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5 Reasons to Participate in The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025

Written By Megan Hall, Curtis Pavey

We would like to thank Megan Hall and Curtis Pavey for this insightful article about why you should submit to our Call for Participation at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025. The last chance to submit your teaching video, performance, e-poster, or Collegiate Connections project is Monday, March 31, 2025. Learn more at: https://pianoinspires.com/nckp-the-piano-conference/.

A presentation at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
The Piano Conference: NCKP.

1. Share your teaching practices, performances, and research.

The Piano Conference seeks innovative ideas, fresh perspectives, and inspired thinking for the future of piano education worldwide. Whether your research focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion; creative music making; or interdisciplinary studies; we look forward to exploring trailblazing ideas. Although the call for proposals has now ended, we are accepting teaching videos, e-posters, performances, and Collegiate Connections projects through Monday, March 31, 2025.

Nanyi Qiang speaks at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
Nanyi Qiang

2. Connect and network with professionals in the field.

Pianists and music teachers from around the globe attend The Piano Conference and the gathering in 2025 is on track to be the most exciting event yet. The opening one-day summit provides an interactive gathering for all to collectively share and exchange ideas around the immediate challenges, opportunities, and global impact of piano education. Come ready to share and learn from members of our community.

Young professionals at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
Young professionals at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.

3. Build your resume.

Presenting at The Piano Conference provides resume-building presentation experience. Each performance, teaching video, and e-poster presentation adds to your professional portfolio and increases individual marketability. The program results from a rigorous blind review and committee process, which ensures there is a wide range of presenters and topics at The Piano Conference. Additionally, being aware of these current trends and research will inform attendees’ next professional steps.

Allison Keep speaks at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
Allison Keep

4. Learn more about the art of piano pedagogy.

Inspired teachers create inspired students. In the words of Frances Clark, “A piano lesson should be a happening. Something happens at a piano lesson so that when you walk out of the studio, you feel different from when you walked in.” Learning to inspire the next generation of musicians, teachers, and music lovers requires striving for the highest standards. Come to learn more about how members of our community are inspiring their students.

Vanessa Cornett speaks at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
Vanessa Cornett

5. Engage with luminaries in the field!

Hear words of wisdom and motivation from pedagogical leaders and be inspired to refresh your teaching, performing, and professional life. Keynote and PEDx speakers will remind you of your positive impact on your communities and the world.

Jennifer Snow speaks at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2023.
Jennifer Snow

Do you have research you want to share with the piano pedagogy community? The last chance to submit your teaching video, performance, e-poster, or Collegiate Connections project is Monday, March 31, 2025. Learn more at: https://pianoinspires.com/nckp-the-piano-conference/.

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Teaching Demonstration (NCKP Rebroadcast)
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This Month in Piano History – A Month of Celebration

Written By Curtis Pavey

December is a time of giving and celebration. Holidays celebrated by cultures around the world fill this month with joy, reflection, and renewal. In addition to these celebrations, there are numerous birthdays and important events from piano history throughout December. Read below to discover more about a premiere, a famous work given copyright status, and the births of two underrated composers.

The original production of The Nutcracker, Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg,1892.

December 2, 1866 – Birth of Harry T. Burleigh

Harry T. Burleigh, born Henry Thacker Burleigh, was a Black composer, pianist, and music editor. He studied at the National Conservatory of Music in New York City where he had the opportunity to study with Victor Herbert and Antonín Dvorak, among others.1 His time at the Conservatory was fruitful as he had the opportunity to work for Dvorak as a copyist and he introduced Dvorak to numerous spirituals, which likely helped to inspire some of the writing in Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“New World”).2 Although Burleigh is particularly well known for his song literature, he also wrote for piano, including his work From the Southland. Want to learn more about this piece? Listen to this Inspiring Artistry video by Roger McVey featuring this piece:

Burleigh: From the Southland

December 14, 1789 – Birth of Maria Szymanowska

Pianist and composer Maria Agata Szymanowska was born in Warsaw, Poland and lived until her death at age 41 in July 1831. A celebrated pianist of her time, Szymanowska toured Europe performing for the public and for royalty in concerts throughout Russia, Italy, England, Germany, and France, among others.3 Among her piano works are the Vingt exercices et préludes, dozens of mazurkas, and several nocturnes, which scholars have suggested may form the link between John Field and Frederic Chopin.4 The Frances Clark Center recently published an Inspiring Artistry video by Kristina Henckel, who discusses a selection from Szymanowska’s Six Minuets.

