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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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Blending East and West: Ma Shui-Long
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember Taiwanese composer Ma Shui-Long who died on May 2, 2015 at the age of 75. A composer of a wide oeuvre of works, Ma is known for his efforts to blend Eastern and Western compositional traditions. Ma Shui-Long, born on July 17, 1939, grew up in Ji-long and…
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Five Ways to Improve Your Website
Don’t miss Clinton Pratt’s presentation at NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, From Solo to School, on July 26, 2023 from 1:30-2:20PM. Register for NCKP 2023 before May 1, 2023 to receive the early bird discount! 1. Have a clear call-to-action. Don’t confuse prospective clients with too many things to do. Should they call you? Email…
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An Inspirational Force of Nature | Honoring Michelle Conda
Michelle Conda is a recipient of the 2023 Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award. Her 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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A Quick Look at Creative Music Making: What Pianists Should Know
Special thanks to the Bradley Sowash, member of the NCKP 2023 Creative Music Making committee, for this post. Why is creative music making an important topic for pianists today? Today’s students benefit from instruction in reading and generating music. Why? Because students that read well, play by ear, and/or create music can play a wider…
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Für Elise: Beethoven’s Infamous Composition
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, Beethoven composed his infamous bagatelle Für Elise WoO 59 on April 27, 1810. The short piece is built around a recurring theme that is unceasingly popular with pianists of all ages. One of the central questions regarding this piece is to whom it was written. Scholarship remains unclear about the…
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A Quick Look at Independent Music Teaching: What Pianists Should Know
Special thanks to Jason Sifford, chair of the NCKP 2023 Independent Music Teaching committee, for this post. Why is independent teaching important for pianists today? Today’s emerging professionals and young parents are the first to be born in the 2000’s. This generation enters a world unlike any before, and understanding and embracing the unique challenges…
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A Quick Look at Wellness: What Pianists Should Know
Special thanks to the NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference Wellness Committee for their contributions to this post. Why is wellness an important topic for pianists today? It is known that few pianists go through life without encountering an injury or illness, whether directly related to playing or not. Therefore, it is very important that there…
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Nina Simone: Remembering a Trailblazer
THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we remember pianist Nina Simone who died on April 21, 2003. Simone, born as Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina, was a jazz singer, pianist, and civil rights leader. Simone began playing piano at the age of three, learning at first by ear.1 Her initial…
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What to Expect at NCKP: The Piano Conference
Thanks to Trevor Thornton, member of the New Professionals Committee for NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference, for this post! So, it’s your first NCKP. You are probably curious about what to expect. I remember the feeling well. My first NCKP changed my life, and it might change yours too. NCKP has a gift for you…
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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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Back-to-School Sale 2025
Celebrate the beginning of the school year with our sitewide sale at PianoInspires.com! For a limited time, enjoy 20% off everything—from inspiring books and resources to exclusive merchandise and more. Don’t miss this chance to stock up on your favorites and discover something new, all at a special discounted price. Shop now and let your musical journey…
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This Month in Piano History – August 2025
The month of August is a time of beginnings as a new academic year begins—children go back to school, and piano studios fill with new students eager to play. Read below to discover more about piano history in the month of August including the birth of two important composers, the completion of a major symphonic…
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The Piano Conference – Perspectives of New Professionals
Now that The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 has passed, we would like to thank Janna Peña and Anthony Ty for this insightful post about their experience as new professionals at the conference. Look for news about The Piano Conference: NCKP 2027 in fall 2026! Attending The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 was a meaningful experience: inspiring,…
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Interleaved Practice: A Counterintuitive but Powerful Practice Method
We would like to thank Molly Gebrian for this article about interleaved practice. To read the full article from the summer issue of Piano Magazine, click here. Most of us practice using a blocked practice method: we work on one thing for a large block of time before moving on to something else. We typically…
