A tiny six-year-old girl walks up to a massive grand piano and does something most adults can only dream of doing.
Maya Portella Schulz is just six years old but her performance has captured the attention of over a million people online. She took on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude in C Minor BWV 999. Bach wrote this piece in the early 1700s and it was originally composed for the lute. It is a demanding piece for a child her age.
The music requires strong finger independence and a steady rushing rhythm that doesn’t forgive mistakes. Many piano students spend years of practice before they can play it smoothly without stumbling. Most of us would be terrified in front of a competition audience but Maya was ready.
She walks onto the stage and gives a quick bow to greet the audience. You can see she can’t wait to play because she rushes right over to the piano. Look at how her feet can’t even reach the pedals. She just sits there and goes to work. She gets her hands ready and starts in style like a seasoned professional player.
What followed was a rain of notes. She didn’t stumble anywhere as her small fingers flew across the keys. No wonder she won first prize.
Because this is a purely instrumental piece there are no lyrics to sing along to. But in words attributed to Bach “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”
Maya’s performance absolutely refreshes the soul. We are witnessing a clear God-given talent being nurtured and shared with the world. It takes serious dedication to become a six-year-old piano prodigy and play classical music at a competition level.
When we see a child put this much work into her gift it should make us look at our own lives. God gives every single one of us gifts and abilities but few of us work to develop them. Too many of us act like the servant in the Bible who buried his talent in the ground.
Whatever ability you have it is never meant to be covered up and hidden away. Jesus said a lamp goes on a lampstand so it can give light to the whole house and we must shine for God just like that. When we actually use the talents God handed us the impact on other people’s lives is far beyond what we could ever imagine.
Maybe you have a gift for singing or playing an instrument. That one song you sing at church or post on social media might be the exact thing that gives a broken person hope. So let us find those talents that have been gathering dust. Let us polish them and use them whenever we get the opportunity.
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you.” 2 Timothy 1:6
WATCH: 6-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Leaves Audience Speechless with Stunning Performance
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