The Journal of Piano Research is pleased to announce its first online issue of international, peer-reviewed articles. The Journal of Piano Research promotes the exploration, discussion, and dissemination of high-level research that advances professional practice and scholarship.
In this episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast, Alvin Chow and Angela Cheng join host, Andrea McAlister, to discuss their musical journeys. Chow and Cheng share memories of their inspirational teacher, Menahem Pressler, and reflect on their philosophies about teaching. Tune in for an engaging and informative conversation with Alvin Chow and Angela Cheng!
As the season changes in October, we celebrate the birth of two legendary musicians and the premiere of a piano concerto once deemed too difficult to play!
Sofia Gubaidulina
October 13, 1909
An inspiration to many, jazz pianist Art Tatum was born on October 13, 1909 in Toledo, Ohio. Although he was born with a visual impairment, his musical abilities were strongly influenced by an excellent education and perfect pitch.1 His prodigious skill led him to present his own radio show before touring the United States with incredible success.2 His musical style is characterized by remarkable abilities in stride, harmonic exploration, and virtuosic runs throughout the keyboard.3 Interested in learning more about jazz music and teaching it at the piano? Check out our Microcourse: Teaching Jazz at the Piano featuring contributors Jeremy Siskind and Lee Evans.
Born on October 24, 1931, Sofia Gubaidulina was an important composer of the twentieth century. Gubaidulina was a Soviet-Russian composer; however, she described herself as being from the Tartar Republic. She lived in Germany from 1992 until her death on March 13, 2025.4 Her output includes works for orchestra, dozens of different concerti, a widely regarded piano sonata, and extensive chamber works. She composed for intermediate pianists with her set titled Musical Toys. Interested in learning more about this work? Watch this video by pianist Helena Hyesoo Kim, who discusses Gubaidulina’s “Mechanical Accordion.”
Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 23 was premiered on October 25, 1875 in Boston by pianist Hans von Bülow. The piece was initially deemed too difficult for performance by Tchaikovsky’s friend and colleague, Nikolai Rubinstein, who rejected it. The concerto is composed in three movements, beginning with a beckoning horn call that announces the entrance of the pianist with thundering chords. The first movement, which lasts half of the length of the entire piece, is followed by a slower movement marked “Andante semplice” in an ABA form. The rousing third movement completes the work with great bravura and energy. Interested in learning more about learning or teaching piano concertos? Check out this article about elementary and intermediate level concertos by Nancy Bachus, Kim Bakkum, Gregory Butler, and Paul Wirth.
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring E.L. Lancaster, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Yeeseon Kwon. Want to learn more about Lancaster? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Lancaster on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
E.L. Lancaster
Yeeseon Kwon: When I think about what inspires you, EL, in your life and work, in some ways, it’s all of these kinds of things I’m hearing from you. Is there something that fuels all of this, that you have this vision, this larger vision beyond what we are doing today?
E.L. Lancaster: What inspires me, I think in terms of piano, piano teaching and piano pedagogy, and piano performance is figuring out how we really make it enticing to not only our professionals, but make it enticing to the general population, to the world. What can we do to bring piano to everyone? My most recent publication is called Piano for Life. And that’s what I want people to be able to experience. How is it in your life? I don’t know. Is it playing a lead sheet? Is it turning on the radio and listening to piano music? Is it going to a concert? How does piano relate to everyone’s life? And to try to get it to relate to everyone’s life. Whether it’s listening to the keyboard in a rock band and figuring out what is that keyboard doing there.
YK: I think in some ways, maybe because you’ve traveled, you’ve seen teachers—former students—making inroads as new teachers across the globe, internationally. It’s not this is North America, or it’s not ‘this is what music and music making looks like in this country.’ You’ve been in many, many places. You’ve seen people with means and without means. How does that impact your idea and the things that you’re talking about music and accessibility for all, and our role as teachers and music makers?