Szymanowska: Minuet No. 1 from Six Minuets for Piano

December 18, 1892 – Premiere of The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet The Nutcracker may be mainstream today, but in 1892, attendees of the premiere were not as thrilled as today’s audiences. The ballet is based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffman, which tells the tale of a young girl named Clara and a magical journey she shares with a nutcracker that comes to life in her dream. One of the most magical moments of the ballet occurs in the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” which features the celesta, a newly invented keyboard instrument at that time. Writing to his publisher, Tchaikovsky announced, “I have discovered a new instrument in Paris, something between a piano and a glockenspiel, with a divinely beautiful tone. I want to introduce this into the ballet and the symphonic poem. The instrument is called the ‘Celesta Mustel,’ and costs 1,200 francs. You can only buy it from the inventor, Mustel, in Paris. I want to ask you to order one of these instruments […] Have it sent direct (sic) to Petersburg; but no one there must know about it. I am afraid Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazounov might hear of it and make use of the new effect before I could. I expect the instrument will make a tremendous sensation.”5 Learn more about the ballet and the celesta in this post on our Discovery Page.

December 29, 1902 – Scott Joplin Copyrights The Entertainer

On this day in 1902, Scott Joplin copyrighted several works including his famous rag, The Entertainer. Although born in Texas, Joplin spent a considerable amount of time in Missouri and moved to St. Louis in 1901.6 The piece, a favorite in piano recitals, has been arranged numerous times for pianists of all levels. In a form characteristic of ragtime music (AABBAACCDD), the piece repeats the famous opening melody once again in the middle of the piece, and contains other memorable sections. Many of Joplin’s other rags continue to be popular including his piece The Easy Winners. Learn more about this piece in Kate Acone’s Inspiring Artistry video:

Joplin: The Easy Winners
notes
  1. Jean Snyder, “Burleigh, Henry [Harry] T(hacker),” Grove Music Online, 16 Oct. 2013; Accessed 26 Nov. 2024, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002248537. 
  2. Snyder, “Burleigh,” 2013.
  3. Zofia Chechlińska, “Szymanowska [née Wołowska], Maria Agata,” Grove Music Online. 2001; Accessed 26 Nov. 2024, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027327. 
  4. Chechlińska, “Szymanowska,” 2001.
  5. Modeste Tchaikovsky, Life and Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, trans. And ed. Rosa Newmarch (New York: Haskell House Publishers Ltd., 1970): 663.
  6. Edward A. Berlin, “Joplin, Scott,” Grove Music Online, 16 Oct. 2013; Accessed 26 Nov. 2024, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002253061.
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Szymanowska: Minuet No. 1 from Six Minuets for Piano
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Why I Give to The Frances Clark Center: A Testimonial from Linda M. Fields

Written By Linda M. Fields

We would like to thank Linda M. Fields for sharing why she gives to The Frances Clark Center. Although #GivingTuesday has concluded, the opportunity to contribute remains open. This special day is just one part of our broader Annual Fund initiative, where every gift helps sustain our vital work. Please consider an additional gift today to help us reach even greater heights: https://pianoinspires.com/donate/.

Linda M. Fields at the piano.

Why have I chosen to support the Frances Clark Center for the past many years?   Since the 1970s, The New School for Music Study and the Music Tree curriculum have had a major influence on my teaching. The philosophies of Richard Chronister, Frances Clark, and Louise Goss were an inspiration to me and a guiding light in my career.  Continuing the philosophy of its namesake, The Frances Clark Center is still embracing a sense of adventure. The Piano Conference: NCKP, Piano Inspires publications, and the New School push the envelope in teaching, learning and performing. The Center’s advocacy for training the ear and the body from early childhood on, has been exciting for me to witness and champion. It is my honor to support the ongoing efforts of The Frances Clark Center in promoting cutting edge approaches in America and around the world. — Linda M. Fields 

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Piano Inspires Podcast: Jeremy Siskind

Written By Jeremy Siskind, Andrea Mcalister

To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Jeremy Siskind, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Andrea McAlister. Want to learn more about Siskind? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Siskind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

Jeremy Siskind.

