7 Summertime Solutions for Sustaining and Enriching Your Music
- Diana Mascari
- May 19, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Same old, same old? Or go forward this summer with a new perspective…
Here in the Northeast, when summer finally arrives, you want to spend as much time as possible savoring every moment of the longer days filled with warm temperatures and beautiful weather.
It’s been an exceptional year, filled with loss, unknown stressors, and a mind-numbing jolt into another lifestyle. We all long for relief, relaxation, and basking in the sun, and we all ponder the nature of life ahead of us. What will be the new normal? Do we want to shift direction back to the past or take with us more positive elements of our pondering into post pandemic times? If you are a pianist, or a piano lover who wants to enrich your life now as summer opens up; here are some ideas to keep your music, one of the most meaningful parts of your life, thriving and flourishing.
First, grab a moment to consider these important questions about your personal needs.
How could I finally achieve my long-desired dream of learning to play piano?
How can I afford to jeopardize the musical level that I have worked so hard to achieve?
How can I put playing the piano on hold for two months without suffering the consequences?
How can I keep my music alive and stay motivated?
Maybe a change of focus in your piano learning is the answer with one of our electives.
Here Are 7 Summertime Solutions for Sustaining and Enriching Your Music
1. Inspire and refresh your playing by listening to other artists’ renditions of songs you play or would like to play.
2. Look at the sheet music while you listen to recordings of pieces you would like to learn.
3. Put your favorite pieces into a loose-leaf book or folder and play a few every day before bed or first thing in the morning.
4. Read books and articles or listen to audiobooks about music such as biographies of performers and/or composers.
Here are a few I’ve found inspirational:
The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner Piano Lessons by Noah Adams
The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander The Musician’s Way by Gerald Klickstein
The Music Lesson by Victor L. Wooten
5. Practice outdoors on a portable keyboard or explore musical ideas on your iPad with Garageband.
6. Set a realistic musical goal for the fall, for example: I will memorize one song, I will be able to play five songs well, I will learn one new song or classical piece, or I will select 10 songs to learn during the year.
7. Take some piano lessons during the summer months or take one of our wonderful Electives as enrichment.
Summer breaks are not recommended for any piano students since you put hard work into your musical practice and development. Protect the investment in your efforts. This is because it is very frustrating to make up for the inevitable loss of 2 months when you return to lessons in the fall. However, it can be revitalizing to change the focus of your lessons during the summer by exploring other areas of piano playing such as improvisation or accompaniment. The take-away could be a new insight and direction to an already loved facet of your life.
About Diana Mascari-Piano Teacher for Adults
Diana Mascari-Piano Teacher for Adults
Diana Mascari has taught piano to hundreds of students for more than 46 years. She is dedicated to enriching her students’ lives by supporting their individual musicality.
She has developed a teaching system called the Transformational Approach to Piano (TAP System). It offers her students colorful musical insights that broaden their experience beyond traditional methods.
Diana holds two Masters of Music degrees from New England Conservatory, taught keyboard harmony to music majors at Boston University, and was the music director of a multicultural Presbyterian Church for four decades.
Diana has performed as a solo jazz pianist as well as with her ensembles at many colleges and jazz clubs throughout New England. Many of these performances featured Diana's jazz compositions.
As a composer, she has explored the intersection of jazz and classical music. Her compositions reflect her deep appreciation for musical structure, enhanced by the spontaneity and emotion of jazz. Each piece has a timeless sense and is designed to move and inspire. Her works have been performed in Europe, Japan and the Eastern United States.
Diana’s vibrant personality infuses her teaching, performing and composing as she inspires piano students to achieve their musical goals.
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