Samantha Witt, 8, her great-grandmother Mathilda Weintraub and her mom, Julie Witt, share their musical talent. She's Got Talent! Musical prodigy is third-generation piano player in this local family. Alison Schwartz Special to the Jewish News W ith a mother and great-grand- mother for piano teachers, it was only a matter of time before little Samantha Witt would make a beeline for the ivories. "She was 4 years old when she came with me to a piano recital for my students. After that, she couldn't wait to learn — she wanted to be on the stage performing in front of an audience explains Julie Witt, Samantha's mother, who has been teaching the piano in Metro Detroit for more than 20 years. "I started off slowly, giving her short les- ( L-Llzall, zapv sons, but very soon it was apparent that she wanted to learn more and would practice by herself for hours. She just loves all music — playing the piano, dancing, singing and even performing. She has no nerves at all!" Samantha, who recently turned 8 and is now a third-grader at Doherty Elementary School in West Bloomfield, plays anything from Beethoven to jazz, Broadway stan- dards to pop songs. While most children her age could be expected to memorize one or two pieces of music a year, Samantha has a repertoire of about 20 pieces that she knows without sheet music. "I think Samantha could be put on a stage and play for two hours straight with- out music in front of her," says her proud Our programs include: _3 programs - Childrens - A+ After School Program w/ Transport - Adults Martial Arts (12 & up) - Spring Break / Summer Camps Two West Bloomfield Locations! 7355 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center, West Bloomfield (New Location!) 6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Mention this ad and receive: 2 Private Lessons ($100 Value) and a FREE Uniform ($50 Value) Space is limited. Call Today! (248) 706-0000 www.vortexmartialarts.com 1791800, 16 January 3 • 2013 mom, who is married to Frank and also has a 3-year-old son Brandon. The family is a member of Temple Israel. Witt, 44, of West Bloomfield, says her own passion for the instrument came from her grandmother Mathilda Weintraub, who will be 98 on Dec. 27, and who studied music at the Detroit Conservatory before becoming a piano teacher in Detroit. "I was the only grandchild who played the piano, and it gave me a huge connection with my Nana," explains Witt. "We would play together, without talking, and it was as if we were having a conversation:' Weintraub, who now lives in Pembroke Pines, Fla., was in tears when she heard her great-granddaughter's tremendous piano skills at a recent family gathering. "I think she was really moved that her talent had passed through the generations:' says Witt. In her own life, Witt says the type of music she plays can reflect the mood she is in. "If I'm playing a heavy Chopin piece the kids know it's probably a good idea to leave me alone. If I'm playing a light and airy Mozart piece, they know that I'm likely in a good mood!" she says. For Samantha, who also has done model- ing work, appeared in advertisements and is currently doing auditions for movies, playing the piano gives her a simple plea- sure. "I love to make people happy — kids, adults or older people — because it makes me really happy, too:' says Samantha, who has played concerts for disabled children, for elderly people in assisted living facilities, as well as at bar mitzvahs and weddings. Like her mom, she has seen firsthand how children and adults with learning dis- abilities can respond positively to music. One of Witt's students, a young adult with Fragile X Syndrome (intellectual disability), was very excited when he heard Samantha play for him recently; during the summer, Samantha also played a concert at a camp for children with special needs. Both mom and daughter know that enjoyment of music has no age barrier. "When I went to Fleishman Residence in November, the people there were applaud- ing me and smiling, and some were even dancing," says Samantha, grinning. "Someone came up to me and said: 'I guess I'm going to see you on American Idol,' and someone else tried to give me a quarter. I just told him 'no, thank you' because per- forming is what I love to do:' This past summer, Samantha's talent was officially acknowledged when she was named the runner up in Detroit's Got Talent youth showcase, which was open to chil- dren aged 7 to 18. Samantha, the youngest entrant, memorized a nine-page compila- tion of music by the band Journey. "There were about 400 people in the audience and you could tell they just loved her — and she loved them:' says Witt. "It was really a wonderful thing to see:' ❑ To book Samantha, email sowittyl@aol.com.