This month, we celebrate the tremendous impact of Black musicians and composers, and two influential composers—one from the 21st century and another from the 18th century!
June: African American Music Appreciation Month
Founded by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this holiday celebrates the influence, genius, and creativity of Black musicians and composers in the United States and the world. Genres like jazz, blues, and gospel music have strong roots in African American culture, and we celebrate these genres as well as the musicians who created them.
Interested in incorporating more music by Black composers in your studio this month? Check out some of the following resources from PianoInspires.com!
June 4, 2023: Death of George Winston
George Winston was a beloved contemporary American composer and Grammy winner, known for instrumental, seasonal albums of solo piano music such as December and Autumn.
A skilled harmonicist, guitarist, pianist, and composer, Winston’s blend of contemporary and folk styles created new sounds and possibilities on the piano. With 16 solo piano albums crossing multiple genres and styles, he was beloved by students and lovers of music of all ages and tastes.
June 21, 1732: Birth of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
The fifth son of J.S. Bach, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, was born in Leipzig in 1732. A student of his father, he was a skilled keyboard player and composer, and left behind a significant collection of works for solo keyboard instruments, as well as chamber, orchestral, and vocal works, including many cantatas and oratorios. Nicknamed the “Bückeburg Bach,” he spent much of his career as a harpsichordist and concert master in Bückeburg, Germany.
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Creating New Piano Music in the Digital Age by Jeremy Siskind
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: “Hidden Figures” in Piano Pedagogy: Leveling Piano Music by Black Composers by Leah Claiborne
- WEBINAR: Piano Music by Black Composers: Music for all Skill Levels with Leah Claiborne
- WEBINAR: Music by Black Composers from Outside the USA with Leah Claiborne, Maria Corley, and Willliam Chapman Nyaho
- COURSE: Unsung Heroes in Piano Pedagogy: 20 Pieces by Black Composers to Use in Your Studio Now
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Bach-Siloti: Prelude in B Minor, BWV 855a by Elizabeth Grimpo
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: J.S. Bach: Invention No. 2 in C Minor by Megan Hall
- Use our search feature to discover more!
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