Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Marvin Blickenstaff

For more than six decades, Marvin Blickenstaff devoted his life to piano students and teachers around the world. His teaching, writing, and mentorship shaped generations of educators and performers, and his influence continues to guide the work of the Frances Clark Center and the global piano community.

This page brings together Marvin’s teaching, performances, and writings as a lasting resource for teachers and students. It also serves as a place to honor his memory and ensure that his commitment to teacher education continues for generations to come.

SUBMIT A TRIBUTE TO MARVIN

In his obituary, Marvin expressed the wish that, in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor his memory consider a gift to the Marvin Blickenstaff Teaching Excellence Fund, established in his name at the Frances Clark Center.

Gifts to this fund ensure that Marvin’s lifelong dedication to piano teacher education continues to shape future generations. If you would like to honor Marvin’s life and legacy, we invite you to make a gift in his memory.

Support the Marvin Blickenstaff Teaching Excellence Fund

Replay “Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Marvin Blickenstaff” from February 6, 2026.

Collected Photos

Marvin Blickenstaff, “In His Own Words”

Marvin Blickenstaff Legacy Content

Marvin shared his teaching and musical insight through articles, videos, webinars, blog posts, and more. Browse and filter the archive below to explore his work by format.

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1-8 of 110 results

  • How Do You Teach Your Students Not to Hesitate at a Bar Line?
    Post Type: “Article”

    In one of the earlier issues of KEYBOARD COMPANION, a subscriber wrote to the Rhythm Post Box offering a suggestion for handling the problem…

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  • A Fond Farewell (Für Elise)
    Post Type: “Article”

    Marvin Blickenstaff, Editor from the series: Putting It All Together: Repertoire  One of the favorite photos I have hanging in my study is a shot…

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  • How Do You Practice Rhythm? – A Student Survey
    Post Type: “Article”

    In a recent faculty seminar our resource person was an educator whose research expertise focuses on teaching effectiveness. During the seminar he showed video-tapes of effective…

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  • How Do You Teach Downbeats?
    Post Type: “Article”

    To teach or not to teach downbeats is really not the question. We all realize that a sense of meter is dependent on the…

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  • What Is Your Opinion of Counting Aloud and How Do You Encourage This Activity at Home?
    Post Type: “Article”

    “I don’t believe in counting aloud. I just feel the beat.” You can imagine my surprise at this response from an adult student who was playing incorrect rhythms in passages of Rhapsody in Blue. I thought, like most of us would, that the fastest way to solve the problem would…

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  • How Do You Teach Cut Time (Alla Breve)?
    Post Type: “Article”

    In the Winter 1994 issue of KEYBOARD COMPANION, several writers responded to a question on teaching downbeats. As if in unison, those teachers gave…

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  • How Do You Teach Dotted Rhythms?
    Post Type: “Article”

    Marvin Blickenstaff, Editor Although the steady pulse is fundamental to the concept of rhythm, the lilt and forward movement of rhythm is created through…

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  • How Do You Teach Dotted Rhythms?
    Post Type: “Article”

    Although the steady pulse is fundamental to the concept of rhythm, the lilt and forward movement of rhythm is created through the variety of…

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