Where performance and pedagogy, research and experience, excellence and artistry meet—The University of Oklahoma offers comprehensive degrees, undergraduate through doctoral, in piano pedagogy and performance.
For nearly a century, Kawai has crafted world-class pianos, blending tradition with innovation to create instruments of exceptional quality—trusted by musicians, educators, and students to inspire every musical journey.
Last chance to participate in The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025! The deadline to submit Collegiate Connections, E-Posters, Performances, and Teaching Demonstrations is Monday, March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific.
Collegiate Connections
We invite collegiate groups in pedagogy, repertoire, and related performance classes along with their faculty to participate. Projects may cover a wide range of topics such as creative teaching, lecture and musical presentations, community engagement, and business entrepreneurship. We welcome all group proposals; note that proposals by individual presenters will not be considered.
The Piano Conference seeks e-poster presentations from educators, researchers, and performers, and encourages proposals from emerging professionals and students. E- posters can include topics related to general pedagogy or those based upon research.
The in-person conference program will include an inspiring main-stage concert highlighting multiple performers from the community. Ideal concert selections will bring awareness to expanding the piano repertoire with music by underrepresented composers and pieces that are lesser known.
The Piano Conference seeks to highlight excellence in teaching practice and music learning, and calls for submissions of piano lesson videos for the plenary teaching demonstrations, online and in person. All piano educators, emerging professionals, and students are welcome to submit videos.
Full conference registration includes four days of engagement, including the Innovation Summit, concerts, keynotes, PEDx presentations, and more, as well as access to the online event and online event archives. Student, Single-Day, and Online-Only registration options are also available.
All are invited to join us for the NCKP Innovation Summit on Wednesday, July 23, starting at 9:00 AM. Through dynamic collaboration, bold idea-sharing, and inspiring discussions, we’ll work together to build a forward-thinking vision for teaching and learning. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to innovate, connect, and help redefine what’s possible—your ideas matter! Take the Pre-Summit survey here.
Not sure if you will attend? Check out our schedule to see everything you can learn at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025!
Early-bird registration is available until May 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific.
Missed the special discount on The Piano Conference: NCKP? Subscribers receive an additional 10% off registration. Log in to pianoinspires.com and navigate to ‘My Discounts’ to retrieve your discount code.
Share your love of the piano and help support The Frances Clark Center by “purchasing” a virtual piano key during our 88 Keys in 88 Hours donation campaign for Piano Day 2025! Starting tomorrow, our virtual piano keys will be available for a range of amounts, starting at $5. Your donation will help us continue providing the highest quality resources and programs for piano teaching, learning, and performing.
As a nonprofit educational organization, we rely heavily on your donations to continue offering high-quality programs. Our inspiring mission supports pianists and teachers as they impact lives, influence communities, and change the world. We welcome you as a “key” donor this year as we work together to support our community and advance the profession.
PianoArts identifies and trains new generations of pianists with exceptional musical and verbal communication skills, preparing them for solo and collaborative performances, and presenting them to diverse audiences.
Godwin Friesen, Winner of the 2018 PianoArts Audience Communication Award, showcases techniques on engaging audiences with concert conversations. Join us to learn more about the unique prize opportunity during the 2026 PianoArts North American Competition.
The Royal Conservatory is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world, providing the definitive standard in excellence in curriculum design, assessment, performance training, teacher certification, and arts-based social programs.
Looking to try something new in your studio? Join Elaine Rusk and Carrie Campbell as they provide an introduction to the RCM Certificate Program. This session will cover navigating the RCM Syllabus and will take a peek inside the RCM New Teacher Community which provides practical strategies to support students in preparing for their first examinations.
Interact with RCM directly at this informal meet-and-greet session in our state-of-the-art piano lab.
Dr. Janet Lopinski and Dr. Stephen Pierce explore pedagogical resources curated by the RCM Certificate Program that will transform your teaching. Explore pedagogical gems within the RCM Piano Teaching Courses, delve into the RCM Pedagogy Support program, and tour the resources in the RCM Teacher Portal. Whether you are an experienced teacher, just starting out, or mentoring future pedagogical leaders, you will discover proven strategies to energize your teaching, foster student engagement, and inspire creativity.