Andrea McAlister: I did want to ask you about the work that you’ve done in Lebanon. I don’t know if you’re continuing to do that work, but I know recently, you’ve done some work with students through a program there. Can you talk a little bit about the work you’ve done and the impact? 

Jeremy Siskind: Yeah, absolutely. There are a couple of different organizations, but principally there’s this organization called Jazz Education Abroad, and I’ve gotten to go to China, Thailand, Lebanon, Cyprus, Tunisia [to] teach jazz. And you know, jazz is, as Duke Ellington would put it, America’s classical music. Jazz is quintessentially American music, and so the mission is always to teach people about, hopefully, one of the best parts of American culture. We know that America, [to] different parts of the world, is not necessarily considered the greatest friend or the greatest peacemaker, and so to be able to go in and share our values through our music, right? Jazz is so intertwined with American values, right? Jazz is democratic. Everybody in the band gets to contribute, right? Jazz is liberated. You don’t have to stay on this score. You get to express yourself, right? Jazz is the free speech of music. 

So as we go around and, of course, we’re not proselytizing, but we do try to show how beautiful the music is, of course, and how beautiful these values can be. And, we always learn as much as we teach when we go to these places, because we see how people live. We see how enthusiastic they are about all kinds of music. We see how enthusiastic they are about being creative, about how they’re living their life, about how they’re supporting, you know, their communities, how they’re contributing to their communities through music. And it’s always really moving.

Particularly, I’ll share something about our program in Cyprus. So Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean. I’m going to get the history wrong, so I’m not going to say anything, any exact dates. But at a certain point it was Greek-owned, and then there was a Turkish–some would say invasion, some would say liberation. I’m going to leave that to–

AM: Leave that to history. 

JS: But the island basically was split in a two, and it has been for many years. And the capital, I think, is the last split capital, the last divided capital, [since] the Berlin Wall fell. As you could imagine, politically, it’s a little bit tense, and people on the Turkish side, you know, don’t necessarily have the warmest feelings [towards] people on the Greek side, and etc. And the expressed purpose of the camp in Cyprus is that we are putting students from both sides into the same ensembles and allowing them to find common ground through music. And it’s just so beautiful to see, because, you know, there can be tensions, but it’s hard to dislike somebody who you’re getting to make amazing music with, who you’re like working together with to form a musical goal. We’ve seen these friendships form, we’ve seen people’s walls come down, and that’s just been like a really phenomenal experience. You know, I’m just trying to teach them how to play jazz, but there’s all this other stuff happening, administratively, behind the scenes, to make it this powerful game changer culturally.

AM: Yes, and you’re teaching them so much more than jazz. You’re teaching them collaboration and friendship that they otherwise wouldn’t get. And that’s—you’re saving the world through music. 

JS: I won’t take credit for that. We’re doing, you know, we’re doing our best, bit by bit.

AM: One person at a time. Bit by bit, bird by bird.

If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Jeremy Siskind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

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Creating New Piano Music in the Digital Age
Dr. Andrea McAlister serves as Director of Digital Programming for the Frances Clark Center and a Senior Editor for Piano Magazine. Dr. McAlister is Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Oberlin College and a member of the Yamaha Master Educator Collective.
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Jeremy Siskind, Award-winning Jazz Pianist, Composer, and Educator | S2E13

Written By Piano Inspires

Host Andrea McAlister welcomes award-winning jazz pianist, composer, and educator Jeremy Siskind for an inspiring conversation on jazz, piano pedagogy, and the art of improvisation. Explore Jeremy’s innovative teaching methods, his passion for connecting classical and jazz traditions, and his journey as a musician shaping the future of piano education.

