February is Black History Month—a time to honor and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. As a music teacher, this prompts me to pause and evaluate what I’m teaching, but also why. I ask questions like:

How much diversity is present in my students’ method books and repertoire?

Which pieces should we skip due to their complicated history?

How can I make more thoughtful, informed choices about the music I put in front of my students—choices that are pedagogically sound and historically responsible?

This year, I want to focus more on the existing repertoire and the creators behind it. In this episode, I’m going to introduce you to seven Black composers of elementary and intermediate piano repertoire.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!

Ep. 045 - The Blues Composition Project

“This Is What Diversity Sounds Like” by Linda Holzer (Piano Magazine)

RCM Celebration Series Preparatory A Piano Repertoire

A Collection of Florence Price’s Teaching Music, Vol. 2

3 Sketches for Little Pianists (Florence Price)

RCM Celebration Series Level 7 Piano Repertoire

Expanding the Repertoire: Music of Black Composers, Levels 1 and 2 (compiled & edited by Dr. Leah Claiborne)

Arise & Shine: Piano Music by Black Composers for Kids

2022 RCM Piano Syllabus

Five Animal Sketches (William Grant Still)

Portraits in Jazz (Valerie Capers)

Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Vol. 1 (compiled & edited by William Chapman Nyaho)

RCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano Repertoire

RCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano Etudes

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