with Carla Salas-Ruiz
This week we invited our followers to submit questions for Carla Salas-Ruiz about healthy musicianship. Today, Carla is answering those questions in advance of our facilitated discussion event next week (Thursday, November 17 at 11am ET) that will focus on Carla’s article in the Autumn 2022 issue of Piano Magazine, My Journey to Healthy Musicianship:…
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Reflections on My Piano Teacher | Honoring Fern Davidson
We at the Frances Clark Center believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you to celebrate your teacher and share your tribute with us by making a donation to the Frances Clark…
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This Week in Piano History: Happy World Piano Day!
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we are celebrating World Piano Day and the accomplishments of all pianists! The piano was invented over three hundred years ago by Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian builder. His ingenious design from 1700 used hammers inside the action of a harpsichord to create a wider dynamic range. Cristofori’s instrument ignited the…
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Tips for Rote Teaching: Special Guest Q&A with Expert E.L. Lancaster
Last year we invited our followers to submit questions for E.L. Lancaster about rote teaching to celebrate he and Kevin Olson’s new publication, From Rote to Note: Elementary Piano Pieces That Reinforce Theory and Technique. We are pleased to give these newly updated answers a permanent home on our Discovery page. We invite you to…
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From Financial Officer to Piano Teacher | Honoring Sandra Preysz and Lenora Brown
We at the Frances Clark Center believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you to celebrate your teacher and share your tribute with us by making a donation to the Frances Clark…
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The Power of a Piano Teacher
Teaching is probably the noblest profession in the world — the most unselfish, difficult, and honorable profession. Leonard Bernstein We at the Frances Clark Center believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to their students and communities. With the launch of our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign, we will be…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Zoltán Kodály
Don’t miss Megan’s Inspiring Artistry contribution about J.S. Bach’s Invention in C Minor, which includes exposition on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. 1. Kodály wrote for piano and organ! Besides his many successful works for choir, Kodály wrote 7 Pieces for Piano, Op. 11, a Méditation sur…
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A Peek Inside Piano Inspires Discussion Events: Opportunities to Learn, Discuss, and Connect
We were pleased to welcome Dr. Brenda Wristen, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and author of the Piano Magazine article “No Thumb or Fifth Finger on Black Keys, Except…” for an informative article discussion in September. Dr. Wristen and Senior Editor Craig Sale explored the rules of the black…
