Lillian DeBartolo, a resident of Park Place of Elmhurst, was offering piano lessons in her apartment there until COVID-19 came along. She began to give lessons via Zoom and that worked out well, in fact, many of the young people preferred it.
On Monday, March 29, the 88th day of the year, many in our nation celebrate National Piano Day to honor the musicians who use the 88 keys on the piano to bring music to the world.
Locally, Lillian DeBartolo, a resident of Park Place of Elmhurst, typifies the creativity, resilience and passion of piano teachers who keep the music alive under any circumstances.
After a lifetime of teaching piano to young people, DeBartolo wasn’t going to let the global pandemic stop her from teaching; she just had to get more creative.
In March of 2020, safety precautions and social distancing guideline prohibited in-person piano lessons, which DeBartolo conducted in her apartment at Park Place of Elmhurst.
Knowing the importance for her students to continue their lessons, she wanted to ensure they did not lose any ground they’d gained. With the help of Park Place staff, DeBartolo learned how to use Zoom to teach lessons. It didn’t take long before she was teaching her students without any staff assistance.
In recent weeks, DeBartolo and her fellow residents at Park Place of Elmhurst are now fully vaccinated, making it possible for students to return to in-person lessons.
That’s when something unexpected happened.
The students didn’t want to come back. They still loved their lessons, but they found the lessons on Zoom to be more convenient. DeBartolo is now adjusting once again, drawing on decades of teaching experience to decide which skills and techniques benefit from in-person instruction and how much can be taught remotely, even over the long term.
About Lillian DeBartolo
DeBartolo’s love of music started when she was a young girl.
“I had two brothers. One played the guitar, and the other played the mandolin and violin. We had jam sessions,” she said.
She studied at the Chicago Conservatory, with emphasis on the Curtis Piano Method for Piano, and continued studying with Elsie K. Brett, an exceptional specialty teacher.
DeBartolo has educated hundreds of piano students of all ages, from kindergarten through high school and adults.
“My husband had a home built for us with a recreation room large enough for two grand pianos, perfect for small recitals.”
Teaching has been a rewarding job for DeBartolo.
“Sometimes I can’t believe I am getting paid to teach students how to play the piano,” she said. “It’s just such a joy.”
As time went on, DeBartolo educed her class size, but she didn’t want to give up teaching entirely. After her move to Park Place, Lillian was thrilled to learn that she’d still be able to offer piano lessons right in her apartment.
As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, piano teachers, along with the rest of the country, will see which pandemic-inspired changes are here to stay.
One thing is for sure, nothing will stop the love of music.
