Erica Sipes
@ericaannsipes.com
A musician with an addiction to helping people practice and enjoy music-making.
Co-founder of the Alma Ensemble and the Piano Music She Wrote project.
https://linktr.ee/ericaannsipes
https://www.ericaannsipes.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH8S2V
Co-founder of the Alma Ensemble and the Piano Music She Wrote project.
https://linktr.ee/ericaannsipes
https://www.ericaannsipes.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH8S2V
I'm really excited about this new program I'm putting together. It'll feature works and correspondence by composers including Edvard Grieg, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl, Marie Jaëll, Franz Liszt, Germaine Tailleferre, Maurice Ravel, Felix Mendelssohn, and Delphine von Shauroth, among others.
February 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I'm really excited about this new program I'm putting together. It'll feature works and correspondence by composers including Edvard Grieg, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl, Marie Jaëll, Franz Liszt, Germaine Tailleferre, Maurice Ravel, Felix Mendelssohn, and Delphine von Shauroth, among others.
@piargno84.bsky.social Lookie here! I’m playing on this recital tonight and I made the connection to you! ❤️
February 4, 2026 at 12:46 AM
@piargno84.bsky.social Lookie here! I’m playing on this recital tonight and I made the connection to you! ❤️
I was nervous-excited to finally give a talk at Radford University to the students about rhythm, conducting, counting out loud and metronomes.
And if you're interested in me giving this presentation where you are or any other of my talks about practicing, let me know!
youtu.be/0eOBLxxw8Oc?...
And if you're interested in me giving this presentation where you are or any other of my talks about practicing, let me know!
youtu.be/0eOBLxxw8Oc?...
Rhythm, Counting, Conducting and Metronomes Presentation at Radford University
YouTube video by Erica Sipes
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 3:56 PM
I was nervous-excited to finally give a talk at Radford University to the students about rhythm, conducting, counting out loud and metronomes.
And if you're interested in me giving this presentation where you are or any other of my talks about practicing, let me know!
youtu.be/0eOBLxxw8Oc?...
And if you're interested in me giving this presentation where you are or any other of my talks about practicing, let me know!
youtu.be/0eOBLxxw8Oc?...
If you're a musician and want a glimpse into what I teach and preach about practicing, feel free to check out my slides for two presentations I've done this year for college music students. They're on my "Resources" page.
www.ericaannsipes.com/resources
www.ericaannsipes.com/resources
January 25, 2026 at 1:32 AM
If you're a musician and want a glimpse into what I teach and preach about practicing, feel free to check out my slides for two presentations I've done this year for college music students. They're on my "Resources" page.
www.ericaannsipes.com/resources
www.ericaannsipes.com/resources
Dear composers, if a chord is a straightforward chord, say D major chord, please don’t notate it this way.
January 22, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Dear composers, if a chord is a straightforward chord, say D major chord, please don’t notate it this way.
Oh how interesting! In doing some research for a new piano program I'm putting together I came across this recording of composer Ethel Smyth talking about meeting Johannes Brahms.
youtu.be/8zbCRjA9wJ8?...
youtu.be/8zbCRjA9wJ8?...
Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) -- Recollections of Johannes Brahms
YouTube video by pianopera
youtu.be
January 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Oh how interesting! In doing some research for a new piano program I'm putting together I came across this recording of composer Ethel Smyth talking about meeting Johannes Brahms.
youtu.be/8zbCRjA9wJ8?...
youtu.be/8zbCRjA9wJ8?...
Yesterday I had an absolute blast sightread-performing a 2 piano version of Bruckner's 7th Symphony. Couldn't ask for better partners-in-crime than pianist Rick Masters and conductor Mathias Elmer.
We even had a cymbal crash in the second movement.
www.youtube.com/live/a0mxTIH...
We even had a cymbal crash in the second movement.
www.youtube.com/live/a0mxTIH...
Radford University: Sightreading Maverick - Brazen Bruckner (Spring 2026)
YouTube video by Radford Music
www.youtube.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Yesterday I had an absolute blast sightread-performing a 2 piano version of Bruckner's 7th Symphony. Couldn't ask for better partners-in-crime than pianist Rick Masters and conductor Mathias Elmer.
We even had a cymbal crash in the second movement.
www.youtube.com/live/a0mxTIH...
We even had a cymbal crash in the second movement.
www.youtube.com/live/a0mxTIH...
During this crazy time, when we're bombarded with unbelievable news at just about every moment, it might be nice if folks tweeting about a big game would include an emoji like 🏈 ⚾ 🏀 ⚽ so that those of us checking in don't have a heart attack.
Just a thought. I'm going to go recover now.
Just a thought. I'm going to go recover now.
January 19, 2026 at 2:51 AM
During this crazy time, when we're bombarded with unbelievable news at just about every moment, it might be nice if folks tweeting about a big game would include an emoji like 🏈 ⚾ 🏀 ⚽ so that those of us checking in don't have a heart attack.
Just a thought. I'm going to go recover now.
Just a thought. I'm going to go recover now.
We had such a fun time with our Brazen Bruckner sight reading of Bruckner’s 7th Symphony. So grateful to have another pianist and a fine conductor to do this with me.
January 18, 2026 at 11:47 PM
We had such a fun time with our Brazen Bruckner sight reading of Bruckner’s 7th Symphony. So grateful to have another pianist and a fine conductor to do this with me.
I think I'm also going to try to livestream from my YouTube channel as well in case something doesn't work on the venue's end.
youtube.com/live/gjFgQrD...
youtube.com/live/gjFgQrD...