EL: Well, interestingly enough, when you ask that question and I think about my project tree, I did not come from a family of means. I did not come from an area in which the arts were necessarily a large part of what was going on. But I know that there is a path, regardless of where you grew up or how you grew up, that piano and music can fit into your life in some way. And that’s why I always want to guide people to find. I don’t have to find it for them, but I want to spark that interest for them to find it for themselves. I always told students, “If your colleague—your student colleague—someone may be very good at one thing, but you need to appreciate if they’re not good at the same thing you are good at, [and appreciate] what they are good at and develop that appreciation for each other and collaborative work. I don’t mean collaborative piano at this point. I mean collaboration with other people and collaboration with a profession, really.
YK: Well, and I think that it comes full circle. I think it also speaks to a generosity of ourselves in recognizing that in one another. Oftentimes, we think about our playing, what we can share, and what we can say, and what you’re saying is kind of open that up again and to appreciate the talents and skills of others, because there’s so much to learn and gain from that.
If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with E.L. Lancaster on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
In this episode, host Yeeseon Kwon is joined by Dr. E.L. Lancaster, who reflects on a remarkable career that has shaped piano pedagogy worldwide. From his early lessons in rural Tennessee to leading innovations in group piano teaching, curriculum development, and publishing, Lancaster shares stories of mentorship, collaboration, and the pursuit of making music accessible for all. With warmth and wisdom, he discusses the importance of nurturing students’ strengths, building communities of teachers, and creating opportunities that inspire generations of musicians.
To celebrate the latest episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast featuring Randy Faber, we are sharing an excerpted transcript of his conversation with Jennifer Snow. Want to learn more about Faber? Check out the latest installment of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episode with Faber on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
Randy Faber.
Jennifer Snow: Did you ever imagine the scale of impact and influence? So here you both are, earnestly serving the art, serving your students, wanting something inspiring, not what you had at the lunch hour. Lighting the fires motivated by diversity of experience and style, bringing in a real deep—like you say—the R&D understanding of what works, what do children respond to?
So it was really this incredible research project driven by love and passion for teaching. When you let that go into the world, when you were at that stage, did you two of you look at each other and say, “Wow, like this has just taken on a life of its own.” I mean, it’s the premier method book for learning piano for decades.
Randy Faber: Yeah. It’s kind of funny. On the one hand, you know, all we wanted to do is make a decent livelihood, right? And there was one thing about it.
JS: What is it—necessity is the mother of invention.
RF: That was it, exactly. I remember when I was in that music store at age sixteen, teaching, right? I would look at all of these publications there, and I just remember saying, “I could do that.” I would see my name on those books, and isn’t that funny? But it wasn’t so much that it was a proactive decision: this is my goal, I’m going to write this down, sort of thing to do. It was more I knew there’s an upward trajectory. I knew where I—I didn’t know exactly what the ascent is. But I had two thoughts on that, and maybe it’s a little profound. But for one, I didn’t know where the ascent would be, but I didn’t want there to be a top on it.
JS: Right.
RF: So I didn’t place a top on it. And that’s a little bit like the aspiration to goodness and godliness, right? That’s why the God is infinite and ineffable. So if it’s ineffable, yeah. If we could really isolate to say what it is, well then, if you hit it, you’re done, right? I mean, it has to be infinite.
And that’s what actually drew me to music, because—a little story when I was a child, when I was in high school, I had two scholarships to Interlochen. I had to choose between which one I wanted, and I was the political camp boys town, I think it was called that. They’d have us to represent the school there. And I just represented the school in a math competition. So, I had all these things. Okay, what am I going to do this summer? Which one? And I was zeroing in on music because music was ineffable, and music had the endless, infinite aspiration.
JS: Yes, I relate to that.
RF: Do you relate to that, too?
JS: 1000 percent.
RF: How’s your story on that one?
JS: It is so close to yours, that feeling that there is no end.
RF: Yes.
JS: That you’re never there. That there’s the constant pursuit, the constant creativity, the constant aspirational sort of the feeling of nothing like this openness that’s sort of above you.