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Holiday Deals 2024!

Written By Piano Inspires

This holiday season, explore curated bundles from The Frances Clark Center—the perfect gifts for your personal library, students, or loved ones.

The New Professionals Bundle includes practical resources to jumpstart a teaching career. With access to 1500+ articles, 250+ webinars, and many more resources on PianoInspires.com, new professionals will find answers to all of their questions about piano teaching, learning, and performing. Jane Magrath’s book is an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and performers. It features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations. Finally, our online course, A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management, will assist new professionals in managing their studios, from studio policies and budgets to marketing and professional goals.

The New Professionals Bundle includes:

  • Digital Subscription: PianoInspires.com
  • Book: Piano Literature for Teaching & Performance by Jane Magrath
  • Course: A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management

Over 40% off, a $174.99 value for only $99.99!

The Marvin Blickenstaff Bundle is created for teachers of all ages and experience levels. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. Marvin’s inspiring words of wisdom and enthusiastic teaching demonstrations can be found within the 1500+ articles, 250+ webinars, and many more resources found on PianoInspires.com. Microcourse: Teaching Piano Skills gives teachers insight into the best practices of teaching and learning scales, chords, and arpeggios at the piano. Contributors to this microcourse include Marvin Blickenstaff, Scott McBride Smith, and Forrest Kinney.

The Marvin Blickenstaff Bundle includes:

  • Digital Subscription: PianoInspires.com
  • Book: Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff
  • Microcourse: Teaching Piano Skills

Over 30% off, a $115.99 value for only $79.99!

This bundle equips teachers of beginners with activities, lesson plans, foundational pedagogy skills, and inspiration. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. The Beginner Course is a comprehensive online course designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for working with beginning pianists (age 5-8 years old) in the most important year of piano study–the first. 

The Teaching Beginners Bundle includes:

  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids
  • Book: Piano Literature for Teaching & Performance by Jane Magrath
  • Course: The Beginner Course (Self-Guided)

Over 30% off, a $218.98 value for only $149.99!

This bundle is designed for teachers of intermediate students (approximately Levels 3-7). Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources such as improvisation activities and articles about music history. Jane Magrath’s book features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations, all labeled with the appropriate level. The Intermediate Course is intended for those who are just beginning their teaching careers as well as experienced teachers seeking to expand their teaching skills related to intermediate study, and is designed to introduce important concepts and material related to the teaching of intermediate students.

The Teaching Intermediate Students Bundle includes:

  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids
  • Book: Piano Literature for Teaching & Performance by Jane Magrath
  • Course: The Intermediate Course

Over 30% off, a $218.98 value for $149.99!

The Inspiring Stories Bundle contains a wealth of motivational and inspirational material. The Autumn 2024 issue of Piano Magazine features Connor Chee, who shares the story of his cultural identity and artistic expression. Recollections gathers dozens of articles written by Robert Weirich that address many aspects of making a career in music. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. Hidden Gems and Unsung Heroes are two online courses, rich in diverse repertoire written by female and Black composers. This bundle also includes subscriptions to PianoInspires.com and Piano Inspires Kids. PianoInspires.com includes over 1500 Piano Magazine articles, 250 webinars, and 200 videos available to subscribers. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print and digital publication exploring the world through the music, cultures, and people that connect us to one another.

The Inspiring Stories Bundle includes:

  • Back Copy: Piano Magazine, Autumn 2024
  • Book: Recollections by Robert Weirich
  • Book: Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff
  • Course: Hidden Gems
  • Course: Unsung Heroes
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids

$100 off, a $329.97 value for only $229.97!

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Why I Give to The Frances Clark Center: A Testimonial from Dennis Alexander

Written By Dennis Alexander

We would like to thank Dennis Alexander for sharing why he gives to The Frances Clark Center. Although #GivingTuesday has concluded, the opportunity to contribute remains open. This special day is just one part of our broader Annual Fund initiative, where every gift helps sustain our vital work. Please consider an additional gift today to help us reach even greater heights: https://pianoinspires.com/donate/.

