Why I Teach Piano
I’ve always found that listening to the music I love brings me great joy. It continues to inspire and motivate me to grow and develop my own musicianship. When I play piano, I feel energized, nourished, and joyful. My life becomes more vibrant. This is my way of sharing my love.
When I teach, I see my students’ abilities develop and advance over time. As this happens, they too begin to experience this joy in their own lives, and it becomes part of their identity. I care deeply for each of my students, and I know that their developing musicianship is a way that they can go on to share their love.
About Diana Mascari
Growing up in a musical family I began playing professionally at age 16. Around the time, I went to hear jazz greats perform in New York City. This left a powerful impression on me, the incredible vibe & their degree of excellence, that I have spent my life emulating this experience in my own playing.
By the time I was 20 & performing in the college scene throughout New England, I had jammed with jazz greats Lionel Hampton & organist Jimmy Smith, who recognized and validated my authentic feeling for music. Smith encouraged me to compose & inspired by this, I created a body of work that has been performed by my many jazz ensembles for over 5 decades.
After years of private musical studies with Charlie Banacos, Joe Maneri, & Marian C. Hanshaw, I earned two Masters Degrees from New England Conservatory & did doctoral work at Boston University where my teachers included William Thomas McKinley, Charles Fussell, Marjorie Merryman & Lucas Foss, each one a specialist in his or her own area.
The multifaceted musical theme extended to composing classical music which surfaced while I was in graduate school. During my 16-year composing career, I wrote works for orchestra, chorus, and a large variety of chamber ensembles.
During my tenure as music director for a multi-cultural Presbyterian Church, I've done many arrangements of hymns & spirituals, & led several jazz worship services, one of which featured the sacred music of Duke Ellington.
My friend and musical collaborator John Dougherty, (jazz guitarist, educator and author) once told me: "You have to form your own school of music." By that he meant a musician needs to synthesize everything she's learned into a personalized way of thinking that informs her teaching of music.
Transformational Approach to Piano (TAP System)
The hundreds of hours I spent performing as a solo jazz pianist enabled me to define my own style into an effective teaching method. TAP is a proven method of teaching piano which has evolved from my multi-faceted musical career. TAP makes it possible for me to help students reach their individual goals more quickly and successfully.
Life is precious. Infuse it with music.