pianoinspires.com

Piano Inspires Discovery

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

  • Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    We would like to thank Sara Ernst for this tribute to her mentor, Marvin Blickenstaff. On January 30, 2024 we are hosting a virtual Publications Party to celebrate Marvin Blickenstaff’s new book, Inspired Piano Teaching. Click here to register for this free event! If you are interested in learning more about Marvin’s book, you can read more…


  • 5 Things to Know about Piano Inspires Kids Composition Contest

    5 Things to Know about Piano Inspires Kids Composition Contest

    Attention budding composers! Piano Inspires Kids invites students to submit a piano solo for our first composition contest! Winning compositions will be featured in the Summer 2024 issue and on our website, kids.pianoinspires.com. Read below for all the details! 1. The composition must be a fanfare. A fanfare is a short and usually brilliant piece…


  • Collegiate Resources

    Collegiate Resources

    Calling all collegiate students! Looking for more information about how The Frances Clark Center can help you as you navigate the early stages of your career? Look no further. In this article, we will share information and resources including employment and postgraduate opportunities, opportunities for students, discounts on purchases, and other ways to get involved.…


  • Perspectives: Managing performance anxiety

    Perspectives: Managing performance anxiety

    We would like to thank Ali Snow for this insightful article on managing performance anxiety and motivation. Want to learn more about motivation? Join us on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11am ET for “Determinants of Motivation in World-Class Musicians and Olympic Athletes: Exploring the Front and the Back Side of the Medallion,” a webinar…


  • Collegiate Essay Runner-Up: The Unrecognized Performing Art of Group Piano Teaching

    Collegiate Essay Runner-Up: The Unrecognized Performing Art of Group Piano Teaching

    We would like to thank Dominick Cristofori D’Alessandro for this insightful article on collegiate group piano and motivation. Want to learn more about motivation? Join us on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11am ET for “Determinants of Motivation in World-Class Musicians and Olympic Athletes: Exploring the Front and the Back Side of the Medallion,” a…


  • Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    Marvin Blickenstaff: Cheerleader Extraordinaire

    We would like to thank Sara Ernst for this tribute to her mentor, Marvin Blickenstaff. Since 1999, Marvin Blickenstaff has been a beloved faculty member of the New School for Music Study in Kingston, NJ. In honor of the 25th year of his work for NSMS, we recognize the tremendous impact he has had on…


  • Meet People Where They Are | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff

    Meet People Where They Are | Honoring Marvin Blickenstaff

    We would like to thank Karen Zorn for this tribute to her teacher, Marvin Blickenstaff. On January 30, 2024 we are hosting a virtual Publications Party to celebrate Marvin Blickenstaff’s new book, Inspired Piano Teaching. Click here to register for this free event! If you are interested in learning more about Marvin’s book, you can read more…


  • Piano Inspires Kids: David, Plays!

    Piano Inspires Kids: David, Plays!

    The Winter 2024 Issue of Piano Inspires Kids is coming soon! Subscribers will be receiving the print issue in their mailboxes in the coming weeks. 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…


  • Collegiate Essay Winner: Emerging Adulthood and Undergraduate Group Piano

    Collegiate Essay Winner: Emerging Adulthood and Undergraduate Group Piano

    We would like to thank Melody Morrison for this insightful article on adulthood and collegiate group piano. This year more than a dozen collegiate students submitted essays in the collegiate writing competition. The topics were varied and the entrants, who came from eleven different universities, were at different stages of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.…


  • This Month in Piano History – September 2024: Celebrate Classical Music Month

    This Month in Piano History – September 2024: Celebrate Classical Music Month

    September 1994 Classical Music Month was established by President Bill Clinton, who greatly appreciated the unifying power of classical music. On August 22, 1994, President Clinton spoke about the power of music: Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence. Great art endures through the ages… Classical music plays in harmony with that energy and…


  • An Invitation to the Piano Inspires Book Club – Part 2

    An Invitation to the Piano Inspires Book Club – Part 2

    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. August 26, 2024 Dear Frances Clark Center Community, As we approach the new school year, we invite…


  • Unveiling the New Season of Peer Connections Gatherings

    Unveiling the New Season of Peer Connections Gatherings

    We would like to thank Yeeseon Kwon for this exciting message about the new season of Peer Connections events. Interested in participating? Our first event is Peer Connections: Advancing Your Opportunities and Professionalism, which occurs on Friday, October 4th at 11AM ET. Learn more and register here. The start of a new school year brings…


  • An Invitation to the Piano Inspires Book Club

    An Invitation to the Piano Inspires Book Club

    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 Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff. Learn more and register here. August 26, 2024 Dear Frances Clark Center Community, As we approach the new school year, we invite you to join us…


  • 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 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…


  • Piano Inspires Kids: Student Spotlights

    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…


  • Effective, enforceable piano studio policies

    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…


  • Does Piano Study Help Children in Other Aspects of School Study?

    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…


  • Piano Inspires Book Club Announcement

    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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