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Piano Inspires Discovery

A space dedicated to inspiring the love of piano and music making through educational and inspirational content.

  • Remaking Ourselves and the Standard Canon: Perspectives and Resources for Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Classical Music

    Remaking Ourselves and the Standard Canon: Perspectives and Resources for Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Classical Music

    We would like to thank Nicholas Reynolds for this insightful article on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the classical music world. Did you hear about our new course—Piano Teaching through the Lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? Join us on February 21st at 11:00am ET for a discussion of this new course in our webinar…


  • Celebrating Black History Month

    Celebrating Black History Month

    From February 1-29, we celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor and reflect upon the remarkable music and contributions of Black people. In this Discovery Page post, we have curated a collection of Piano Inspires resources to help everyone discover something new. From our international webinar series, to articles in Piano Magazine and Piano…


  • A Tribute to Marvin Blickenstaff and his Pedagogical Legacy

    A Tribute to Marvin Blickenstaff and his Pedagogical Legacy

    We would like to thank Sara Ernst, Jane Magrath, Karen Zorn, Joel M. Harrison, Marianne Williams, Zack Kleiman, Henry Banta, Anya Smith, and Nina Austria for collaborating on this tribute to Marvin Blickenstaff. Interested in learning more about Marvin Blickenstaff and his teaching? Marvin’s latest book, Inspired Piano Teaching, is coming soon and is available…


  • Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    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…


  • 5 Things to Know about Piano Inspires Kids Composition Contest

    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…


  • Collegiate Resources

    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.…


  • Perspectives: Managing performance anxiety

    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…


  • Collegiate Essay Runner-Up: The Unrecognized Performing Art of Group Piano Teaching

    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…


  • Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    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…


  • A Peek Inside Piano Inspires Discussion Events: Opportunities to Learn, Discuss, and Connect

    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…


  • Alternatively-Sized Keyboards: Special Guest Q&A with Expert Carol Leone

    Alternatively-Sized Keyboards: Special Guest Q&A with Expert Carol Leone

    Last year we invited you to submit questions for Carol Leone about alternatively sized keyboards via our social media channels. We are pleased to give these newly updated answers a permanent home on our Discovery page. We invite you to join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety…


  • This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Mendelssohn’s G Minor Piano Concerto, October 17, 1831

    This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Mendelssohn’s G Minor Piano Concerto, October 17, 1831

    THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the premiere of Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 25, premiered by the composer himself on October 17, 1831 in Munich. The concerto, made famous by Clara Schumann and Franz Liszt (and later ridiculed by Hector Berlioz!), became incredibly popular with pianists throughout Europe for its…


  • This Week in Piano History: The Birth of R. Nathaniel Dett, October 11, 1882

    This Week in Piano History: The Birth of R. Nathaniel Dett, October 11, 1882

    THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of composer and virtuoso pianist, R. Nathaniel Dett, who was born 140 years ago on October 11, 1882. Though born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Dett spent most of his life in the United States. A prodigious child, Dett received piano lessons when he was young and…


  • Presenting at NCKP: My Experience and Why You Should Too

    Presenting at NCKP: My Experience and Why You Should Too

    We invite you to submit your e-poster proposals, teaching demonstration videos, and performance videos by 11:59pm PT on Monday, April 10, 2023.  My Experience at NCKP 2021 Summer 2021 found the world struggling to regain normalcy as we adapted to a new style of living. In the music profession, we quickly established new ways to…


  • Welcome to the Piano Inspires Discovery Page!

    Welcome to the Piano Inspires Discovery Page!

    Welcome! We are thrilled to share with you the newest Piano Inspires page that is designed to bring you personal, educational, and accessible content about piano teaching, learning, and performing: the Piano Inspires Discovery page. What to expect from the Piano Inspires Discovery page Our hope for this space is to inspire the love of…


  • How to Write an Effective Conference Proposal: 5 Tips for Success

    How to Write an Effective Conference Proposal: 5 Tips for Success

    We are delighted to share top tips from Dr. Sara Ernst on writing successful conference proposals to support you as you draft your session ideas 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…


  • Cómo escribir una propuesta de presentación eficaz para conferencias: 5 consejos

    Cómo escribir una propuesta de presentación eficaz para conferencias: 5 consejos

    Estamos encantados de compartir los mejores consejos de la Dra. Sara Ernst sobre cómo escribir propuestas exitosas para ayudarle a redactar sus ideas para ponencias para NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference. Sara es Directora de Compromiso Docente del Frances Clark Center y miembro del Comité Ejecutivo de NCKP: The Piano Conference. Lo invitamos a enviar…


  • Como escrever uma proposta de apresentação eficaz para conferências: 5 dicas de sucesso

    Como escrever uma proposta de apresentação eficaz para conferências: 5 dicas de sucesso

    Estamos muito felizes em compartilhar as principais dicas da Dr. Sara Ernst sobre escrever propostas bem-sucedidas para conferências à medida que você elabora suas ideias para apresentações na NCKP 2023: a Conferência de Piano. Sara é diretora de engajamento de professores para o Centro Frances Clark e membro do Comitê Executivo da NCKP: a Conferência…


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