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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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2024-2025 Gratitude Report: Celebrating a Year of Community, Legacy, and Innovation
We are deeply grateful to our donors, educators, and partners who continue to invest in our mission of advancing piano education. Your belief in The Frances Clark Center sustains our programs, inspires teachers and learners, and strengthens the profession for generations to come. This year was one of growth, innovation, and shared achievement. We established…
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Around the World with Piano Magazine
Curious about music and music-making practices around the world? Piano Magazine has you covered with articles covering piano teaching and performance practices in all corners of the globe. Piano Music by Composers from Asia: A History of Self-Discovery In this article by Lisa Yui from the Spring 2023 issue, Yui writes about her journey of…
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This Month in Piano History – November 2025
As we move into November, we celebrate the birth of a famous ragtime composer, remember an important premiere, and reflect on Bach’s criminal record! November 6: Bach Goes to Jail This month in 1717, Johann Sebastian Bach went to jail! The beloved composer and pianist spent about four weeks in a “justice room” at the…
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Community Impact Grant Winners 2025
Across the country, pianists are using their art to build connection, inclusion, and opportunity. These four projects—by Kelly Hooper, Zaiba Sheikh, Penny Lazarus, and Raphaelita Justice—show how community impact begins with creativity and compassion, inspiring others to design meaningful initiatives that make music accessible for all. Kelly Hooper: Free-To-Be Kelly Hooper’s Free-To-Be recital reimagines what…
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5 Key Elements of Foundational Piano Pedagogy
1. Teachers should use words that are relevant and efficient while considering other powerful ways to communicate. Teachers use words to teach concepts, praise students, and offer feedback. Words used to give praise and feedback should focus on the music–how it sounds, looks, and feels, rather than the student’s personal ability. Specific, sincere, and descriptive…
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5 Ways PianoInspires Can Transform Your Scale Practice
Ready to move beyond basic drills? The magazines, videos, and publications at pianoinspires.com are packed with fresh, effective ideas to elevate the technique of your piano students and your own practice. 1. Unlock Speed with the 3s and 4s Fingering Rule Tired of tricky fingerings? The Summer 2024 Issue of Piano Inspires Kids provides a…
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Announcing the Autumn 2025 Issue of Piano Magazine!
Announcing the Autumn 2025 issue of Piano Magazine! Discover the remarkable journey of pianist and educator Wilfred Delphin, whose artistry and advocacy have shaped generations of musicians. From his formative years and international performances with his duo partner, Edwin Romain, to his lifelong commitment to mentoring young pianists, Delphin’s story celebrates perseverance, excellence, and the transformative…
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5 Ways to Use the Activities in the Autumn 2025 Issue of Piano Inspires Kids
The Autumn issue of Piano Inspires Kids is filled with fun, creative, and educational ways to explore music. Whether you’re a teacher looking to bring fresh ideas into your studio or a parent hoping to spark your child’s imagination at home, this issue offers something for everyone. Here are five ways you can use the…
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Phyllis Lehrer Piano Pedagogy & Artistry Fund
We would like to thank Mary Bloom and Michelle Aalders for tributes shared here with this post 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 new fund in her name. To…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Zoltán Kodály
Don’t miss Megan’s Inspiring Artistry contribution about J.S. Bach’s Invention in C Minor, which includes exposition on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. 1. Kodály wrote for piano and organ! Besides his many successful works for choir, Kodály wrote 7 Pieces for Piano, Op. 11, a Méditation sur…
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A Peek Inside Piano Inspires Discussion Events: Opportunities to Learn, Discuss, and Connect
We were pleased to welcome Dr. Brenda Wristen, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and author of the Piano Magazine article “No Thumb or Fifth Finger on Black Keys, Except…” for an informative article discussion in September. Dr. Wristen and Senior Editor Craig Sale explored the rules of the black…
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Alternatively-Sized Keyboards: Special Guest Q&A with Expert Carol Leone
Last year we invited you to submit questions for Carol Leone about alternatively sized keyboards via our social media channels. We are pleased to give these newly updated answers a permanent home on our Discovery page. We invite you to join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
