Album Notes

DAN WEISMAN
Staff Writer

Young Piano Artist Has Passion For Composing & Performing!

Not surprisingly Brittney Valle likes the other Britney, Spears that is.
But the High School freshman has also developed a passion for a techno-pop group from Italy, Eiffel 65, a folk-rock band from Argentina, Pimpinela, and even John Tesh.
In fact, the blind 14-year-old who began piano at age 3 has become a musical whiz kid of sorts. She¹s composed more than 50 songs, two compact discs of her piano compositions have been sold worldwide and she produces a steady stream of new musical ideas and inspirations.

"Actually, I sold a CD to someone from Hong Kong right around Christmas," said Valle, sitting by her keyboard at her family's home.
"I was pretty excited," the enthusiastic girl with long brown hair continued. "That was my first Christmas present. The CDs are a fund-raiser for a baby grand piano."
Valle said music is a major part of her life and future dreams.
She practices about two hours a day and has several friends that also have musical tastes and talents. She voraciously listens to an eclectic mix of music and has the ability to play a lot of songs by ear. Future plans include attending a college with a strong musical program and then, who knows. But Valle said she always plans on keeping music in her life.
"I like everything about music," Valle said. I like the freedom of being able to play the piano. I have a strong passion for it. I used to play six hours a day in junior high but now I¹m so busy with tests and stuff I play two hours. I listen to music when I study though and just play anything."
Composition comes naturally, Valle said, "I simply get on the piano and play little melodies. It doesn¹t take that much time. I started out studying classical music but now I play more pop."
The two compact discs were produced with the help of music teacher Howard Anton Duncan, an instructor Valle also calls a friend. She said she responded well to his positive, patient attitude after having some less pleasant times with teachers with more aggressive teaching techniques.
Duncan produced the first CD featuring about a dozen Valle originals followed by a second effort done at Studio West, a professional recording studio in Poway.
Noting the more than 50 songs that Valle has composed, Duncan added: "I definitely see her as performing nationwide someday. She has an expressive touch. ... She's quite the performer. She has a great attitude and is very dedicated to the piano."
Valle has performed solo at since-closed Mikey¹s Coffeehouse in Poway as well as at recitals and talent shows. She's plied her chords at weddings, playing New Age and traditional piano musings during hors doeuvres
I perform just so I can show my talent," Valle said. I love to perform."
Speaking of love, Christina Valle, Brittney's mom, said she also loves her music.
She just amazes me all the time. I don't know how she comes up with what she does. When we moved here from Rancho Cucamonga she was two grade levels behind in school. But now she has caught up, gets straight As and loves what she does, said Christina Valle.
Brittney smiled at that.
I enjoy composing music, she said. "I just sit down and a song comes to me. I keep playing it over and over, and change a few things each time until I get it exactly the way I want it. The hardest thing is to find a name for the song."




FYI- 100% OF THE PROCEEDS ON THE SALE OF THIS CD GOES TOWARD THE PURCHACE OF A BABY GRAND PIANO.