Since 1853, Steinway & Sons has built the world’s finest pianos. Today, integration of old-world craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology creates a Steinway with the widest tonal range and most responsive touch of any piano we have ever built.
So much has changed with the family of Steinway-designed pianos (Steinway, Spirio, Boston, and Essex) except the continuous pursuit of excellence and innovation. See and hear how our pianos and technologies can change your teaching and your students’ educational experiences.
So much has changed with the family of Steinway-designed pianos (Steinway, Spirio, Boston, and Essex) except the continuous pursuit of excellence and innovation. See and hear how our pianos and technologies can change your teaching and your students’ educational experiences.
Share your love of the piano and help support The Frances Clark Center by “purchasing” a virtual piano key during our 88 Keys in 88 Hours donation campaign for Piano Day 2025! Starting tomorrow, our virtual piano keys will be available for a range of amounts, starting at $5. Your donation will help us continue providing the highest quality resources and programs for piano teaching, learning, and performing.
Your name will be listed on your chosen key on the 88 Key Donor Board on our website throughout the year. You can even buy a key in honor of a teacher or mentor to express your appreciation for the impact they have made in your life.
As a nonprofit educational organization, we rely heavily on your donations to continue offering high-quality programs. Our inspiring mission supports pianists and teachers as they impact lives, influence communities, and change the world. We welcome you as a “key” donor this year as we work together to support our community and advance the profession.
Resolution by the Board of Trustees of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy March 2025
At the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, we stand united in our commitment to fostering an environment where diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are not only ideals but the very foundation of our practice. We recognize that these terms may hold different meanings for different individuals, and we approach them with humility, openness, and a willingness to listen and learn.
Our Board of Trustees reaffirms that every voice—regardless of background, identity, or circumstance—has a vital role in shaping our community and advancing the art and science of keyboard pedagogy. In upholding these values, we also affirm our commitment to complying fully with all applicable federal, state, and local laws as they pertain to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and civil rights.
We honor our legacy of radical inclusivity by ensuring that our comprehensive resources, courses, and innovative offerings remain accessible and responsive to the evolving needs of our diverse learners. Our curated publications and thoughtfully designed curriculum reflect a broad spectrum of cultural perspectives and pedagogical insights, promoting a richer understanding of keyboard performance and education. Furthermore, our community impact grants serve as a tangible commitment to invest in initiatives that empower underrepresented groups, break down barriers, and nurture creative talent across all communities.
As we embrace the future, we pledge to continuously evaluate and enhance our practices, ensuring that equity and inclusivity remain at the forefront of our strategic vision. This commitment guides every decision we make—from course development to resource allocation, and from community engagement to scholarly research. We are steadfast in our mission to provide a dynamic, supportive, and inclusive platform where every individual is welcomed, valued, and inspired to achieve excellence in keyboard pedagogy.
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Samantha Coates, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Craig Sale. Want to learn more about Coates? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Coates on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
Samantha Coates.
Craig Sale: What are your thoughts on how music might shape our future?
Samantha Coates: Oh, yeah, these are heavy questions. [laugh]
CS: Yeah, these questions get heavier.
SC: Well, from a pedagogical point of view, how music might shape our future is that music can be more accessible to more people. The more that music is taught in a way that ensures recreational music making in the future, rather than just the study of difficult pieces to pass a certain exam and then stopping. That means people will grow up and play music for pleasure, play music for entertainment, and gather around a piano for entertainment, instead of gathering around an iPad.
CS: Yes.
SC: So I think that the way that I teach, which is so different to the way I taught twenty years ago, is probably going towards that, to make sure that people have these leisure skills in music, and then they can take that into adulthood and enjoy their instruments. Then they can be supportive to their kids who are learning an instrument. And for there to be a culture, wherever there is an instrument, just to get together and play together.
CS: So the answer to that question I asked you is, “Our future [has] us being brought together by music.”
SC: Yes.
CS: And I think, as you mentioned, music is accessible, but it’s very accessible [in that], you know, [you] can click a button and hear it. But that idea of music, active music making to bring people together, that’s how the future of our world gets impacted, not so much by pushing a button.
