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Third-grade pianist performs in recital
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Mario Mavar (left) performed his piano piece Nov. 21 at the Fall Honors Recital presented by Youngstown Music Teacher Association. Mavar is a second-year student of Rick Barber (right).
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Mario Mavar, son of Elena and John Mavar and a third-grade student at Hilltop Elementary School, performed Sonatina in C, Op. 39, No. 1 (F. Lynes) Nov. 21 at the Fall Honors Recital presented by Youngstown Music Teacher Association.
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Mario Mavar, son of Elena and John Mavar and a third-grade student at Hilltop Elementary School, performed Sonatina in C, Op. 39, No. 1 (F. Lynes) Nov. 21 at the Fall Honors Recital presented by Youngstown Music Teacher Association.
By ABBY SLANKER
Mario Mavar, son of Elena and John Mavar and a third-grade student at Hilltop Elementary School, performed his piano piece Nov. 21 at the Fall Honors Recital presented by Youngstown Music Teacher Association. Fall Honors Recitals are held Sundays at the Butler North on Wick Avenue with many music studios in the Youngstown area represented by their best students.
Mario has been playing piano since he was 8 and is a second-year student of Rick Barber at the Music Gallery in Canfield. He performed Sonatina in C, Op. 39, No. 1 (F. Lynes) Nov. 21 and he performed “Ride of the Masked Bandito” by W. Noona Oct. 31.
Students are chosen by their teachers to perform in a recital. When a teacher feels a student is ready, the student is invited to participate. The recitals incorporate all musical instruments and singing performances. There is usually an average of 10 performers per recital.
Playing the piano runs in Mavar’s family. His mother is a pianist and attended Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillipi, W.Va., on a piano scholarship. Although she has taught piano lessons in the past, she chose not to teach her own son.
“Mario didn’t really want to take lessons from his mother. We found Rick to give him lessons and it was a very good decision. He is a great teacher and provides structure for Mario,” Elena said.
Mavar practices about 30 minutes a day in addition to his once-a-week lesson with Barber. Barber assigns him weekly homework.
Mavar’s favorite piece is “Ride of the Masked Bandito” and is having fun playing the piano. He’s not sure if he wants to follow in his mother’s footsteps, but he is keeping his options open.
Mavar will also participate in the Youngstown Music Teacher Association’s Master’s Competition next year.