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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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Piano Inspires Podcast: Scott McBride Smith
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Scott McBride Smith, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Craig Sale. Want to learn more about Smith? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Smith on Apple…
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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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Breaking Stereotypes: Indigenous Composers Defining New Musical Frontiers
We would like to thank Connor Chee for this insightful article on Indigenous composers. To read the full article, click here. The Frances Clark Center is excited to share our latest publication: Weaving Sounds: Elementary Piano Pieces by Native and Indigenous Composers, compiled and edited by Connor Chee and Renata Yazzie. Learn more and get…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Penelope Roskell
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Penelope Roskell, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Sara Ernst. Want to learn more about Roskell? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Roskell on Apple Podcasts,…
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Music & Nature: Use the Winter 2025 Issue in Your Studio Today!
The Winter 2025 issue of Piano Inspires Kids is available now! 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 Winter Issue. The Winter 2025 issue of Piano Inspires Kids celebrates the theme of Music & Nature, offering a wealth of activities,…
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Announcing the Keynote Speakers, Jazz Artists, PEDx Speakers, and Concert Artists of The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025
The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 is pleased to announce the Keynote Speakers, Jazz Artists, PEDx Speakers, and Celebration Concert Artists. See each presenter’s bio on our website and register for the conference here. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS JAZZ ARTISTS: Concert & PEDx Panel PEDx SPEAKERS CELEBRATION CONCERT ARTISTS We are pleased to offer multiple opportunities for participation…
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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 The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025. Sara is Director of Teacher Engagement for The Frances Clark Center and a member of the Executive Committee for The Piano Conference: NCKP. We invite you…
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Tributes to Marvin Blickenstaff
We would like to thank Drew Turock, Arlene Steffen, and Catherine Kautsky for these tributes to Marvin Blickenstaff. As we continue the season of gratitude and giving, we pay tribute to piano teachers from around the country who are transforming the lives of their students. Students, parents, and colleagues are honoring piano teachers from their…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Jess Johnson
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Jess Johnson, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Andrea McAlister. Want to learn more about Johnson? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Johnson on Apple Podcasts,…
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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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The Consummate Role Model for Piano Teachers | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff
Join us for our first webinar of the season titled “The Life Saving Work of Teachers,” presented by Marvin Blickenstaff on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 11:00am EDT. Click here to register! Naegeli van Bergen Metcalf was my first college piano teacher and a beloved mentor. She left Wesleyan College after my freshman year to…
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OLGA KERN: A Consummate and Positive Artist
We are pleased to share this conversation with Olga Kern about her vibrant career and mission as a musician, written by Sara Ernst. This conversation originally appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Piano Magazine. If you would like to explore other articles from Piano Magazine, please subscribe now for only $7.99/mo or $36/yr. Concert…
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Hats Off to You, George! | Honoring George Litterst
George Litterst is a recipient of the 2023 Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award. His extensive contributions to the field of piano pedagogy are extraordinary and exemplify outstanding dedication to the field of music and piano teaching. The Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor and is presented on behalf of the…
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5 Steps for Successfully Incorporating a Sight-Reading App into Your Studio
Check out Anna Beth Rucker’s presentation at the NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference online event, How to Choose and Use Sight-Reading Apps to Enhance Student Learning Experience, on June 11, 2023 from 4:30-4:55PM. There’s still time to Register for NCKP 2023! In recent years, sight-reading apps have quickly populated app stores and captured the minds…