RF: In a way, that’s a good fortune that we found that you know, and I kind of think for myself, I think it was lucky that I found that. And maybe it was of my religious upbringing, as kind of like, you know, not my will, but God’s will.
JS: That’s right: bigger than you. There are things bigger than us.
RF: There’s something that’s bigger than me that I can’t have the foresight to see where that’s going. But there is some direction. I could always know the upward direction.
JS: Right.
RF: And that’s what I aspired and that worked for me, because I don’t think either Nancy or I ever anticipated that strength—I mean the kind of success globally. But we didn’t doubt it either.
JS: That’s right.
RF: And I think that’s part of it. When we wrote the method, we knew it was good, and we knew it was good when we brought it to publishers, and we knew we were just going to make it better.
And then, you know, a lot of this is people talk about talent so much, and then maybe this is a good place just to, you know, maybe lay that to rest. Right?
JS: Right.
RF: Because talent is action. Talent is hard work. And you build your skills and you layer your skills, but you have the right coaching so you get it right and you have your, you know, your bones at it. And yet at the same time, you have a very open view, so you can take the opportunities as they’re presenting. And I think we had good fortune, obviously. A lot of it, there’s always the luck of being in the right place. But as the old adage too is, if you’re prepared and then the opportunity comes, you could walk. If I couldn’t sit down and read that score or do that improvisation, I wouldn’t have the contract. So that’s been preparation. And so, grabbing those opportunities as they come and then at whatever plateau you are, you’re seeing what’s the next window open. Like we were really faced with the decision to—you know, we finished level four of the Piano Adventures method and we told our publisher, “Okay, where’s the party?” You know, and he goes, “You’re not done yet.” To him that’s just a textbook, but it’s that hard work. We worked. We worked really like—seriously—like dogs, but without that, we wouldn’t have gotten all those scores done. Right? And so we’re proud of it. And, you know, would we do it again? Well, yeah, I suppose we would, but we had no idea how much work it was going to be to get where we wanted to go. And I think that’s again, that’s the optimistic bias of the human species, I think, and that’s what allows us to thrive, because we can strive without burning out. If we knew ahead of time how much work it is, we might not make the attempt. That’s a bit. I don’t mean to say that to Piano Inspires.
JS: But it’s true.
RF: But the truth of it is, yeah, you need to work hard and learn to work hard and learn to enjoy working hard.
JS: That’s right.
RF: And I think that’s the part. Would we do anything else people ask us often? Well, no, I love what I do. You know it. This is where we are meant to be, where everything converges in terms of the artistry, the creativity, and the backgrounds, and it all seemed to converge towards this kind of contribution to society.
This episode of the Piano Inspires Podcast is generously sponsored by Faber Piano Adventures. If you enjoyed this excerpt from Piano Inspires Podcast’s latest episode, listen to the entire episode with Randy Faber on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
Pianist, educator, and Piano Adventures co-creator Dr. Randy Faber joins Jennifer Snow to discuss sparking intrinsic motivation, nurturing creativity, and helping students discover the artist within. An inspiring conversation on how piano teaching can transform lives and communities.
We are excited to announce our third season of the Piano Inspires Podcast. To learn more, visit pianoinspires.com. Listen to our latest episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or our website!
The Piano Inspires Podcast is back for an extraordinary third season, launching September 24, 2025! Each week, we invite you into candid, inspiring conversations with pianists, educators, and visionaries whose artistry and ideas are shaping the future of music.
Hosted by the Frances Clark Center, the Piano Inspires Podcast goes beyond the concert stage to explore the human stories behind the music. You’ll hear from legendary performers sharing career-defining moments, influential teachers revealing their most effective approaches, and thought leaders reflecting on music’s power to transform lives and communities.
Season 3 continues our tradition of presenting a vibrant mix of perspectives—teachers, leaders, composers, and more. Expect insightful discussions about creativity, teaching, performance, advocacy, and the joy of making music at every stage of life.
