A lot of teens play piano. But for Matthew Ding, a Newton Centre resident and junior at Buckingham Browne & Nichols, piano has become a way for him to brighten the lives of others.

Ding hosts regular concerts at 2Life Communities’ Golda Meir House in Auburndale and has now expanded to the 2Life Community residence in Brighton, which has a 255-seat auditorium.

He started volunteering at the Golda Meir House when he was 10, in part because his grandfather lives there.

“I enjoyed helping people,” Ding said.

He started playing the piano in the building lobby and then realized it could become something bigger and began hosting concerts.

Ding’s since invited his friends to join him, adding their instrumental talents in violin and cello. They enjoy getting the opportunity to perform, and the residents enjoy the opportunity to listen.

“They really like it, and they always sing along or tap their feet,” he said.

Ding plays a lot of classical music, but he also tries to incorporate other genres. Some of the residents are, like his grandfather, Chinese, so he’ll do traditional Chinese music on piano.

But he also likes to play jazz and Western pop like the Beatles. For his December concert this year, he’s planning on doing more sing-along pieces, as well as adding woodwind instrument players.

Ding also volunteers his time at the house by teaching elementary Chinese and Spanish, teaching residents basic phrases that they can use at restaurants or in other everyday situations.

He speaks Chinese at home, and learned Spanish from a tutor in Guatemala, as well as taking it in school.

Ding doesn’t see himself as a future professional musician, but he knows he wants to continue to volunteer and be able to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of local seniors. And he appreciates the opportunity to form connections with older people.

“Small consistent efforts can make a pretty big impact,” he said.