What happens when a beautiful body of music is nearly lost to history… and then slowly brought back into the light?
In this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Clark, Assistant Professor of Piano at Baylor University, to talk about the life, music, and growing legacy of Florence Price.
Dr. Clark also shares his personal piano journey, with encouragement about how parents can support young musicians, why students need opportunities beyond their weekly lessons, and how much richer our musical world becomes when we explore beyond the usual names.
If you love music history, meaningful teaching, and stories of perseverance, this episode is for you.
Listen to the full episode here
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Meet Dr. Michael Clark
Connect with Dr. Michael Clark
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MichaelClarkPiano.com
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Who Was Florence Price?
If Florence Price is a new name for you, you are not alone.
Michael first encountered her name in an article and later heard her music performed at a conference presentation. What immediately struck him was how beautiful and expressive the music was.
Florence Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887 and studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Later, she moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, where she became part of a supportive musical community.
In 1933, her First Symphony was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, making her the first Black woman to have an orchestral work performed by a major American orchestra.
She composed hundreds of works including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, songs, and piano pieces.
And yet, despite her accomplishments, much of her music faded from public awareness after her death.
The Manuscripts That Almost Disappeared
One of the most fascinating parts of Florence Price’s story is the rediscovery of her music.
In 2009, hundreds of her manuscripts were discovered in an abandoned house that her family had once owned.
Boxes of handwritten scores had been sitting quietly in an attic.
When those manuscripts were rediscovered, scholars and musicians suddenly realized there was an enormous amount of music waiting to be explored.
Since then, performers, researchers, and teachers have been working to bring her music back into circulation.
“There is a whole treasure trove of music waiting to be discovered.”
Dr. Clark’s Work with Florence Price’s Music
Michael’s interest in Florence Price eventually grew into several major projects.
He recorded an album titled:
Waltzes and Character Pieces of Florence Price
Later, he recorded another album:
Florence Price: Piano Sonata and Other Works
He also edited and published a collection of piano pieces titled:
Florence Price: Rediscovered Gems for Piano Solo
This collection includes about twenty pieces ranging from intermediate to early advanced levels, making them accessible to many students.
One of the goals of this book was to make Florence Price’s music easier for teachers and students to discover and obtain through a major publisher.
Michael shared how meaningful it has been to see students around the world beginning to play these pieces.
Why This Matters for Piano Families
This conversation isn’t only about Florence Price.
It’s also about the richness of music history.
Many of us grew up hearing the same list of composers again and again — what one author humorously called “Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys.”
Those composers absolutely deserve their place.
But there are many other composers whose music is equally beautiful and worth exploring.
Michael mentioned several wonderful composers whose music deserves more attention, including:
- Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
- Clara Schumann
- Mélanie Bonis
When students explore a wider range of composers, they gain:
- A richer understanding of music history
- Exposure to new musical styles
- More opportunities to find music that resonates with them
- A deeper connection to the human stories behind the music
“Open your eyes and ask: who are the composers we don’t know as much about?”
Further Listening from the Piano Parent Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these episodes from the Piano Parent Podcast archive.
PPP276: Musical Mystery Opus 3 No. 3 — “Arriving and Reviving”
The fascinating story of how Felix Mendelssohn helped revive the music of J.S. Bach.
PPP246: Musical Mystery — “She Declared Her Independence”
A powerful story about a young woman musician who forged her own path.
PPP206: “I Wish I Didn’t Quit” with Nate Holder
A thoughtful conversation about expanding music education to include voices from many cultures and traditions.
You can also browse more composer stories in the Musical Mystery section of the Piano Parent Podcast.
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