This season’s guests include:
Randy Faber
E. L. Lancaster
Alvin Chow & Angela Cheng
Michelle Cann
Pam Pike
Gary Ingle
Brian Chung
Craig Sale
Gayle Kowalchyk
John Ellis
Jody Kerchner
Janet Lopinski
Brian Shepard
Louis Nagel
Wilfred Delphin
Logan Skelton
Julie Jaffee Nagel
Stanford Thompson
Roberta Rust
William Westney
Tracy Cowden
Chris Norton
Carol Leone
Tony Caramia
Chris Fisher
Jerry Wong
Whether you are a pianist, a music educator, or someone who simply loves the piano, Season 3 offers a wealth of stories, wisdom, and inspiration to deepen your connection with music.
Mark your calendar for September 24—and join us each week as we discover together how the piano inspires.
Randy FaberEL LancasterAngela Chen and Alvin ChowMichelle CannPamela PikeGary IngleBrian ChungCraig SaleGayle KowalchykJohn EllisJody KerchnerJanet Lopinski Brian ShepardLouis NagelWilfred DelphinLogan SkeltonJulie Jaffee Nagel Stanford ThompsonRoberta RustWilliam WestneyTracy CowdenChris NortonCarol LeoneTony CaramiaChristopher FisherJerry Wong
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Blizzards, performances, and best-laid plans
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The Autumn 2025 issue of Piano Inspires Kids is available now! Click here to receive the issue and give the gift of music to the musicians in your life! Keep reading for a sneak peek into the Autumn Issue.
We’re thrilled to announce the release of the Autumn 2025 issue of Piano Inspires Kids—our most imaginative adventure yet! The theme is “Time Travel through the ’25s”, where we invite you to step into a time machine and explore what piano life looked like in 1725, 1825, 1925, and today.
What You’ll Discover Inside:
Piano Lessons Across the Centuries – What was it like to take piano lessons in 1725 compared to 1925? Find out how teaching, practice, and even pianos themselves have changed.
Daily Life in the ’25s – Compare fashion, transportation, schools, and more through four fascinating eras.
New Music! – Play The Roaring ’20s, a lively new piece by Catherine Rollin, inspired by jazz and dance from the 1920s.
SMART Goal Setting – Kick off your new school year with a practical guide to setting goals you can achieve at the piano.
Reader Poll – If you could time travel, would you go back to the past or forward to the future? We want to hear from you! Share your answer here → kids.pianoinspires.com/submit.
Whether you dream of wearing 18th-century wigs, riding a horse-drawn carriage to your lesson, or swinging to jazz in the 1920s, this issue will take you there—while inspiring your own musical journey in 2025.
Don’t miss this special issue filled with history, imagination, and new music to play. Open your Autumn issue today and start your adventure through time!
Want to learn more about Piano Inspires Kids? Watch our webinar, “Inside Piano Inspires Kids: A New Publication of the Frances Clark Center” with Co-Editors-in-Chief Sara Ernst and Andrea McAlister: click here.
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 new fund in her name. To donate to the fund, click here. Learn more below!
Phyllis Lehrer
For nearly fifty years, Phyllis Lehrer has shaped the field of piano education through her teaching, mentorship, publications, and leadership. Her influence spans generations, touching the lives of her students and the countless individuals they now teach. The Phyllis Lehrer Piano Pedagogy & Artistry Fund supports high-quality teacher education and student programming that reflect the values Phyllis has championed throughout her distinguished career. This includes student enrichment opportunities at The New School for Music Study, including the Program for Excellence in Piano Study (PEPS), chamber music, and other emerging initiatives that support artistic growth and educational excellence.
Created to honor her extraordinary contributions, the fund ensures that Phyllis’s legacy continues to inspire the future of piano teaching and learning. Guided by her lifelong dedication to musical excellence, educational innovation, and the transformative power of teaching, the fund provides a lasting foundation for artistic growth and professional development in piano pedagogy.