SC: Absolutely, that’s right. And it comes back to what you were saying. It’s not just listening to music on a CD, but the shared experience of being in a concert together is so important, and the shared experience of playing music together is so important.
CS: And we just have to hope and keep working that our world recognizes that and starts to value that more. And along with that, the work that teachers do to help make that happen.
SC: Yes.
CS: That’s one of the reasons why you’re here, is because you’re an example of a teacher who has—personally, I think it’s wonderful, that the self exploration that you’ve done—then really kind of going it alone, to make it different and to make music more accessible. And by doing that, you change the world. So thank you for that. It’s a wonderful example, I think, for all of us.
SC: Thank you.
If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Samantha Coates on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
Yamaha Corporation of America is profoundly committed to enriching lives through music education. For over fifty years we have been dedicated to serving music-makers of all ages through innovative, high-quality products, professional development programs for teachers, music education advocacy, and in our partnerships with music service organizations.
We invite NCKP participants to submit questions on any topics related to acoustic and digital pianos. During the session, Professor Yeeseon Kwon will present your questions to Yamaha experts Heratch Touresian and Chad Million for live discussion and insight.
University of Oregon’s Dr. Alexandre Dossin has achieved unprecedented success utilizing Yamaha’s Disklavier Piano Remote Teaching Technology. Observe a live masterclass between Oregon and The Piano Conference, and participate in a Q&A with Dr. Dossin.
Explore innovative group piano teaching strategies utilizing Yamaha’s MLC200 Music Lab Controller, a cutting-edge tool that enhances music education through advanced features, seamless integration, and pristine digital audio quality. With over 50 Yamaha digital piano models available, selecting the most suitable instruments for your music lab can be overwhelming. This session will guide you through the various options, focusing on models that best meet your educational and innovative needs and objectives.
Interact with Yamaha directly at this informal meet-and-greet session in our state-of-the-art piano lab.
Yamaha pioneered remote connection between acoustic pianos in the early 2000s and is the industry leader in technology-enhanced pianos. Dr. Gwendolyn Mok from San Jose State University will conduct her first live remote masterclass with The Piano Conference. Observe and participate in a Q&A with Dr. Mok.
MakeMusic, a world leader in music technology, creator of MakeMusic Cloud and Sight Reading Studio, now includes Fons–the Inspired Business Software for Music Teachers and Studios.
Discover how Fons, the ultimate studio management software, can help you take your piano teaching business to the next level. Earn more and reduce administrative stress by automating scheduling, billing, and communications. With Fons, you can focus on teaching while your studio runs smoothly in the background. Join us to learn how Fons can help you grow your studio and reclaim your time.
Norwex is a company whose mission is to help families and businesses share a cleaner, safer way of living by reducing harmful chemicals in everyday lives.
Giveaway: Purchase of 3 items will receive 10% off and a ticket to be placed in a drawing for a basket of FREE studio cleaning products on display at the Norwex booth.
Music Teachers National Association is committed to advancing the value of music study and music making to society and supporting the professionalism of music teachers. Visit us in the exhibit hall to explore programs, services, and discounts available to music teachers exclusively through membership in MTNA.
Yellow Cat Publishing makes books and teaching tools that make teaching and learning easy and fun. Check out the Key Finder Cards and level up your teaching!
Use the promo code to get 25% off all products purchased on www.pianokeyfinders.com for all of July, August, and September 2025.
Giveaway: Swing by the booth and get a 5 note scale and chord card set to try out. Set includes 5 note major and minor scales, as well as major, minor, augmented, and diminished root position triads. Teaching in all keys from the first lesson has never been this easy!
Booth Schedule:
TBD
TBD
Showcase Schedule:
Pianist Sarah Lyngra presents an interactive workshop on revolutionizing piano education through key finder cards that help students navigate all piano keys beyond basic F, C, and G. Participants will learn transferable 5-note scale patterns, build chord progressions applicable across multiple keys, tackle jazz and blues fundamentals, and explore the circle of fifths. This session offers practical teaching strategies that complement existing methods while expanding students’ musical capabilities for both traditional and contemporary styles. Early arrival is recommended due to limited space.
