I am so sorry to hear about Sylvia Barton’s passing last March.  I took piano lessons from her from age 26 thru 39 and she was such a great teacher for an adult student.  Sylvia really increased my love for Bach and she touched many people with her love of the piano.    She will really be missed!!

David Goodwin

Mrs. Barton knew me since I was a baby, as she taught my older sister piano from a young age and later me when I was six. She expanded my musical horizons greatly, keeping a strict yet caring attitude when teaching to make sure I would practice every night for at least 30 minutes (or so I would tell her). She endured having to listen to my father’s requests to play more advanced pieces or to play the current piece we were working faster, never failing to tell him I was not ready for what he wanted. She always knew what was best for me. 

Switching from taking lessons in her home to online due to COVID was difficult, but she made it work. My piano skill still grew enormously, even though she was teaching me from my iPad. Every Wednesday at five, she would spend ten minutes asking me if anything new was happening, how school was going, and etc., always listening eagerly to what I had to say. By the end of my lesson, she would get carried away with a new story she had to tell me, from the wind knocking over her plants to her week in Big Bear, even if it put us over time a little bit. Every time I play a piece that she had given me a sticker for, I will think of her. 

Sylvia continuously volunteered her time and leadership in organizations close to her heart and values, including the Music Teachers' Association of California.  She served in multiple positions while mentoring students to thrive in the MTAC's various programs (and sometimes accidentally coordinating outfits).

Mrs. Barton, as her students called her, was a dear friend of my family for over fifteen years. When my sister and I took piano lessons from her, Mrs. Barton always welcomed us with warmth and the best kind of strictness (and unlimited shoulder scratches for our skittish dog).
She taught students to find a lifelong love for music, just as she did, with its endless opportunities for skill improvement, enjoyment, and self-expression. Beyond piano, she always kept up-to-date on our lives and pushed us to go after every opportunity with poise and pride. Any fear, musical or otherwise, was just a bit of stage fright.
I will never forget sharing lemonade on the porch of her hillside hideaway and seeing her face grinning up at me from the audience at recitals and scholarship ceremonies she guided me through. Whenever I need an extra burst of confidence, I will think of her.

Sylvia was a funny, serious,  charming and supportive friend. I will miss her secret grins and raised eyebrows at private unspoken thoughts. She was helpful and generous with her time and kindness.

Sylvia  was an intellectual and musically gifted woman. She was politically involved with Glendora, the city she loved and supported.  Her work and support for DAR Serrano Chapter was respected and appreciated.  She was available for any in need.
I’m grateful I knew her, shared laughs with her and will remember her with great fondness

OBITUARY

Sylvia Shorey Barton

October 21, 1939 – March 22, 2023

Oakdale Mortuary & Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services