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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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Five Things You Might Not Know About Florence Price
Don’t miss Lia Jenson-Abbott’s Inspiring Artistry contribution about Florence Price’s Down a Southern Lane, which includes information on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. 1. At age 18, Florence Price graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with two degrees: Teachers Diploma in Piano and Soloists Diploma…
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This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Philip Glass | January 31, 1937
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of American composer Philip Glass, who was born on January 31, 1937. Known for his unique approach to minimalist style, Glass’ award-winning compositions continue to inspire audiences worldwide. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Glass began studying the violin and flute in his childhood, later becoming intrigued by…
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Teaching Contemporary Music: Q&A with Brendan Jacklin
This week we invited our followers to submit questions for Brendan Jacklin about teaching new and contemporary music. Today, Brendan is answering those questions! We encourage you to watch Brendan’s archived webinar on teaching George Crumb’s Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik. Join us on social media for the opportunity to have your questions on a variety of…
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This Week in Piano History: The Birth of Muzio Clementi | January 23, 1752
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of pianist, composer, and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi, who was born on January 23, 1752. Although Clementi is most well known today for his sonatinas, he wrote a number of large-scale piano sonatas and achieved great success with his piano manufacturing business. Clementi, born in Rome,…
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Five Things You Might Not Know About Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee
Don’t miss Leonidas Lagrimas’ Inspiring Artistry contribution about Amy Beach’s Improvisation Op. 148, No. 1, which includes exposition on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. The piano music of Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee has been steadily gaining popularity over the past several decades, to the point where her work…
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An Inspiring Legacy of Excellence and Advocacy | Honoring Claudette Sorel
We believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you to celebrate your teacher and share your tribute with us by making a donation to the Frances Clark Center. Together, we will further…
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This Week in Piano History: The Premiere of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata | January 20, 1939
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the premiere of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata, which American pianist John Kirkpatrick premiered on January 20, 1939. The sonata, Ives’ second piano sonata, lasts over forty-five minutes and is noted for its extremely dense writing and complicated use of leitmotifs. Ives was an American musical pioneer who was…
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Our Experiences Writing for Piano Magazine
Every year, Piano Magazine offers students the opportunity to showcase their research and writing through the Collegiate Writing Contest. We are pleased to present the testimonies of two recent winners of this competition, in hopes that it will inspire other collegiate students to submit their manuscripts for a chance to be featured in Piano Magazine.…
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How to Record an Effective Teaching Demonstration: 6 Tips for Success
We are delighted to share top tips from Dr. Sara Ernst on recording effective teaching demonstrations as you compile your teaching video submissions 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 invite you…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Catherine Rollin
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Catherine Rollin, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Pamela Pike. Want to learn more about Rollin? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Rollin on Apple Podcasts,…
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A Lifetime of Piano and Friendship
We would like to thank Carol Salas for this tribute to her teacher, Marvin Blickenstaff. As we continue the season of gratitude and giving, we pay tribute to piano teachers from around the country who are transforming the lives of their students. Students, parents, and colleagues are honoring piano teachers from their communities as part…
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5 Things You Might Not Know About Mozart
In celebration of the recently unearthed composition, Serenade in C, discovered by the Leipzig Municipal Libraries network, here are five little-known facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 1. Mozart’s Fantasia in D minor, K. 397 was unfinished at the time of his death. Like the Serenade in C, this piece was left undiscovered until after Mozart…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Sean Chen
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Sean Chen, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Sara Ernst. Want to learn more about Chen? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Chen on Apple Podcasts,…
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Piano Inspires Podcast: Midori Koga
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Midori Koga, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Andrea McAlister. Want to learn more about Koga? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Koga on Apple Podcasts,…
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Inspiring Instructors: The Power of a Piano Teacher
At The Frances Clark Center, we are honoring piano teachers who are working every day to make the world more empathetic, inclusive, and connected through the transformational power of music. We welcome you to celebrate your own teacher by sharing a tribute with us and donating to the Frances Clark Center. Students, parents, and colleagues…
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This Month in Piano History – Les femmes du musique
This November, we celebrate three inspiring women: soprano Maria Callas, composer and pianist Fanny Hensel, and composer, pianist, and organist Emma Lou Diemer. November 1, 1954: The American Operatic Debut of Maria Callas Greek-American soprano Maria Callas personified the “diva” and held many successful roles in Italy and South America before her American debut as…
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A Look Inside “A Pianist’s Guide to Teaching Recreational Music Makers”
We would like to thank Amy Perdew for her contributions to this article on Recreational Music Making. Interested in learning more about RMM? Our latest course, A Pianist’s Guide to Teaching Recreational Music Makers, is available for purchase. Learn more and enroll here. Use code RMMLAUNCH2024 for an exclusive $25 off. Marketing is the process…
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Recreational Music Making: 5 Discoveries We Made as RMM Teachers
We would like to thank Debra Perez, Craig Sale, Rebecca Bellelo, and Emily Book McGree for their contributions to this article on Recreational Music Making. Interested to learn more about RMM? Our latest course, A Pianist’s Guide to Teaching Recreational Music Makers, was just released. Learn more and enroll here. Use code RMMLAUNCH2024 for an…