Phyllis Lehrer is truly a national treasure. This amazing woman (and her equally amazing family) welcomed me into their lives and lifted my musical standards to dazzling heights I didn’t know existed, filling my years at Westminster with artistry, laughter, and love. She’s inspired countless students around the world to chase excellence, not just notes, and represents the gold standard among teachers, musicians, and humans. I’m endlessly grateful to have been guided by her brilliance and to keep her spirit with me every time I make music.
From Jean Parsons:
Phyllis is one of the most influential teachers I have ever had. I studied with her while taking continuing education classes at Westminster Choir College for years, when they offered many excellent summer classes for teachers. Being so fortunate as to live here in Princeton, I also studied at The New School with Frances and Louise in 1972 in their teacher training program. I continued to attend every class they held for years. What dazzling women they were.
From Terri Hlubek
Phyllis Lehrer is an extraordinary teacher—I thank her for being the heart, the guide, and the inspiration behind my years at Westminster Choir College and beyond. Her passion for learning, her unwavering patience, and the joy she brought to each lesson touched me in so many ways. She believed in me before I believed in myself, and that gift will stay with me forever. Like a ripple in the water, I’m passing her gift on to my students. Thank you, Phyllis!
From Marianne and Peter Lauffer:
It is an honor to contribute to the Phyllis Lehrer Piano Pedagogy & Artistry Fund. The impact that she has had and continues to have on faculty and students at Westminster Conservatory and Westminster Choir College is remarkable. Many thanks to The Frances Clark Center for spearheading this important initiative.
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.
The Beatles By United Press International (UPI Telephoto)
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 first hits at this session, including “Love Me Do,” and established a relationship with producer George Martin, who helped launch their album and their revolutionary career as one of the most impactful pop-rock bands of all time.
Interested in including repertoire from The Beatles’ impressive discography in your studio? Check out these book reviews from Piano Magazine with resources for lead sheets and beginner arrangements.
Composer John Cage was born in Los Angeles, California. Cage’s impactful approach to the piano pushed the boundaries of traditional compositional styles and expanded the soundscape of the instrument.
By Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo – Fotocollectie Anefo.
Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes are unique and engaging pieces to use in your studio, especially if you have students who are interested in contemporary compositional styles. For more on this topic, see this article from Piano Magazine. Plus, be sure to subscribe to PianoInspires for the latest innovative and dynamic content from the piano community.
Soprano Jessye Norman passed away after a long and vibrant career of performing and teaching. Norman’s voice was a “grand mansion of sound” with “enormous dimensions, reaching backward and upward. It opens onto unexpected vistas. It contains sunlit rooms, narrow passageways, cavernous halls.” Such were the high praises of music critic Edward Rothstein of The New York Times,1 and his sentiments were echoed by the music community.
Jessye Norman By Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer
Norman performed and recorded art songs, operas, and spirituals, including Great Day by Thomas H. Kerr, Jr. Two of Kerr’s works for solo piano have recently been published by Piano Education Press and can be found at the links below.
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!
Leading experts and nationally recognized teachers share best practices in piano education through video teaching demonstrations. Teaching demonstrations will include a wide array of lesson content and students at all levels, beginner through advanced.
Featured video: Teaching and Performance of Elementary Student by Leah Claiborne
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 here.
What a summer of opportunities, celebrations, and innovations for Peer Connections and Collegiate Connections! The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 Online in June showcased the winning 2025 Collegiate Connections group presentations for an international audience, after their featured live presentations in April.
Collegiate Connections is a professional engagement initiative for students and faculty that supports the innovative work of emerging leaders, scholars, and artists. The program provides opportunities for collegiate groups and classes to submit term and annual projects to be showcased in an online national event. This is a unique opportunity for selected groups of students to have their class projects featured by The Frances Clark Center in a live webinar event.
As the new academic year launches, consider your coursework and areas of research, scholarship, literature and performance, community partnership projects to explore with classmates, peers, and advising faculty. Be sure to submit a group proposal this year for consideration and practice the art of collaboration and share your innovative work!
New Professionals at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025.
