Music drifts through Archer’s halls every day, but, for one student, it’s more than background noise — it’s a calling. Lucy Dinerstein (’29), a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist at Archer, has built a reputation among classmates for her dedication to playing and creating music.
With students currently enrolling in musical electives like songwriting and orchestra, Dinerstein said there is a growing interest in student-led music on campus. Though her involvement in Archer’s arts programs, Dinerstein said she was able to explore creativity, confidence and collaboration through music.
Dinerstein has always felt a deep connection and passion for music. She began playing instruments when she was younger, starting with the piano. Later, she learned guitar, followed by the bass, cello and banjo. Dinerstein plays the cello in the orchestra at Archer and also takes songwriting as an elective.
The Oracle sat down with Dinerstein to discuss how she first fell in love with instruments, the artists who inspire her and what she is currently learning in her songwriting class.
Who is an artist that you admire?
Lucy Dinerstein [LD]: I love Green Day. Billy Joe, the lead singer, was just the kind of person who was truly passionate about music, and he worked his way up to the top. It’s just what he’s done and how he’s built his career that is really interesting —especially how he’s used his fame as a lever of power to advocate for the things that he believes in is very cool. And then, also, there’s this one artist called Hospital Bracelet. It’s this solo project, and it’s just incredible. And the lyrics are just so good.
How does songwriting allow you to learn more about music?
[LD]: I’ve learned so much from it. Mr. Kapica has gone into more difficult music theory and different things about song structure. There are different writing techniques, and all of these are different and really interesting things I would have never really thought about and never would have had the chance to learn about if it weren’t for my songwriting class that I take here at Archer.
How have you grown mentally over the years alongside music and instruments?
[LD]: When I was younger, it was a lot more of “I want to play this song; let’s learn it”; whereas, now, it’s more so, “I want to figure out how to do something.” So I feel like I gravitate less towards prewritten things, and I gravitate more towards figuring out and improvising myself. And, also, I’ve become really interested in different tunings on my guitar, just seeing how far I can push myself. I guess I’ve grown as a musician because I explore a lot more, and I’m doing less basic things.
Do you prefer to play with other people or solo?
[LD]: I love doing both, honestly. Playing with other people, you just get a sound that you could not get solo, obviously, and it just feels so good. I guess it’s also so much fun getting to collaborate with other people and learn from other people and do songs that you wouldn’t normally do. But, I mean, also, when playing solo, you can kind of just do whatever you want. And it’s very liberating, I guess, just knowing that I have full control of what I’m doing.
How has your confidence changed as you’ve become more experienced with instruments and music?
[LD]: I mean, honestly, it’s just the fact that I know what I’m doing now. When I was younger, I was always relying on chord charts and lyrics written out and different things that people were telling me; whereas, now, I have the knowledge to know more. I know how to improvise, and it’s less of me relying on things that are written out and already set out for me. Now I can figure things out on my own, which has really built my confidence a lot.
