Musical Luke, 5, is a mini maestro

- 28 April 2010

Many of us never get around to learning a musical instrument, but Luke Ashford is well on his way to mastering the piano — at just five years old.

Almost since he learned to talk, the extraordinarily talented youngster has had one thing on his mind.

And after being given a second-hand piano last Christmas, the music- obsessed Ysgol Dewi Sant pupil, of Trimsaran, wasted no time in teaching himself to play.

Luke's grandmother, Pat Ashford, said his parents Paul, 32, and Louise, 34, looked on in amazement as he started tinkling the ivories without ever having had a lesson

She said: "Having a piano was all he could talk about from the age of four.

Excited "We thought it was just a fad, but when he finally had one he was so excited and started to use it straight away.

"He hadn't had any had lessons and had never learned to read music from a book.

"But he sat down and learned all the notes by himself, and then started to play any song he heard. We were just watching him, gobsmacked — not only was he playing the piano without ever having lessons, but he was good, too.

"We were wondering how he could just play the piano — it seems to be something that has just come to him naturally.

"It's all he wants to do, straight after school and on weekends he is sat at the piano.

"He is now having lessons to read music, he loves it."

His talent has also been noticed at school, and Luke has been asked to perform Welsh hymns for assemblies at Ysgol Dewi Sant. Head teacher Gethin Thomas said: "We noticed when Luke was in nursery that he had a huge interest in the piano.

"When he later had a keyboard, followed by a piano, he started to pick up any tune by just listening to it.

"Staff at the school were shocked to hear a boy of five playing with such talent. He has performed some Welsh hymns for us and we have even showed him off to visitors to the school.

"We are very proud of him as he has amazing talent, and we are sure that he will go far with it.

"We are proud to have him at the school."

Story credit - thisissouthwales.co.uk