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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 Kids: Student Spotlights
The Summer 2024 Issue of Piano Inspires Kids is here! 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 Summer Issue. Calling all Piano Inspires Kids readers; we want to hear from you about you! What is a Student Spotlight? You can…
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Effective, enforceable piano studio policies
We would like to thank Wendy Stevens for this article about studio policies. To read the full article, click here. Between August 5 and September 15, The Frances Clark Center is offering 20% off all full-length courses such as A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management. Check out our other courses here and use this discount…
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Does Piano Study Help Children in Other Aspects of School Study?
We would like to thank Madeleine Crouch for this article about piano study and how it affects academic achievement. To read the full article, click here. Between August 5 and September 15, The Frances Clark Center is offering 20% off all full-length courses such as A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management. Check out our other…
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Piano Inspires Book Club Announcement
As we approach the new school year, we invite you to join us for the Piano Inspires Book Club! The first book club will focus on Marvin Blickenstaff’s new book Inspired Piano Teaching. Learn more and register here. Join author Marvin Blickenstaff and host Sara Ernst for a four-part, open-access series discussing Inspired Piano Teaching…
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How Do You Plan A Student’s Repertoire for the Coming School Year?
We would like to thank Martha Appleby, Sara Krohn, Leanne Hedges, and James B Lyke for this insightful article about planning repertoire. To read the full article, click here. Although few teachers of my acquaintance indulge in a languid state of inactivity during the summer, it is a time when we re-evaluate the progress of our students…
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This Month in Piano History – August 2024
August 8, 1857 French pianist and composer Cécile Chaminade, whose work inspired the creation of numerous women’s musical organizations, was born on this day in Paris. Her initial musical studies were with her mother, but Chaminade also studied privately with members of the Paris Conservatoire faculty after her father prohibited her official enrollment.1 Her career…
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Breaking Out of the House of Corrections
We would like to thank Craig Sale for this insightful article about preparing students for their practice. To read the full article, click here. I will always remember Frances Clark stating that our lessons should not be a “house of corrections.” Instead, she felt we should do all we can to ensure a week of…
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Body Mapping in the Piano Studio
We would like to thank Kay S. Hooper for this insightful article about body mapping. To read the full article, click here. On the count of three, point to the place where your upper arm meets your torso. One, two, three! See Figure 1 below and find the place where you pointed. Most people point…
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The Benefits of NCKP: The Piano Conference and Why You Should Attend
We would like to thank Marvin Blickenstaff for this article about the benefits of The Piano Conference: NCKP. Want to learn more about The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025? Click here to read about next year’s conference and submit a proposal. Want to hear more from Marvin Blickenstaff? Join our book club beginning September 10, 2024!…
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Five Ideas for Choosing a Spring Recital Theme
We encourage you to watch Holly Kessis’ archived webinar here: “Piano Inspires… Innovation in Practice“ with Igor Lipinski, Brianna Matzke, Joy Morin, Melody Ng, Jason Sifford, and Jennifer Snow. This webinar is a celebration of innovation in organizations, teaching practices, and teacher education. 1. Less is more. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with ideas, so…
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This Week in Piano History: The Ragtime “Scott” You Might Not Know
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of major ragtime composer James Sylvester Scott who was born on February 12, 1885. Scott produced a number of hits including Ophelia Rag, Frog Legs Rag, and Grace and Beauty. Originally from Neosho, Missouri, Scott was born to former slaves James Scott Sr. and Molly Thomas…
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What We Can Learn From Historical Pianos: Q&A with Charlotte Tang
We recently invited our followers to submit questions for Charlotte Tang about historical pianos. Today, Charlotte is answering those questions! We encourage you to watch Charlotte’s Inspiring Artistry repertoire video on teaching Scarlatti’s Sonata in D Minor, K. 213. Join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety of…
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This Week in Piano History: The Pianist Who Could Crack a Joke
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember the debut of The Victor Borge Show on NBC-TV on February 3, 1951. Borge’s brilliant comedic routines brought humor to the classical music concert hall in ways previously not experienced. Born in Copenhagen, Borge’s musical studies with his parents, who were both musicians. His father supervised his early…
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Five Things You Might Not Know About Florence Price
Don’t miss Lia Jenson-Abbott’s Inspiring Artistry contribution about Florence Price’s Down a Southern Lane, which includes information on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. 1. At age 18, Florence Price graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with two degrees: Teachers Diploma in Piano and Soloists Diploma…
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This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Philip Glass | January 31, 1937
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of American composer Philip Glass, who was born on January 31, 1937. Known for his unique approach to minimalist style, Glass’ award-winning compositions continue to inspire audiences worldwide. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Glass began studying the violin and flute in his childhood, later becoming intrigued by…
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Teaching Contemporary Music: Q&A with Brendan Jacklin
This week we invited our followers to submit questions for Brendan Jacklin about teaching new and contemporary music. Today, Brendan is answering those questions! We encourage you to watch Brendan’s archived webinar on teaching George Crumb’s Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik. Join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety of…
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This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Muzio Clementi | January 23, 1752
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of pianist, composer, and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi, who was born on January 23, 1752. Although Clementi is most well known today for his sonatinas, he wrote a number of large-scale piano sonatas and achieved great success with his piano manufacturing business. Clementi, born in Rome,…
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Five Things You Might Not Know About Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee
Don’t miss Leonidas Lagrimas’ Inspiring Artistry contribution about Amy Beach’s Improvisation Op. 148, No. 1, which includes exposition on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. The piano music of Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee has been steadily gaining popularity over the past several decades, to the point where her work…
