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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 for Life: E.L. Lancaster on Piano Pedagogy, Music Education, and Accessibility for All
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring E.L. Lancaster, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Yeeseon Kwon. Want to learn more about Lancaster? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Lancaster on Apple Podcasts,…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Randy Faber
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Randy Faber, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Jennifer Snow. Want to learn more about Faber? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Faber on Apple Podcasts,…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Season 3 Launches September 24!
We are excited to announce our third season of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website! The Piano Inspires Podcast is back for an extraordinary third season, launching September 24, 2025! Each week, we invite you into candid, inspiring conversations with…
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Announcing Autumn 2025 Piano Inspires Kids: Time Travel Through the ‘25s!
The Autumn 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 Autumn Issue. We’re thrilled to announce the release of the Autumn 2025 issue of Piano Inspires Kids—our most imaginative adventure yet!…
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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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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…
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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,…
