WATCH: Inspirational County Derry girl heading for Grand Pianist competition final

Translink’s Grand Pianist competition took place in Derry city recently.

The Derry regional saw 20 hopeful pianists performing in the unique surroundings of the North West Transport Hub for the opportunity to secure a place in the grand final in the new Belfast Grand Central Station. Elodie Bateson from Limavady was selected as a finalist. The 14 year-old's story is hugely inspiring.

The young County Derry girl is completely blind and has learned to play piano via online lessons from a teacher in Chicago, who has developed a special technique to teach blind people to play by ear - it is called ThEary.

Elodie’s mum Michelle shared her feelings on the experience.
“To make the final was absolutely amazing. It was one of the best days of my life to go and see Elodie play in the station. We are so excited to attend the final of the competition in Belfast’s new Grand Central Station,” she said.

The amazing Elodie says she is delighted to get through to the final.
“The other people in the competition were playing all these amazing classical pieces. I can’t really play them yet because my hands are too small. It was so fun to attend the competition. I missed a note in one of the songs and I thought to myself ‘aw I’m not going to get through’ but luckily I did. I was smiling throughout the whole performance. I played ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘A Whole New World’. For the final I have three minutes to play. So at the minute I am just trying to figure out which song would be best to play. So there will be a lot of practising in the lead up to the final.”

Michelle added: “I really believe they judged it on expertise and enthusiasm which Elodie showed loads of. The judges could see how much joy she got out of the performance. Elodie enjoying the performance could be felt throughout the crowd.”

Speaking about her daughter's musical background, Michelle said: “Elodie has been very musical since she was a little baby. She would’ve been in the kitchen playing with pots and pans. She had a little kids cooking set that she used to bang and play sounds on. One day she just started playing Jurassic Park. I turned and said to my husband saying she’s playing the theme tune. We couldn’t believe it, she was only a tiny baby.

“She had a kids learning piano book with piano keys down the side of it. We were in the car one day and the next thing she was playing ‘Ode to Joy’ by Beethoven. It was amazing. She has always had a really good ear for sounds and music and that has developed over time. It is absolutely a great outlet for Elodie.”

Elodie continued: “I used to make up my own little tunes on that. It was such fun. I remember it so well. I had the book for a long time. I have learnt a lot of music by ear. That is how I memorise the tune. I never wanted to do grades or anything like that at school. I only wanted to play and learn the things I wanted to. If you tell me a scale or give me a note to compare it with then I will tell you what song it is.”

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) were instrumental in starting the piano process off for Elodie.
During the 2020 lockdown the charity funded 20 piano lessons for the young lady. Elodie took part in the lessons virtually with a piano school in Northern Ireland.

Michelle said: “That got her started with putting things together. We found they worked really well for her at the time. Although it was difficult to find someone that explained things in a way that was easy to understand in a non- visual way for Elodie. Elodie can’t read music so it makes it that bit harder. We didn’t know of anyone here in Northern Ireland that was in a position to teach braille music. So we did a bit of online searching and came across Mark Miller. Who was a piano teacher based in Chicago.”

Elodie said: “I did piano lessons virtually for about two years with Mark. That really got me playing really well. I don’t have a teacher at the moment but I think I am going to take a break from lessons and focus on learning by myself. The teachers were great in getting me started. They taught me how to figure out loads.

“I am part of an amazing community group called the DRIVE project, (Developing relationships in vulnerable environments), it is a project managed by the Glens Community Centre in Limavady. I have been part of their choir, singing and playing piano. I have played in their summer show and I will be playing in their winter show.”

Michelle continued: “Being part of the show is amazing for Elodie she is doing things that she thought she would never do. It is great she is being included and very much part of everything. She has made loads of new friends too which is amazing.

“It has been a journey, but an exciting one. Some people give the credit to us as parents but that is not the case at all, she did it all by herself. None of our families are musical. Her brain has trained herself to catalogue sounds. There are a lot of blind children that are able to play and have perfect pitch. So we live in a concert house which is great.”

Elodie added: “If they tell me what to play then I can usually do it for them. I have found a few talks through tutorials online that have been very helpful.”

Michelle added: “We have a lovely piano in the house and a keyboard that can be packed up and brought with us. If we all had a hobby like Elodie then we would all be happier people. Playing the piano has been such a positive experience for Elodie. She is such a resilient girl. For a lot of people it can be very easy to give up but she never does.”

Elodie attends Limavady Grammar School and is in year 10.
Michelle said: “The staff there have been amazing. She receives her homework through Whatsapp and in Braille. Elodie is a very busy girl, she goes to school, swims and attends drama club.”

In terms of what she wants to do when she’s older, Elodie said she would love to teach piano herself.
“I would love to start doing videos for blind people. This is because finding a tutorial for a specific song that I can’t figure out just by listening can be a hassle,” she said.

Rebekah Fitch, Belfast born singer-songwriter, who composed the music for the BBC Paris Olympics coverage has been chosen by Translink as a special guest judge for the grand final of ‘The GRAND Pianist’ competition on Thursday, October 3.

Rebekah will join leading professional musician and ‘GRAND Pianist’ Head Judge, Matthew Owens on the panel, alongside Translink Group’s Priscilla Rooney, who is a key member of the Translink Choir. Rebekah will also open the event with a dazzling rendition of her single ‘Loose Ends’, setting the tone for an evening of inspiring and moving musical performances from the GRAND Pianist finalists.

The grand final will feature two categories,16-years-old and under, and an adult category (over 16-years-old). Similar to the format of each of the regional heats, finalists will be invited one-by-one to take their place at a baby grand piano, positioned in the centre of the impressive new transport hub.

Following the performances, the acclaimed judging panel will crown two overall winners – one from each category. Taking place in Belfast Grand Central Station almost one month after it was officially opened for bus operations, the performances by Rebekah Fitch and the competition finalists will be accessible for members of the public to enjoy between 4.30-6.30pm.