"Playing the piano was the only thing she wanted to do," says Tammy. "On average, she would practice eight to ten hours a day on the small Yamaha electric keyboard."

It was not until four years later, however, that little Brittany and Hanfland crossed paths. The Maiers visited Carolina Piano Galleries in search of a piano for Brittany. "We knew we'd have to buy her a piano, so we went into Dan's store one day without Brittany," says Tammy. The couple mentioned their "very special" daughter, and later, they brought her in to meet Hanfland.

"Our meeting was an experience that profoundly touched my life," says Hanfland. "Her father asked me to play any song, so I played the first few bars of Beethoven's C sharp minor sonata. Having never heard the work before, Brittany sat down at the piano and repeated, nearly ver notum, what she had just heard."

Hanfland immediately suggested piano lessons for Brittany, referring her to Dr. Scott Price at the University of South Carolina's School of Music.

Soon the idea was born to get Brittany the kind of piano that would open new musical doors — a piano with software capabilities that would allow on the spot recording of the new pieces she had begun composing. A touching human interest story about Brittany and her music, filmed by CBS affiliate WLTX-TV in Columbia brought attention to the child's gifts. At that point, Hanfland and Bykalo of Nursery Road Elementary, touched upon the idea of using Brittany's newfound local fame to raise money for a Yamaha Disklavier piano.

"Brittany faces special learning challenges and the Disklavier was the best suited piano for her needs," says Hanfland. "The Yamaha Disklavier DGH1BA offers so many features never before available to her in one instrument: the ability to record 'on the spot', to capture Brittany's spontaneous compositions; as well as software availability for ensemble performance."

Hanfland and Bykalo collaborated to launch a program set up by Yamaha that includes making a "key donation" on an imaginary piano.

"It was able to reproduce the effect of a full symphony orchestra." Frederic Chiu, Yamaha artist, commenting on the CFIIIS concert grand he performed on at the Kennedy Center 9/7/00 playing the Liszt transcription of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. "There is not a better piano made today, and the Yamaha people are truly wonderful human beings." Jens Nygard, conductor of the Jupiter Symphony following the symphony's 8/21/00 performance with pianist Ilya Itin playing a C7 conservatory grand piano. "We had over 18,000 people attending six concerts. The internationally- recognized soloists and the MD State Teachers Association competitions winners unanimously raved about the quality and sound of the Yamaha pianos." Jeff Silberschlag, conductor of the Chesapeake Chamber Orchestra following the final performance of their River Series 2000 summer season.

The "Buy a Key for Brittany's Piano" fund started in March 2000. Beginning by word of mouth, the fund received even more donations after a live broadcast from a local Barnes & Noble Bookstore near Brittany's home in which she performed on a Yamaha Disklavier. Later, a news article brought added attention to the cause.

But the final, and largest, donation that would make the dream a reality came after a visit by Yamaha artist and pianist/songwriter Jim Brickman back in May, while he was in town for a concert. The two performed together at Carolina Piano Galleries on a Yamaha C6 conservatory grand piano. Brickman is one of Brittany's idols. "When she's composing, she plays a lot that is inspired by his style," adds Tammy.

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