Eric Christian brings a modern spirit to composing for piano, blending classical tradition with storytelling. Born Eric Christian von Fricken in Halfmoon, New York in 1991, Eric began piano studies at age four. Music is part of his family heritage, as his ancestor Ernestine von Fricken was once engaged to Robert Schumann and inspired much of his music. His creative voice was further shaped by his travels, especially his time in Paris, a city rich in musical history and the home of Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, and Satie.

Eric later studied Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music and found inspiration in both romantic composers and contemporary film music. His experiences abroad, especially in Paris, infused his imagination and helped deepen his artistic voice. More than a composer, he is a storyteller, both in his work and in the way he shares it with the world.

We are delighted to welcome Eric’s music into Clefer. The first piece available in the app is I Love You When I Drink Champagne, and it feels like the perfect way to begin this collaboration. Players can now explore it step by step with the support of the Clefer Coach, making this contemporary repertoire accessible, and rewarding to practice.

The inspiration behind the music

Every piece tells a story. Eric draws on both everyday life and deeper themes for inspiration. I Love You When I Drink Champagne hints at the playful mix of romance and humor that runs through his music. As a composer he focuses on melody and emotional depth. His work draws from a sense of both elegance and intimacy, and his devotion to musical notation is a key strength. He values writing music down, not just producing recordings, so that it endures, can be shared, and lasts beyond ephemeral moments. “Music is meant to be shared, not shown,” he says. His pieces are infused with that intention: quiet moments, thoughtful gestures, storytelling in sound. Playing them connects students to living creativity. By learning to play his compositions, you are not just reproducing notes on a page. You are stepping into the world of a contemporary composer, giving voice to something alive and human in today’s musical landscape.

Why we love Eric

Classical repertoire is a foundation for every pianist, and adding the voices of living composers brings something unique to this. It opens a window into creativity and reminds us that piano playing is both a tradition and a living, evolving art.

What we love about Eric’s work is how he creates music that is both beautiful and accessible. He often says he wants to write “beautiful music to listen to but that you can also play.” That balance is powerful, especially for today’s younger generation of pianists. It means learners can hear something stunning and then discover they can bring it to life themselves.

This vision aligns perfectly with Clefer. We share the same belief in encouraging people to sit at the piano, fall in love with music, and experience the magic of playing pieces they might have once thought were out of reach.

Practice with Eric 

We are excited to announce the Practice with Eric Challenge on TikTok and Instagram. To celebrate Eric’s music on Clefer you can access all five of his compositions for free during the campaign. Each piece comes with guided practice and real-time feedback from the Clefer Coach, along with exclusive video tips from Eric on how to approach each piece, offering his personal guidance. 

The new video recording feature in Clefer makes it simple to capture your practice directly in the app and share it on social media. Tag @cleferapp and @ericchristian to take part. The more consistently you post, the greater your chances of being entered into the draw for a live Q&A session with Eric on December 10, 2025. Clefer will also be reposting videos from the challenge on our channels.

This campaign is about more than performance. It is about celebrating the process of learning and sharing your practice moments. Together with Eric, we hope to make Clefer not just a piano learning app, but a trusted companion in your piano journey.

The T&Cs of the challenge can be found here.