"Budget cuts," Mr. Johnson said sadly. "The school built the new music room and bought newer pianos. They moved this one in here and just forgot about her. Such a shame." He looked at Sarah carefully. "You play pretty well. Are you in the music program?"
Sarah nodded. "I'm trying out for the spring recital."
"Good for you," Mr. Johnson said. "Listen, I come in here to clean every day around this time. The room's not being used for anything else. If you want to practice on a real piano instead of those electronic keyboards they have in the classrooms, you're welcome to come here during lunch or after school."
Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Really? You wouldn't mind?"
"Mind? I'd be happy to hear some life in this old room again. Just make sure you keep the door closed so you don't disturb classes, and put the cover back on the piano when you're done."
That afternoon, Sarah couldn't concentrate on any of her classes. All she could think about was the grand piano waiting for her in the storage room. As soon as the final bell rang, she grabbed her backpack and hurried to the old wing of the building.
The piano was exactly as she had left it: covered and waiting. Sarah uncovered it carefully and sat down at the bench. She started with "Für Elise", but after playing it through once, she felt hungry for something more challenging.
Sarah had a secret that nobody at school knew about. For the past two years, she had been teaching herself piano through online videos and free sheet music she found on the internet. Late at night, when her grandmother was asleep, Sarah would put on headphones and watch piano tutorials on the old laptop her grandmother had bought at a garage sale.
She had learned to read music better than most of her classmates realized. She had studied finger techniques and practiced scales until her fingers were sore. But she had never had a proper piano to practice on—only her broken keyboard that was missing keys and made every song sound flat and electronic.
Now, sitting at this beautiful grand piano, Sarah felt like an artist who had finally found the right canvas. She pulled out her phone and found a video she had watched dozens of times. It was a tutorial for a piece called "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven. The instructor was a young woman who explained each section clearly and slowly. Sarah had memorized every note by watching and re-watching the video, but she had never been able to play it properly on her broken keyboard.
Sarah placed her fingers on the keys and began to play the opening notes of the "Moonlight Sonata". The sound that came from the grand piano was like nothing she had ever heard before. Each note was rich and full, creating a melody that seemed to tell a story of mystery and beauty. Her left hand played the gentle repeating pattern while her right hand sang the haunting melody above it.