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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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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…
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5 Reasons You Should Include Asian Repertoire in Your Studio
Don’t miss Shuk-Ki Wong’s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference online event, Embracing Diversity in Your Studio: A Pedagogical Exploration of Underrepresented Chinese Keyboard Literature, on June 10, 2023 from 4:30-4:55PM. There’s still time to Register for NCKP 2023! 1. Only 1.77% of scheduled pieces in concert halls were composed by Asian composers. Despite…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Colombian Composer Jaime León
Don’t forget to check out Felipe Calle‘s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, The Piano Works of Jaime Leon: A Pedagogical Approach, on June 11, 2023 from 4:30-4:55PM during our online event. Register now for NCKP 2023! 1. Jaime León was born in 1921 in Cartagena, Colombia, a colonial city on the Caribbean coast. His father,…
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The Value and Survival of Music – Philosophies of Frances Clark
We are pleased to share some of our favorite quotes by Frances Clark, the pioneer pianist and educator for whom the organization is named. To read more of Clark’s writing, you can purchase her book, Questions and Answers, by clicking here. On the Value of Music “To understand music is to know an entire range…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Career-aged Adult Piano Learners
Check out Pei-Chen Chen‘s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, It’s Never Too Late – Lived Experiences of Amateur Adult Piano Learners, on June 11, 2023 from 3:00-3:25PM during our online event. Register now for NCKP 2023! 1. They take lessons to fulfill a long held-dream. Fulfilling a long-held dream is one of the most common…
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How to Teach like Kodály in 5 Easy Steps
Don’t miss Megan Rich‘s Lightning Talk at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, Singing in the Piano Lesson: Zoltán Kodály’s 333 Elementary Exercises in Solfège Singing, on July 26, 2023 from 4:00-4:50PM during our in-person event. Register now for NCKP 2023! 1. Sing! Zoltan Kodály said that “To teach a child an instrument without first giving him preparatory…
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Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part Two
We invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching. In honor of his birthday (May 19), we are posting his answers! You can read Part One here. Join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety of interesting topics answered by additional experts in…
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Phyllis Lehrer Piano Pedagogy & Artistry Fund
We would like to thank Regina McAllen, Jean Parsons, Terri Hlubek, and Marianne and Peter Lauffer for tributes shared here with this announcement of the Phyllis Lehrer Piano Pedagogy & Artistry Fund. Phyllis’ legacy as a teacher, mentor, pianist, and colleague is unquestionable. We are honored to celebrate her work through the creation of this…
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This Month in Piano History – September 2025
This month, we celebrate landmark recordings of pop hits and spirituals, and we remember a pioneering composer for prepared piano and a vibrant singer whose influence extends to the piano community. September 4, 1962 The Beatles made their first studio recordings with Ringo Starr at London’s Abbey Road Studios. The band recorded some of their…
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Featured Videos from The Frances Clark Center
Subscribers to Piano Inspires have access to eight video series featuring performances and teaching demonstrations from the piano community. To learn more about these video series and to get a sneak peek into a few of these series, keep reading! Not a subscriber? Subscribe now to watch these inspiring and informative videos! From the Artist Bench…
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Peer Connections and Collegiate Connections 2025-26
Thank you to Yeeseon Kwon, Director of Institutional Engagement at The Frances Clark Center of Piano Pedagogy, for this insightful article on the year ahead for the Peer Connections and Collegiate Connections programs. Interested in attending a Peer Connections event? Register for our first event on October 10, 2025 at 11:00 am Eastern by clicking…
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What’s New at The New School for Music Study: 2025–2026 Season
We would like to thank Carla Salas-Ruiz for this insightful article on The New School for Music Study’s upcoming events and offerings this year. Learn more about the NSMS by clicking here. 4) Special Community and Student Events Our 65th anniversary year is filled with opportunities for students, families, and the community to gather, share,…
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Back-to-School Sale 2025
Celebrate the beginning of the school year with our sitewide sale at PianoInspires.com! For a limited time, enjoy 20% off everything—from inspiring books and resources to exclusive merchandise and more. Don’t miss this chance to stock up on your favorites and discover something new, all at a special discounted price. Shop now and let your musical journey…
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This Month in Piano History – August 2025
The month of August is a time of beginnings as a new academic year begins—children go back to school, and piano studios fill with new students eager to play. Read below to discover more about piano history in the month of August including the birth of two important composers, the completion of a major symphonic…
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The Piano Conference – Perspectives of New Professionals
Now that The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 has passed, we would like to thank Janna Peña and Anthony Ty for this insightful post about their experience as new professionals at the conference. Look for news about The Piano Conference: NCKP 2027 in fall 2026! Attending The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 was a meaningful experience: inspiring,…
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Interleaved Practice: A Counterintuitive but Powerful Practice Method
We would like to thank Molly Gebrian for this article about interleaved practice. To read the full article from the summer issue of Piano Magazine, click here. Most of us practice using a blocked practice method: we work on one thing for a large block of time before moving on to something else. We typically…
