Linebacker Mitch Miller sat in the press box and let his fingers glide over each key as he played the Star-Spangled Banner, as his Chiefs JV Gold teammates faced the flag with their hands on their hearts.
‘I felt pretty nervous but pretty excited because I love performing,? said Miller about his performance on Sept. 27.
‘It was cool to see an athlete sitting there in full pads,? said mom, Lynn.
Lynn was approached by a couple of women after the performance and they shared the effect his playing had on them.
‘It brought me to tears,? they both told her.
The 10-year-old has been playing the piano since he was five, but can remember beginning to push the keys when he was four.
He has performed during school assemblies at Springfield Plains Elementary, talent shows, concerts, and Sunrise.
Lynn takes her three sons to the senior center. Her younger boys take items they made for the senior citizens, and Mitch plays his music.
Lynn and his dad, Dave don’t know where he gets his talent from ? since they admit they do not have any musical skills.
When most kids get grounded, their computer, television, and video games are taken away.
‘Mitch gets grounded from what he loves most ? the piano,? said Lynn.
He has a baby grand piano, keyboard and just started playing the guitar. He began composing music three years ago.
‘I thought it was cool so continued doing it,? said Mitch.
‘He hears music all the time,? said Lynn and compared him to the main character in August Rush.
Lynn remembered him coming downstairs after watching the movie to compose a song.
‘It inspired me to write some orchestra song so now I have some of those,? said Mitch.
Mitch has composed eight songs, including a classical symphony.
Graves went out and purchased a keyboard so she could help Mitch more with mixing other instruments into his compositions for symphonies.
An employee from Office Max showed Mitch how to connect his keyboard to the computer and burn CDs of his music.
He has written a song for his mom, entitled ‘Mom’s Song? and entered it at a reflection contest at school. It won and went on to win the state competition.
Mitch also wrote a song for his grandpa. He was with his grandpa when he passed away and composed the song and played it at the funeral.
‘He is very sweet and very kind,? said Lynn.
Mitch just finished his second year with the Clarkston Chiefs.
‘I love it! Last year, we went to the Super Bowl but lost,? he said.
He also plays soccer and baseball, but his passion is music.
‘He is a pleasure to teach,? said Cindy Graves. ‘He’s extremely creative and can remember notes.
Graves has been teaching Mitch for the last three years and has been helping him develop his talent and lead him in the right direction. She is an elementary school teacher and has been giving private piano lessons for 26 years.
‘His piano playing is amazing expression. He’s a very talented,? said Graves. ‘He can sing, too. He has a real good future.?
His parents plan to send a tape to Oprah for her World’s Most Talented Kids search.
He works with his dad at Castlewood Custom Homes and puts his allowance towards charity. Next for Mitch is continuing to perform at Sunrise and Christmas concerts as he tries to start his own band.