Music Teaching Tips

Cathryn Mason, 67, of Florissant, found herself with time on her hands and dust on her unused piano when she retired from her job as a school principal. One day, she decided to open the instrument and give playing a chance, she said.

"I had no musical skills whatever," Mason said.

But after two years' worth of piano lessons and Givens' cheerleading, Mason sat at the electric keyboard and played recital standards "On the Bridge at Avignon," the "Harp Song" and "Kum Ba Yah."

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The women say retirement has given them time to pursue activities. Mason bowls and sings the choir. Granberry is active in the church and sings. And Jones has started her own chapter of the Red Hat Society.

But music comforts her, she said. She retired from her job four years ago and her husband, the Rev. Buck Jones, died the same year.

"I turned to music. It's helped along the grief journey I'm on," she said. "When I get very sad at night, or during the day, I pull my keyboard out and start playing."

Piano playing also keeps the retirees' minds active and their fingers nimble and flexible, Givens said. Hand dexterity is sometimes difficult when dealing with chords and quick changes, but Givens doesn't let her older pupils use advancing age as an excuse.