Today, I’m excited to share a new resource: a reading guide to accompany the new Piano Inspires Kids publication from The Francis Clark Center!
It’s been three years since we first learned that Piano Explorer Magazine was being discontinued. It was a sad moment for many teachers who loved sharing it with students.
Thankfully, in 2023, the Francis Clark Center launched Piano Inspires Kids – a wonderful new publication with a similar spirit.
Printed quarterly, each issue includes feature articles on musicians and composers, musical styles, music in the news, practice tips, new music, theory lessons, creative activities, games and puzzles, and even student submissions.
At the time of this writing, subscriptions are $29.99/year for individuals or $14.99 for a single issue. Group subscriptions (5+ copies) are available for $24.99 per copy per year, with international options as well.
I held off on creating this resource until a few issues were available so I could design something that would work consistently across all publications.
This two-page guide offers a flexible structure for students as they explore each issue. The prompts are intentionally open-ended, encouraging reflection and helping students retain what they read through writing.
The guide is organized into five sections:
- Discover & Explore
- Hear, Hear!
- Q&A
- What Do You Remember?
- Create & Share
This resource works well during off-bench lab time in your studio or can be sent home for independent completion.
While you could rotate a single copy of the magazine among students for in-studio use, there’s added value in each student having their own copy—allowing them to complete the guide at home and enjoy the included puzzles.
Buy This Resource
You can view the product page here or add this item directly to your cart.
