Photojournalist Brandon Klein and I were lucky enough to meet 19-year-old Brittany Maier and her mother, Tammy, this month for a story on a music school Tammy is creating in Dix Hills.
It was an experience I'll never forget. But I have to confess, words escaped me on this one.
It's not that I had writer's block. But, when putting together today's story, there was just too much to say and only a minute and 45 seconds to say it. (Minus time for the music.)
Brittany is 19 and is what's known as a prodigious savant, which means her talents are extraordinary. She's blind, autistic and mentally challenged - but somehow her mind opens up with music. Brittany can play anything she hears on the piano, and even composes her own songs.
Hopefully, you'll hear the music and be just as amazed as I was.
And, here are some interesting things that just didn't fit into the piece:
- Brittany composed the song you hear at the beginning and the end. It's not something she memorized. She has written several original pieces.
- She not only learns NOTES by listening to DVDs, she learns to say things like "Thank you very much" after she plays a song, during a concert.
- This music school campus is going to include an ampitheater and a whole lot more - including resources for parents with special needs kids.
- Leanne already plays the piano well but improved during what was just a short lesson with teacher Deborah Vacarro. (Despite having that lesson in front of a News 12 camera, Leanne did not look nervous at all.)
- Eight-year-old Cassie may be the next Brittany. She just started one day, playing tunes she heard on a little keyboard, but she wasn't able to do it when we were there.
I hope I'll get to come back and do another story someday, to hear her playing and to see how the music school is doing.
In the meantime, if you want to find out more about Brittany's upcoming concert in Carnegie Hall next month, or the music school gala and fundriaser in October, here are two links.
Brittany Oat
Rich Hoffman
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