Dennis Alexander

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity and honor to teach piano to students of all ages and abilities for over 54 years. When I think back on those days in 1969-70, there were very few resources available to young, aspiring piano performance majors who possessed a desire to teach as well as perform. That’s one reason why I’m so grateful that this void has been filled with the extraordinary work being done by The Frances Clark Center, in addition to the multitude of offerings from the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy—invaluable resources for training our “teachers of tomorrow”!  As a composer of pedagogical materials at all levels, I’m deeply grateful for the recognition that The Frances Clark Center has given me over these many years. I was thrilled to receive the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2015 from The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, and even more honored when my two books of Nocturnes for Piano were selected as the recipient of the 2020 MTNA/Frances Clark Pedagogy Award. Even though I’m no longer composing, I continue my love of teaching all levels of adult students. The Frances Clark Center recognizes young, new composers as well as composers who have been neglected over the years! I am proud to be a supporter of this important organization, and I hope that teachers everywhere will continue to support the expanding mission of The Frances Clark Center in the years to come. — Dennis Alexander 

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Piano Inspires Podcast: Martha Hilley

Written By Martha Hilley, Artina McCain

To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Martha Hilley, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of her conversation with Artina McCain. Want to learn more about Hilley? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Hilley on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

Martha Hilley.

Artina McCain: We always like to end the interview with, “how does piano inspire you?” which I feel like you’ve already told us. But how do you feel like piano inspires you in this portion of your life?

Martha Hilley: Ah. [pause] Number one, I have never dreaded going into a classroom. The fact that I was given the opportunity to teach piano, the way I taught it in groups, changed my life. And the fact that I figured I would die at the University, just in my studio or classroom, someday. I wasn’t going to retire.

Well then, I became president of MTNA, and I knew that I couldn’t do a college job and MTNA at the same time [and]do the kind of job I wanted to do. So I retired. But I knew what I wanted to do was what I’m doing now because piano has shown me, not only does it inspire me to be the best teacher I can possibly be, but it inspires everybody that gets involved with it, if you allow them to be inspired. You know?

And group piano gives you the chance, as the teacher, to shut up. I know people think, “God, you talk all the time,” but I shut up every once in a while and let the students talk about the mistakes they’ve made or a particular way they practiced on something. So they have the opportunity of not only having a teacher, but [also] having peers in the same room with them that have the same problems that they have. They found a solution, so they talk about it, and it’s not coming from me all the time.

AM: Right. 

MH: And you’ve been on the website before that goes along with the classes. I’ve had students that come up to me and they say, “Hilley! I cannot get away from you! I go to the website, and I turn on a sound file, and there you are!” And I said, “Well, honey, I [will] go to the practice room with you, to try to talk through things, because I have an idea of the mistakes you might be making and things like that.” So, you know, I inspire them, maybe, but they inspire me more. And they inspire me because of what they do with the piano. So the piano is my life.

Now, I’m not a performer, you know. A stroke in 1993 when I was 49 took care of that from the standpoint of what it has done to my left hand. But that’s okay. I can still play chords and things like that. But piano will never leave my life. It just won’t, yeah. So I guess that’s [how I am] inspired.

AM: That is very [inspiring]. And you inspire us. You’ve inspired me. You always made me feel seen, even in places where other people didn’t see me. So I just wanted to tell you that. We love you, Hilley. 

MH: Oh, and the love is coming back. [laugh]

If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Martha Hilley on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

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I Don’t Get It
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Martha Hilley, Professor Emeritus at UT Austin, Butler School of Music | S2 E12

Written By Piano Inspires

Martha Hilley, Group Piano and Pedagogy Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, shares her inspiring story on this episode with host Artina McCain. Listen to Hilley reflect on her long career at the Butler School of Music, her advice for young professionals, and her love for group piano and pedagogy.

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Holiday Deals and Cyber Monday Sales!

Written By Piano Inspires

This Cyber Monday, take your pedagogical skills to the next level with incredible deals on continuing piano education from The Frances Clark Center! Whether you’re a new professional just starting your career, or an experienced teacher, our exclusive discounts on online courses, publications, and subscriptions will help you hone your teaching skills. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer to invest in your musical growth at a fraction of the price.

