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Piano Inspires Discovery

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

  • Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part Two

    Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part Two

    This past May, we invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching in honor of his birthday (May 19). We hope you enjoy reading his answers below. You can read Part One here. This week, Marvin is touring Colorado, Utah, and Nevada with staff from the Frances Clark Center. Is…


  • Meet People Where They Are | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff

    Meet People Where They Are | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff

    This week, Marvin is touring Colorado, Utah, and Nevada with staff from the Frances Clark Center. Is Marvin coming to a place near you? Check his tour schedule here: https://pianoinspires.com/marvin-blickenstaff-on-tour/. It’s such an honor to write about my teacher and friend, Marvin Blickenstaff. I could tell a million stories about Marvin’s brilliance as a teacher…


  • Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part One

    Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part One

    This past May, we invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching in honor of his birthday (May 19). We hope you enjoy reading his answers below. This week, Marvin is touring Colorado, Utah, and Nevada with staff from the Frances Clark Center. Is Marvin coming to a place near…


  • 5 Things to Discover about Hispanic Composers

    5 Things to Discover about Hispanic Composers

    1. Manuel Ponce was the earliest internationally successful Mexican composer of classical music. The Mexican composer Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar was musically active in the first half of the 20th century. The European-influenced Ponce was the earliest internationally successful Mexican composer of classical music. A prolific composer, Manuel Ponce wrote orchestral suites and symphonic poems;…


  • Marvin Blickenstaff on Tour!

    Marvin Blickenstaff on Tour!

    Over the next ten days, Marvin Blickenstaff, along with Jennifer Snow and other staff from the Frances Clark Center, will tour Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. During this tour, Marvin will present “The Power of One” as well as masterclasses in seven different cities and locations! Participants will also learn about the Frances Clark Center, its…


  • Where can I find more resources about composers from Latin America?

    Where can I find more resources about composers from Latin America?

    Latin American piano music is rich in influences, traditional dance rhythms, and unique forms, making this music exciting for students of all abilities. From September 15-October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor and reflect upon the remarkable music and contributions of individuals with Hispanic heritage. In this Discovery Page post, we…


  • Piano Inspires Kids: An Interview with Co-Editors-in-Chief Andrea McAlister and Sara Ernst

    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…


  • 5 Ways to Provide Student-Centered Feedback

    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…


  • From the Archives: An Interview with James Lyke

    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…


  • 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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