By Casey Neill
Omid started playing the piano just one year ago and unearthed a remarkable talent.
The 15-year-old Dandenong High student can’t read a note of music.
“I had a teacher for two weeks and then I couldn’t learn the notes. I left the teacher,” he said.
But he was right at home on stage at the school’s recent choir competition.
The Year 9 student replaced a professional pianist as the accompanying musician for his house’s rendition of The Lion King classic I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.
“I learnt that song in 45 minutes,” he said.
“I felt great. I don’t get nervous, I don’t know why.
Omid said he sits down at the piano and plays whenever he has free time.
“I play by ear,” he said.
“When I first started doing it, I got a cheap keyboard from Kmart.
“I brought it home and I started playing it.
“I started learning the chords and stuff on YouTube. That was really helpful.
“My sister and my brother, they thought I was really good at it.
“I started saving up money to get a proper keyboard. I’ve got a keyboard around two months ago.”
He studies music at school – at Year 12 level – and hopes to continue to learn more and hone his natural skills.
