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Piano Inspires Discovery

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

  • This Week in Piano History: The Birth of “Mr. Harmony”

    This Week in Piano History: The Birth of “Mr. Harmony”

    THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of composer Mario Ruiz Armengol, who was born on March 17, 1914. A Mexican composer, Ruiz Armengol wrote a number of important piano works including a sonata, the 31 Piezas para niños, and 12 Estudios. Ruiz Armengol was born into a large family in Veracruz, Mexico.…


  • “Piano Inspires” Webinar: William Chapman Nyaho Interview

    “Piano Inspires” Webinar: William Chapman Nyaho Interview

    The Frances Clark Center was thrilled to welcome William Chapman Nyaho to our “Piano Inspires” Webinar series. Please enjoy his engaging conversation with Dr. Jennifer Snow, CEO of the Frances Clark Center, and we encourage you to join us for all of our upcoming webinars. https://pianoinspires.com/webinars/ In this installment of our Piano Inspires… series, Dr. Jennifer…


  • Five Things You Might Not Know About Filip Lazăr

    Five Things You Might Not Know About Filip Lazăr

    Check out Danny Milan’s video of Lazăr: Pièces minuscules pour les enfants, Op.16 where he explores the preparation, practice, and interpretation of this unique piece. 1.  He was a founding member of the Society of Romanian Composers. Also known as the Romanian Composers’ Society (Societatea Compozitorilor Romani), this organization was founded by Romanian composers George…


  • This Week in Piano History: National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day

    This Week in Piano History: National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day

    Happy National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day! Created by the organization Black Women in Jazz, this day celebrates the remarkable impact of Black women in jazz and all the arts. Today, we are highlighting several Black women pianists and composers who have made special contributions to our field. Nina Simone, born February…


  • Five Composers You Might Not Know Were Influenced by Indonesian Gamelan

    Five Composers You Might Not Know Were Influenced by Indonesian Gamelan

    We encourage you to watch Regina Tanujaya’s archived webinar here: “Piano Music by Composers of Asian Heritage, Part 2,” who’s joined by Chee-Hwa Tan and Li-Ly Chang, and Luis Sanchez. This webinar shares appealing and accessible piano teaching music by composers of Asian heritage. 1.  Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Debussy first heard the gamelan at the…


  • Five Things You Might Not Know About Cécile Chaminade

    Five Things You Might Not Know About Cécile Chaminade

    Don’t miss Angela Miller-Niles’s Inspiring Artistry contribution about Chaminade’s Aubade, which includes information on how to effectively teach the piece, all the way from preparation to performance. 1.  She was the first woman to receive the Légion d’honneur in 1913. The Légion d’honneur is the highest French order of merit. At 56, Chaminade was enjoying…


  • This Week in Piano History: The Concert with an Audience of Legends (Including Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Wieck!)

    This Week in Piano History: The Concert with an Audience of Legends (Including Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Wieck!)

    THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, Chopin had his premiere at the Salons de Pleyel in Paris on February 25, 1832.1 Chopin’s first concert after arriving in Paris, this debut marked one of the few times the Parisian public was able to hear Chopin’s performances.  Chopin initially left Poland for a concert tour throughout Europe, but…


  • Effectively Teaching Young Students: Q&A with Sara Ernst

    Effectively Teaching Young Students: Q&A with Sara Ernst

    We invited our followers to submit questions for Sara Ernst about effectively teaching young students to practice. Today, Sara is answering those questions! We encourage you to read Sara’s article, “Practicing Alongside Our Intermediate Students,” in the Winter 2022 issue of Piano Magazine. Additionally, enroll in our self-guided, online course titled The Beginner Course: Establishing…


  • This Week in Piano History: The King of Etudes

    This Week in Piano History: The King of Etudes

    THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of pianist and composer Carl Czerny who was born on February 21, 1791. Although primarily known for his numerous etudes, Czerny was a prolific composer publishing over 800 works with opus numbers. Czerny was born into a middle class family in Vienna, Austria. His father, Wenzel…


  • This Month in Piano History – February 2025

    This Month in Piano History – February 2025

    February is a month of reflection and celebration as we observe Black History Month and Valentine’s Day. It is also a time of remembrance and commemoration as we recall many important composers and pianists. Read below to discover more about a famous pianist and showman, the lives of two different composers, and a celebrated American…


  • Celebrate the Power of a Piano Lesson This Valentine’s Day

    Celebrate the Power of a Piano Lesson This Valentine’s Day

    Music has the power to transform lives, and it all starts with a single lesson. This Valentine’s Day, show your love for music and the teachers who make it possible by donating the value of one piano lesson to the Power of a Piano Lesson campaign. At The Frances Clark Center, we believe in the…


  • Piano Inspires Podcast: Barbara Fast

    Piano Inspires Podcast: Barbara Fast

    To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Barbara Fast, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Pamela Pike. Want to learn more about Fast? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Fast on Apple Podcasts,…


  • Publications Launch Party: Weaving Sounds: Elementary Piano Pieces by Native and Indigenous Composers

    Publications Launch Party: Weaving Sounds: Elementary Piano Pieces by Native and Indigenous Composers

    Webinar with Connor Chee and Renata Yazzie Weaving Sounds is a collection of beginner piano repertoire written by the vibrant and diverse voices of Native and Indigenous composers from the Diné, Mohawk, Anishinaabe, Cree, Blackfoot, Jicarilla Apache, Choctaw, and Mohican communities. Each piece is a unique expression of the composers’ cultural roots and personal artistry,…


  • The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 Innovation Summit: Designing the Future of Piano Education

    The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 Innovation Summit: Designing the Future of Piano Education

    Join us for The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 as we gather together in person and online. The Piano Conference seeks to explore the challenges and opportunities facing our international community at this inflection point for the profession.  Full conference registration includes four days of engagement, including the summit, concerts, keynotes, PEDx presentations, and more, as…


  • E-Posters: Why You Should Submit and Tips for Success

    E-Posters: Why You Should Submit and Tips for Success

    With gratitude we welcome one of our NCKP 2021: The Piano Conference Research E-Poster Award Winners, Robin S. Heinsen, to our Discovery Page. Heinsen is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Miami University, and provides helpful insights based on her experience as an NCKP poster presenter. We invite you to submit e-posters, teaching demonstrations, performance…


  • Celebrating Black History Month

    Celebrating Black History Month

    From February 1-28, we celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor and reflect upon the remarkable music and contributions of Black people. In this Discovery Page post, we have curated a collection of Piano Inspires resources to help everyone discover something new. From our international webinar series, to articles in Piano Magazine and Piano…


  • Piano Inspires Podcast: Rochelle Sennet

    Piano Inspires Podcast: Rochelle Sennet

    To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Rochelle Sennet, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Sara Ernst. Want to learn more about Sennet? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Sennet on Apple Podcasts,…


  • Announcing the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

    Announcing the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

    We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. All are welcome to join us at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 to celebrate these extraordinary individuals. The Frances Clark Center recognizes Barbara Fast, Susanna Garcia, Gary Ingle, William Chapman Nyaho, and Craig Sale as recipients of the 2025 Frances Clark Center…


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