The New Professionals Bundle includes practical resources to jump start a teaching career. With access to 1500+ articles, 250+ webinars, and many more resources on PianoInspires.com, new professionals will find answers to all of their questions about piano teaching, learning, and performing. Jane Magrath’s book is an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and performers. It features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations. Finally, our online course, A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management, will assist new professionals in managing their studios, from studio policies and budgets to marketing and professional goals.

The New Professionals Bundle includes:

  • Digital Subscription: PianoInspires.com
  • Book: Piano Literature for Teaching & Performance by Jane Magrath
  • Course: A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management

Over 40% off, a $174.99 value for only $99.99!

The Marvin Blickenstaff Bundle is created for teachers of all ages and experience levels. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. Marvin’s inspiring words of wisdom and enthusiastic teaching demonstrations can be found within the 1500+ articles, 250+ webinars, and many more resources found on PianoInspires.com. Microcourse: Teaching Piano Skills gives teachers insight into the best practices of teaching and learning scales, chords, and arpeggios at the piano. Contributors to this microcourse include Marvin Blickenstaff, Scott McBride Smith, and Forrest Kinney.

The Marvin Blickenstaff Bundle includes:

  • Digital Subscription: PianoInspires.com
  • Book: Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff
  • Microcourse: Teaching Piano Skills

Over 30% off, a $115.99 value for only $79.99!

This bundle equips teachers of beginners with activities, lesson plans, foundational pedagogy skills, and inspiration. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. The Beginner Course is a comprehensive online course designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for working with beginning pianists (age 5-8 years old) in the most important year of piano study–the first. 

The Teaching Beginners Bundle includes:

  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids
  • Book: Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff
  • Course: The Beginner Course (Self-Guided)

Over 30% off, a $218.98 value for only $149.99!

This bundle is designed for teachers of intermediate students (approximately Levels 3-7). Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources such as improvisation activities and articles about music history. Jane Magrath’s book features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations, all labeled with the appropriate level. The Intermediate Course is intended for those who are just beginning their teaching careers as well as experienced teachers seeking to expand their teaching skills related to intermediate study, and is designed to introduce important concepts and material related to the teaching of intermediate students.

The Teaching Intermediate Students Bundle includes:

  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids
  • Book: Piano Literature for Teaching & Performance by Jane Magrath
  • Course: The Intermediate Course

Over 30% off, a $218.98 value for $149.99!

The Inspiring Stories Bundle contains a wealth of motivational and inspirational material. The Autumn 2024 issue of Piano Magazine features Connor Chee, who shares the story of his cultural identity and artistic expression. Recollections gathers dozens of articles written by Robert Weirich that address many aspects of making a career in music. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. Hidden Gems and Unsung Heroes are two online courses, rich in diverse repertoire written by female and Black composers. This bundle also includes subscriptions to PianoInspires.com and Piano Inspires Kids. PianoInspires.com includes over 1500 Piano Magazine articles, 250 webinars, and 200 videos available to subscribers. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print and digital publication exploring the world through the music, cultures, and people that connect us to one another.

The Inspiring Stories Bundle includes:

  • Back Copy: Piano Magazine, Autumn 2024
  • Book: Recollections by Robert Weirich
  • Book: Inspired Piano Teaching by Marvin Blickenstaff
  • Course: Hidden Gems
  • Course: Unsung Heroes
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids

$100 off, a $329.97 value for only $229.97!

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Piano Inspires Podcast: Peter Mack

Written By Andrea Mcalister, Peter Mack

To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Peter Mack, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Andrea McAlister. Want to learn more about Mack? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Mack on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

Peter Mack

Andrea McAlister: I do want to mention—touch on the fact that you are the MTNA President right now. You’re talking about giving all these master classes and teaching your own students. You are having such an impact on the future of music education, whether you think of yourself as being that impactful or not in the moment. I know sometimes it’s hard to see, like we were saying in the moment. How do you feel about that? What is your mission as we move forward in music education? What are your goals as MTNA President? What kind of impact do you want to make for the future?