Sightreading Maverick LIVE - SYMPHONIC EDITION Bruckner 7
YouTube video by Erica Sipes
youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I think I'm also going to try to livestream from my YouTube channel as well in case something doesn't work on the venue's end.
youtube.com/live/gjFgQrD...
youtube.com/live/gjFgQrD...
Yep! I'll post it as soon as I have the link.
January 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Yep! I'll post it as soon as I have the link.
Just about every night we get a sunset like this in southwest Virginia. Amazing. 😻
January 13, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Just about every night we get a sunset like this in southwest Virginia. Amazing. 😻
Reposted by Erica Sipes
PSA: Examples of a judicial warrant and an administrative warrant. ICE cannot enter your home with only an administrative warrant.
January 11, 2026 at 11:03 PM
PSA: Examples of a judicial warrant and an administrative warrant. ICE cannot enter your home with only an administrative warrant.
Well that’s good, LOL. Always good to get the dates in the ballpark at least.
January 10, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Well that’s good, LOL. Always good to get the dates in the ballpark at least.
Ha! So we do need some right hand alone rep! And I get that as a former cellist.
January 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Ha! So we do need some right hand alone rep! And I get that as a former cellist.
These all make sense, thank you! I guess it’s acceptable then that aren’t right hand alone pieces although I do still think it’s somewhat discriminatory, LOL.
January 9, 2026 at 3:59 AM
These all make sense, thank you! I guess it’s acceptable then that aren’t right hand alone pieces although I do still think it’s somewhat discriminatory, LOL.
Perhaps a strange question but I'm asking anyways.
Why do I only know about piano music that was written for the left hand alone? Are there pieces for the right hand alone too?
And if there aren't any, why is that? 🤔
Why do I only know about piano music that was written for the left hand alone? Are there pieces for the right hand alone too?
And if there aren't any, why is that? 🤔
January 9, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Perhaps a strange question but I'm asking anyways.
Why do I only know about piano music that was written for the left hand alone? Are there pieces for the right hand alone too?
And if there aren't any, why is that? 🤔
Why do I only know about piano music that was written for the left hand alone? Are there pieces for the right hand alone too?
And if there aren't any, why is that? 🤔
Charlotte Sohy – Piano Trio, Op. 24: II. Andante
YouTube video by Champlain Trio
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Another great article about Marianna Martines and others who were in her circle.
www.exploreclassicalmusic.com/marianna-mar...
www.exploreclassicalmusic.com/marianna-mar...
Marianna Martines — Explore Classical Music
www.exploreclassicalmusic.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Another great article about Marianna Martines and others who were in her circle.
www.exploreclassicalmusic.com/marianna-mar...
www.exploreclassicalmusic.com/marianna-mar...
Just found this fantastic article on the Berlin Philharmonic's website that looks at why women musicians and composers are not as well-known as their male counterparts.
www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/stories/m...
www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/stories/m...
The composer Marianna Martines
Composing child prodigy, harpsichord virtuoso and singer: in 17th century Vienna, her domestic academies were musical hotspots.
www.berliner-philharmoniker.de
January 8, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Just found this fantastic article on the Berlin Philharmonic's website that looks at why women musicians and composers are not as well-known as their male counterparts.
www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/stories/m...
www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/stories/m...
@deanbarker.bsky.social I too LOVE that Impromptu. So much fun to play, when you're doing it right. Otherwise a bit tiring.
If you want to hear something REALLY fun, here's a 2 piano version of it that Nick van Bloss and I perform a lot now.
www.youtube.com/live/8nTij96...
If you want to hear something REALLY fun, here's a 2 piano version of it that Nick van Bloss and I perform a lot now.
www.youtube.com/live/8nTij96...
Radford University: Nick Van Bloss Concert (Fall 2025)
YouTube video by Radford Music
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
@deanbarker.bsky.social I too LOVE that Impromptu. So much fun to play, when you're doing it right. Otherwise a bit tiring.
If you want to hear something REALLY fun, here's a 2 piano version of it that Nick van Bloss and I perform a lot now.
www.youtube.com/live/8nTij96...
If you want to hear something REALLY fun, here's a 2 piano version of it that Nick van Bloss and I perform a lot now.
www.youtube.com/live/8nTij96...
I may have stopped doing my regular sightreading show but that's not stopping me from still being crazy and sightreading in a very public fashion.
Fortunately I'm not alone in being crazy!
On Sunday, January 18th, at 3pm, we'll be sightreading, on 2 pianos, Bruckner's 7th Symphony.
Fortunately I'm not alone in being crazy!
On Sunday, January 18th, at 3pm, we'll be sightreading, on 2 pianos, Bruckner's 7th Symphony.
January 2, 2026 at 2:13 PM
I may have stopped doing my regular sightreading show but that's not stopping me from still being crazy and sightreading in a very public fashion.
Fortunately I'm not alone in being crazy!
On Sunday, January 18th, at 3pm, we'll be sightreading, on 2 pianos, Bruckner's 7th Symphony.
Fortunately I'm not alone in being crazy!
On Sunday, January 18th, at 3pm, we'll be sightreading, on 2 pianos, Bruckner's 7th Symphony.
Most of these piano pieces have scores available to download for free on IMSLP.org. My hope is that I can inspire more pianists to delve into the works of these composers and to get hooked.
So much more fun to reach beyond the traditional rep that everyone plays.
So much more fun to reach beyond the traditional rep that everyone plays.
IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download
IMSLP.org
January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Most of these piano pieces have scores available to download for free on IMSLP.org. My hope is that I can inspire more pianists to delve into the works of these composers and to get hooked.
So much more fun to reach beyond the traditional rep that everyone plays.
So much more fun to reach beyond the traditional rep that everyone plays.