There was a wonderful presence of new professionals at The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 In-Person in July, where the level of professional engagement and community was off the charts! Be a part of Peer Connections this year and attend these quarterly professional and community engagement events for young professionals to meet and begin building a broader professional network.
Wherever you are in your professional path or a course of study, we can share ways to advance your professionalism, discuss strategies for fostering professional well-being, and ways to get involved in opportunities at The Frances Clark Center. This is a welcome and inclusive space to discuss and learn from one another on relevant topics developed by a global network of peers.
We invite you to the first Peer Connections event this fall and to continue the thoughtful reflection and energy from the 2025 Summit on Sustainability and Innovation during The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025 In-Person in July. Hear from Summit participants as they share the bold, forward-thinking ideas they developed to reimagine the musician’s role in creating a more sustainable and innovative future. From fresh approaches to education and performance to community-driven change, these “big ideas” are designed to inspire action and spark new possibilities.
Register here for the first Peer Connections gathering on Friday, October 10, 2025: Peer Connections— Musician as Change Agent: Reflections from the 2025 Summit on Sustainability and Innovation. Whether you attended the Summit or not, please join us as we connect, reflect, and envision your own path as a change-making musician.
I look forward to your participation in the 2025-2026 Peer Connections events and your group participation in the CollegiateConnections program. Best wishes to your school year, and I look forward to seeing you in these virtual spaces!
Dr. Yeeseon Kwon is the Director of Institutional Engagement at The Frances Clark Center of Piano Pedagogy.
MORE ONPEER CONNECTIONS AND COLLEGIATE CONNECTIONS
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.
The New School for Music Study.
“Every child can know the joy of making music at the piano.” — Frances Clark, Co-Founder
The New School for Music Study (NSMS), the flagship school of The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, has been a national leader in piano teaching, learning, and performance for more than six decades. Founded on the philosophy of Dr. Frances Clark, whose transformative contributions reshaped music education in the twentieth century, NSMS continues to amplify the power of music-making for students of all ages and backgrounds.
This year, we are proud to celebrate 65 years of artistry, community, and innovation with a season filled with concerts, lectures, professional development, and joyful gatherings. Each event in the 2025–2026 season reflects the spirit of NSMS, offering opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired through music.
Let’s celebrate 65 years together.
1) Lecture-Recital Series at Plainsboro and Princeton Public Libraries
During fall 2025 and spring 2026, faculty and students will present a series of lecture-recitals at the Princeton and Plainsboro Public Library, each highlighting unique musical and cultural traditions:
November 8, 2025 – Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns Dr. TianYi Lin & Nathaniel Maxwell: A lively four-hands program with live music, colorful visuals, and interactive elements designed to engage audiences of all ages.
November 13, 2025 | 6:30 PM – Music, Film, and More Dr. Molly Sanford: An imaginative lecture-recital featuring piano performance and film for an entertaining evening experience.
February 28, 2026 – Piano Music of the Americas Dr. Gonzalo Aguilar: An exploration of piano repertoire spanning North, Central, and South America.
March 7, 2026 – A Journey Through Chinese Piano Music Dr. Qin Ling: A program tracing traditional influences, modern innovations, and cultural meaning in Chinese piano literature.
March 14, 2026 – Impressions of Childhood Dr. Xiaoya Gao: Whimsical and poetic piano works by composer Akira Yuyama.
March 21, 2026 – American Voices: Celebrating Heritage & Women in Music Featuring members of the Program for Excellence in Piano Study students, in honor of the U.S. Semiquincentennial and Women’s History Month.
Faculty member Amy Glennon works with young students at NSMS.
2) Faculty Concert Series 2025–2026
Gratitude in Music: Celebrating Community and Legacy
In partnership with Nassau Presbyterian Church and Stonebridge at Montgomery, this special five-concert faculty series reflects on our roots and looks toward the future. The programs include solo repertoire, duets, chamber music, and Stonebridge resident-selected favorites.
