Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), Chrissy is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association, North Carolina Music Teachers Association, and Raleigh Piano Teachers Association. After a 25 year career teaching piano students of all ages and skill levels, Chrissy now works full-time as a composer and arranger, primarily of educational works for piano.
Chrissy has a passion for piano pedagogy and enjoys sharing her ideas with other teachers. Her articles on teaching have been featured multiple times in American Music Teacher magazine and on the popular piano pedagogy blog “Colourful Keys.” She has been a featured guest on several podcasts dedicated to piano pedagogy, including the “Key Ideas Podcast” (hosted by Leila Viss), the “Piano Parent Podcast” (hosted by Shelly Davis), and the “Piano Pantry Podcast” (hosted by Amy Chaplin). A frequent clinician for teacher groups in North Carolina and Virginia, Chrissy enjoys presenting on topics ranging from practice skills and motivational techniques to incorporating improvisation and composition into piano lessons. Chrissy also blogs regularly on topics related to piano pedagogy here.
A prolific composer of hundreds of pedagogical works, Chrissy specializes in creating engaging original music and arrangements for piano learners of all ages and skill levels. To date, she has published over 40 collections of piano solo and duet music for students that are available from Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Piano Pronto Publishing, and SMP Press. Chrissy's piano music is featured regularly on the contest lists of teaching associations across the United States and Canada, including the National Federation of Music Clubs. As a Signature Artist for Musicnotes, the world's leading digital sheet music retailer, Chrissy has also arranged over 1,000 pop, classical, video game, and anime titles for pianists at all levels.
Chrissy’s compositional output also includes a variety of chamber music for voice, brass, woodwinds, and strings. Her chamber works have been commissioned by the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute and premiered by the Triangle Chamber Music Collective, the Vida Strings quartet, and the Reedy or Not Chamber Ensemble. She is a founding member of the Carolina Contemporary Composers (c3), a group dedicated to creating and performing new music in North Carolina.
Chrissy has a passion for piano pedagogy and enjoys sharing her ideas with other teachers. Her articles on teaching have been featured multiple times in American Music Teacher magazine and on the popular piano pedagogy blog “Colourful Keys.” She has been a featured guest on several podcasts dedicated to piano pedagogy, including the “Key Ideas Podcast” (hosted by Leila Viss), the “Piano Parent Podcast” (hosted by Shelly Davis), and the “Piano Pantry Podcast” (hosted by Amy Chaplin). A frequent clinician for teacher groups in North Carolina and Virginia, Chrissy enjoys presenting on topics ranging from practice skills and motivational techniques to incorporating improvisation and composition into piano lessons. Chrissy also blogs regularly on topics related to piano pedagogy here.
A prolific composer of hundreds of pedagogical works, Chrissy specializes in creating engaging original music and arrangements for piano learners of all ages and skill levels. To date, she has published over 40 collections of piano solo and duet music for students that are available from Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Piano Pronto Publishing, and SMP Press. Chrissy's piano music is featured regularly on the contest lists of teaching associations across the United States and Canada, including the National Federation of Music Clubs. As a Signature Artist for Musicnotes, the world's leading digital sheet music retailer, Chrissy has also arranged over 1,000 pop, classical, video game, and anime titles for pianists at all levels.
Chrissy’s compositional output also includes a variety of chamber music for voice, brass, woodwinds, and strings. Her chamber works have been commissioned by the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute and premiered by the Triangle Chamber Music Collective, the Vida Strings quartet, and the Reedy or Not Chamber Ensemble. She is a founding member of the Carolina Contemporary Composers (c3), a group dedicated to creating and performing new music in North Carolina.
What people are saying...
"[Chrissy's preludes] are delightful pieces that expose students to a variety of techniques and devices found in modern works, including changing meters, odd meters, syncopated rhythms, and jazz influences....Any of the preludes would work quite well as recital pieces and would prepare students for the works of the great composers." -- Suzanne Schons, Clavier Companion magazine (review of the Preludes to Mastery series)
"Chrissy Ricker has tapped into the sounds young people want to play and has made them accessible to progressing pianists...They're in love with this music!" -- Sarah Robertson, piano teacher (review of Rock On!)
"Life gets so busy I don't often stop to write reviews but I just played through this book and couldn't not stop to write a review! The jazz harmonies are incredible for how accessible this book is for early intermediate pianists! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing simple jazz music." -- Nicole, piano teacher (review of Cool Cats)
"Chrissy Ricker did it again! These are engaging and exciting solos for beginners that are a big hit with my students. I love teaching pattern based pieces that make sense to students while challenging them to reach a little higher. Want your students to practice more? Here's your answer." -- Heidi, piano teacher (review of Easy Perfect Patterns)
"My studio wouldn't be as successful without this book! If you're contemplating buying it, just do it. This book is great for those that need a break from any method, a student who has lost interest, or a student who needs a pick-me-up to get them playing more comfortably hands together on the piano. This is my all-time favorite piano book. Ever. A little bit of every style and fun to fit any pianist in need of something else to do. 6/5 stars if I could." -- Kimberly, piano teacher (review of Perfect Patterns)
"I love this book because the music is fun to play. The pieces are memorable, with cool patterns. I can imagine going through an adventure when I play the piece. My favorites are "Into Forever," "Epic," and "Dragon March."" -- Logan, age 13 (review of Let's Quest!)
"[Chrissy's preludes] are delightful pieces that expose students to a variety of techniques and devices found in modern works, including changing meters, odd meters, syncopated rhythms, and jazz influences....Any of the preludes would work quite well as recital pieces and would prepare students for the works of the great composers." -- Suzanne Schons, Clavier Companion magazine (review of the Preludes to Mastery series)
"Chrissy Ricker has tapped into the sounds young people want to play and has made them accessible to progressing pianists...They're in love with this music!" -- Sarah Robertson, piano teacher (review of Rock On!)
"Life gets so busy I don't often stop to write reviews but I just played through this book and couldn't not stop to write a review! The jazz harmonies are incredible for how accessible this book is for early intermediate pianists! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing simple jazz music." -- Nicole, piano teacher (review of Cool Cats)
"Chrissy Ricker did it again! These are engaging and exciting solos for beginners that are a big hit with my students. I love teaching pattern based pieces that make sense to students while challenging them to reach a little higher. Want your students to practice more? Here's your answer." -- Heidi, piano teacher (review of Easy Perfect Patterns)
"My studio wouldn't be as successful without this book! If you're contemplating buying it, just do it. This book is great for those that need a break from any method, a student who has lost interest, or a student who needs a pick-me-up to get them playing more comfortably hands together on the piano. This is my all-time favorite piano book. Ever. A little bit of every style and fun to fit any pianist in need of something else to do. 6/5 stars if I could." -- Kimberly, piano teacher (review of Perfect Patterns)
"I love this book because the music is fun to play. The pieces are memorable, with cool patterns. I can imagine going through an adventure when I play the piece. My favorites are "Into Forever," "Epic," and "Dragon March."" -- Logan, age 13 (review of Let's Quest!)