Peter Mack: So the thing about living in the first quarter of the 21st century is that landscapes change so quickly. I mean, we’ve kind of got computers figured out now. And then along came COVID, and COVID changed things more than anything that I can think of in the field of education and music education than anything has in such a quick time. Because suddenly the internet, instead of being a thing that you could also do, became the primary thing that you can use to change music education. I think of things, the way that The Frances Clark Center and that Piano Inspires has embraced that.

AM: You have a way of bringing people with you, of creating this community. You talk about how the internet can do this, and how we might use it to build relationships or bring people along with us. Do you think it’s the internet that’s doing that, or do you think it’s the people who are doing that? 

PM: I think it’s both. I mean, I think it’s—you have to have a vision, you have to have that, but there’s no point in having a vision if you live in the age of the Pony Express. I mean, well, no, that’s not true. Your vision has to be different. And the fact that we are now in 2024, that’s the amazing tool of connecting—being able to connect people virtually—that’s the obvious place to do it. 

When we think of music education and when we think of what we’re teaching people right now, all our colleges are wrong, or most of our colleges are wrong. One of my friends said, “When I was at college, I should have been taught how to market a studio, I should have been taught how to file taxes, I should have been taught how to [do] all these things about business. Since I graduated, I’ve done all these things, and I’ve never once been asked to write a fugue.” [laugh]

AM: [laugh] Well, perhaps that’s still coming. We don’t know that. [laugh] I agree very much that we need to create more well-rounded human beings who are leaving the nest of college, and not just somebody who can create a fugue.

If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Peter Mack on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

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  • PIANO MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Is there a way to make technical practice fun? by Scott McBride Smith, Stephen Cook, Christy Dolan, and Peter Mack
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Holiday Deals and Cyber Monday Sales!

Written By Piano Inspires

This Cyber Monday, take your pedagogical skills to the next level with incredible deals on continuing piano education from The Frances Clark Center! Whether you’re a new professional just starting your career, or an experienced teacher, our exclusive discounts on online courses, publications, and subscriptions will help you hone your teaching skills. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer to invest in your musical growth at a fraction of the price.

The New Professionals Bundle includes practical resources to jump start a teaching career. With access to 1500+ articles, 250+ webinars, and many more resources on PianoInspires.com, new professionals will find answers to all of their questions about piano teaching, learning, and performing. Jane Magrath’s book is an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and performers. It features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations. Finally, our online course, A Pianist’s Guide to Studio Management, will assist new professionals in managing their studios, from studio policies and budgets to marketing and professional goals.

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This bundle equips teachers of beginners with activities, lesson plans, foundational pedagogy skills, and inspiration. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. The Beginner Course is a comprehensive online course designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for working with beginning pianists (age 5-8 years old) in the most important year of piano study–the first. 

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This bundle is designed for teachers of intermediate students (approximately Levels 3-7). Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print publication with access to digital back copies and resources such as improvisation activities and articles about music history. Jane Magrath’s book features works from the Baroque through Contemporary periods and includes annotations with composer biographies, musical characteristics, and pedagogical considerations, all labeled with the appropriate level. The Intermediate Course is intended for those who are just beginning their teaching careers as well as experienced teachers seeking to expand their teaching skills related to intermediate study, and is designed to introduce important concepts and material related to the teaching of intermediate students.

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The Inspiring Stories Bundle contains a wealth of motivational and inspirational material. The Autumn 2024 issue of Piano Magazine features Connor Chee, who shares the story of his cultural identity and artistic expression. Recollections gathers dozens of articles written by Robert Weirich that address many aspects of making a career in music. Inspired Piano Teaching is filled with practical advice on teaching students at all levels and is dedicated to keeping inspiration and artistry alive for every student in every lesson. Hidden Gems and Unsung Heroes are two online courses, rich in diverse repertoire written by female and Black composers. This bundle also includes subscriptions to PianoInspires.com and Piano Inspires Kids. PianoInspires.com includes over 1500 Piano Magazine articles, 250 webinars, and 200 videos available to subscribers. Piano Inspires Kids is a quarterly print and digital publication exploring the world through the music, cultures, and people that connect us to one another.