October 5, 2025 – Gratitude for Our Musical Roots Nassau Presbyterian Church
December 20 , 2025 – Gratitude for Community and Collaboration Stonebridge at Montgomery
February 1, 2026 – Music That Moves Us Nassau Presbyterian Church
February 21, 2026 – Music That Moves Us Stonebridge at Montgomery
April 11, 2026 – A World United in Music Stonebridge at Montgomery
3) Piano Teacher Engagement Series: Teaching Together. Learning Together.
NSMS is excited to introduce the Piano Teacher Engagement Series—a year-long program of interactive seminars designed to inspire, inform, and engage piano teachers in all stages of their professional journey. Grounded in the pedagogical values of artistry, research, and community, this series brings together leading voices in the field for meaningful dialogue and practical insight.
Featuring 3 Guest Residencies
Dr. Susanna Garcia – November 5, 2025
Dr. J.P. Murphy – January 28, 2026
Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla – April 15, 2026
Additional Invited Lectures
Fiorella Araya-Cheng
Chiung-Yin Cheng Liu
Ingrid Clarfield
Jason Gallagher
Chiu-Ling Lin
Phyllis Lehrer
Nancy Modell
Danette Whelan
2025–2026 Sessions at a Glance
October 8 – Invited Lecture: The Art of Teaching: Then, Now, and Beyond Phyllis Lehrer & Carla Salas-Ruiz
October 22 – Empowering Parents: A Guide to Piano Learning Support Rebecca Pennington
November 5 (Guest Residency) – Start Early: Teach Two-Handed Coordination with Success Susanna Garcia
November 19 – Tech-Savvy Teachers: Social Media, Marketing, and Organizational Tools Molly Sanford
December 10 (Invited Lectures) – Studio Success: Mastering Management & Publicity Fiorella Araya-Cheng, Chiung-Yin Cheng Liu, Jason Gallagher, Chiu-Ling Lin, & Danette Whelan
January 14 – Motivating Minds: Understanding Child Psychology in Teaching Carla Salas-Ruiz
January 28 (Guest Residency) – Overlooked Albums for the Young J.P. Murphy
February 11 – Reaching Adult Learners: Insights from a Panel Moderators: Rebecca Pennington & Carla Salas-Ruiz | Panelists: NSMS Adult Students
February 25 – How Research Informs Great Teaching: Human Studies in Action Carla Salas-Ruiz
March 18 – Invited Lecture: Exploring Chamber Music Works for Young Pianists Phyllis Lehrer
April 15 (Guest Residency) – Motivate, Customize, Inspire: Refreshing the Vibe in the Modern Piano Studio Diana Dumlavwalla
April 29 – Teaching Strategies from the Classroom: What Works and Why Rebecca Pennington
May 13 – Inclusive Piano Teaching: Embracing Neurodiversity Rebecca Pennington
May 27 – Invited Lecture: The Joy of Discovering and Teaching Rare Recital Treasures Ingrid Clarfield
June 3 – Invited Lecture: Thriving Through Burnout (Panel) Nancy Modell, Danette Whelan, & NSMS Faculty
4) Special Community and Student Events
Our 65th anniversary year is filled with opportunities for students, families, and the community to gather, share, and celebrate music together:
September 28, 2025 – Ice Cream Social & Open House Music, laughter, and community fun to kick off our 65th year.
October 18, 2025 – Music Around the World Student Recital
October 25, 2025 – Spooky Sounds Student Recital
December 6, 2025 – Musical Merriment Student Recital
April 25, 2026 – Silent Film Celebration
May 16–17, 2026 – Recital Celebration Weekend
5) Donor Spotlights, Alumni Features, and Behind-the-Scenes Stories
Throughout the year, our digital platforms will shine a light on the people and stories behind our mission:
Donor Spotlights – Meet those who help our work thrive.
Alumni of the Month – Celebrate the journeys of our graduates.
Day in the Life – Step inside the experiences of our students, faculty, and staff.
NSMS faculty members Carla Salas-Ruiz, Rebecca Pennington, and Molly Sanford.
6) Stay Connected All Year
Be part of the celebration! Follow our 65th year through our website and social media:
