425: Organising All the World’s Piano Music in one Database? Meet William Perry

Repertoire can make or break a student’s motivation, and yet finding that just-right piece is one of the toughest parts of our job. In today’s episode, we’re having a chat with William Perry, the mastermind behind Piano Music Database, a powerful tool designed to help teachers discover ideal pieces using filters like rhythm, level, mood, and more. From public domain gems to modern compositions, this is a game-changer for anyone searching for truly personalized repertoire.

• William shared a brief overview of his background as the creator of Piano Music Database.
• How his own frustration with finding suitable repertoire led to creating the database.
• Tim explained the importance of matching repertoire to student skill and motivation.
• How the database helps teachers find “Goldilocks” pieces through specific search filters.
• How Piano Music Database categorizes pieces by level, rhythm, concept, key, mood, and theme.
• He emphasized the value of searching by musical concept rather than difficulty alone.
• The seven-level system and how it provides broad guidance.
• How the database supports teacher decision-making with curated recordings and purchasing links.
• The importance of community contributions, including composer-submitted entries.
• He encouraged teachers to use the database to explore lesser-known composers and repertoire.
• The benefit of refining repertoire choices to improve retention and engagement.

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Links Mentioned

• William Perry's List of Favorite Pieces in Piano Music Database
• Piano Music Database Website
• Piano Music Database Facebook Page
• Piano Music Database Facebook Group
• Piano Music Database Instagram

Today's Guest

William Perry is a pianist, educator, keyboardist, organist, and the founder of Piano Music Database, an online platform that helps piano teachers find the best music for their students. He holds degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Stetson University and Florida State University. As a soloist, William has performed across the U.S. and in Europe. He performs regularly as an electronic keyboardist for large-scale tribute shows, serves as the organist for Holy Trinity–St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and is the collaborative pianist for the Young Professionals Choral Collective. He lives in Cincinnati, where he runs the Woodmont Piano Studio and teaches private piano lessons.

Today's Sponsor

Just a year ago, the German music publisher Bärenreiter celebrated its 100th anniversary. The story began modestly, with editions of folk songs...