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  • Print + Digital Subscription: Piano Inspires Kids

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Piano Inspires Podcast: Pete Jutras

Written By Pete Jutras, Jennifer Snow

To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Pete Jutras, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Jennifer Snow. Want to learn more about Jutras? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Jutras on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

Pete Jutras.

Jennifer Snow: How did [working for] the [Piano] Magazine inform you? Like that experience of expanded community, how did that change the way you perceived what you were going to do yourself, personally? All of a sudden, your exposure broadens dramatically.

Pete Jutras: Yeah, that’s an interesting question. I’m not sure I ever thought about it that way. One of the principles that was always very important to me as editor was to present a real range of ideas. I never thought the [Piano] Magazine would be any good if it was Pete’s ideas. That’s not what a magazine should be. You know, it should be the world’s ideas. And so I tried very hard to, you know, even when there were things I might have raised my eyebrows at or said, “Well, I wouldn’t really teach it that way,” I still always wanted to run that content. There’s always value in any idea, and I think the dialectic process of comparing ideas is also really valuable. 

So I would say it just had a huge influence in cluing me into all the different things that were happening out there, all the different ways people were thinking and approaching teaching and studios. You know, new ideas, old ideas, different approaches. It was really valuable to have a front row seat for all of that and, you know, just see what the world was thinking.

JS: What a legacy you created also for yourself in that leadership role, because you influenced the entire field. You helped to advance and mentor a lot of people’s ideas forward because you took that attitude of ‘everybody’s voice needs to be heard.’ We need to build community, again, coming back to building community.

If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Pete Jutras on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

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Piano Inspires Podcast: Catherine Rollin

Written By Catherine Rollin, Pamela Pike

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, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

Catherine Rollin
Catherine Rollin.

Pamela Pike: How do you feel your work is having an impact in the world? You are fortunate. You hear from teachers all the time. You hear about these positive stories. Are there any you might want to share with us?

Catherine Rollin: I can tell you a very recent experience. Now that I have an active website, I have all these hard copy books. I’m also doing some digital downloads. So it’s been very, very rewarding to just get orders—I mean, obviously it’s nice to get orders for your music. But even more than the order is getting letters from people around the world, because people around the world are mainly reaching out for getting digital, because it’s so hard and so expensive to mail things. 

One lady who had contacted me during the pandemic time [is] in Ukraine, and she had already used a lot of my music before the war started. She was sending me student performances and many times students were—I don’t think they had even the comfort or freedom to even meet in one place for [a] recital—playing in their own house and then sending them in. 

She sent me a lot of things, but the nicest thing was that she contacted me and she went on my website, and she got all my new music, all these digital downloads, which was really wonderful, and then she wrote [to] me. She said, “This is gonna be the next recital, but we’re giving a recital of your Museum Masterpieces, Books A and B. Would you be so kind to just say hello to each student? I’ll give you the names of the pieces they’re playing. [Could you] just say hello or some little message to the student?” 

So there were about 30 students performing. I felt embarrassed because I don’t think I pronounced their names very well, but that was very meaningful to me.

PP: And it must have been for the students because they now have a connection with a real, living composer.

CR: Yes. I can’t even tell you because I felt like things were really hard in the country, and I felt like, if this is giving the kids some spirit—my music—what can I say other than it just made me feel like I was doing what I hope music is always doing, but it seemed especially special under their kind of dire circumstances. They just started sending me, before I left for here, all the tapes that they had made because I gave it as a pre-message. And so I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of them. I only listened to one, but it was outstanding. 

PP: Well, that’s wonderful that that’s still happening. You know, those children need music in their lives now.

CR: Yeah, right. So in that regard, I mean, anytime I feel that I’ve reached somebody who loves a piece and that means that they love music, I always feel gratified. But that one was especially moving to know that they carried on into this recital, you know, and and all that in these circumstances. So it was great.

If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Catherine Rollin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!

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